Chicago, Illinois: It is a well-documented fact that people attend conferences for variety of reasons: to gain knowledge, to meet individuals they might not otherwise have the opportunity to meet, to cross paths with friends with whom they can spend quality time. That is exactly what happened at the 62nd Convention of Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) which took place at Labor Day Weekend in the city of Chicago. The Convention proved to be a place not only for learning but also for meaningful connections. 

The Convention featured more than one hundred lectures and was attended by thousands of people who came from across the United States and Canada. A session on the subject of Kashmir was amongst them. The featured speaker was the acclaimed scholar Dr. Khalid Beydoun, an expert on South Asian affairs and renowned for his work on constitutional law, civil rights and Islamophobia. Dr. Beydoun is also Scholar-in-Residence at Harvard’s Berkman Klein Center. The session was moderated by our own Majeeb Qazi, President of North Texas Islamic Council. Mujeeb Qazi moderated the discussion skillfully but also made his own substantive contributions as a moderator. 

The ISNA Convention also had two screening of Saffron Kingdom which is a cinematic testament to exile, memory, resistance and resilience – a Kashmiri story that refused to forget and refuses to surrender. The film is directed, written, and produced by Arfat Sheikh under Daffodil Studios, the Executive Producer is a well-known leader of ISNA and President, World Kashmir Awareness forum, Dr. Ghulam N. Mir, Gastroenterologist by profession. Saffron Kingdom has already garnered attention by winning Best Feature at the LA Film & Documentary Awards and competing at the 2025 Chicago Filmmakers Awards. Both screening of Saffron Kingdom at ISNA Convention was attended by people of diverse background and the attendance was full to the capacity. 

Besides attending the Convention, I had two amazing meetings, one of them at the residence of Javaid Rathore, nationally known human rights activist and prominent leader of Kashmiri diaspora community.  Mujeeb Qazi also joined us at Javaid’s residence.  We engaged in a deep conversation about what needs to be done to advance the Kashmiri cause as members of the diaspora. With his extensive experience in engaging government officials, Javaid offered valuable insights that can guide our future efforts. 

I had two amazing meetings recently. One was at Javed’s residence, where we had a deep and heartfelt conversation about how the diaspora can better contribute to the Kashmiri cause. 

The other meeting was with Yasin Chohan, a well-known community leader, businessman and dedicated human rights activist. The meeting took place at Serena restaurant, Chicago, where he had invited prominent community leaders for an in-depth discussion on the current crisis in South Asia. The exchange of perspectives was thoughtful and engaging, offering new ideas on how we, as a diaspora community, can respond to the challenges ahead. 

Among others who were present included: Raja Razak, former President of Business Association, Dr. Inaam, a notable member of Islamic Medical Association of North America (IMANA), Syed Azhar Abbas who deals with real estate and mortgage business,  Muhammad Umar, businessman, Arshad Zubairi, owner of restaurant business and influential book writer, Riaz Chohan, businessman and Jake, a young American youth leader from Geneva, Illinois, deeply engaged in areas of civil liberties and human rights. 

The exchange of perspectives in both gatherings was inspiring and thought-provoking, helping to shape ideas for our collective path forward. 

In both meetings, I found a deep sense of urgency in Javaid Rathore, Yasin Chohan and Mujeeb Qazi. They repeatedly raised the question of what the diaspora can do to support our brethren in Kashmir. All three expressed their commitment to making every effort to attend the peaceful rally in New York on September 26, when Prime Minster Modi will be addressing the UN General Assembly in the morning of September 26, 2025. 

Dr. Fai is also the Secretary General, World Kashmir Awareness Forum. 

He can be reached at: WhatsApp: 1-202-607-6435 or. gnfai20032yahoo.com. 
www.kashmirawareness.org