Healthcare is an essential human right, and was exemplified in the governments of Prophet Muhammad and Imam Ali (May God Bless Them). The Prophet and Imam Ali made sure that all the sick and destitute were well cared for, and were exemplars in helping uplift society. All people are entitled to having their health needs addressed, regardless of race, class, gender, age, or religion. All American residents should have access to safe, effective, and compassionate healthcare. The focus of such services should be preventative. Leaving the sick untreated has devastating economic, social, and moral costs. Lofty American values should not allow the sick to suffer because of lack of means. Untreated illness and insufficient prevention threaten all Americans' health and livelihood. It is therefore incumbent on all Americans to create systems to provide for all residents' needs.

The government of Imam Ali is renowned throughout history for the fact that that no one went without their basic necessities. Imam Ali's government ensured that the poor and downtrodden had everything they needed to live a better life. No one should be forced to live without stable, secure housing because of poverty. Everyone needs a place to call "home". American moral integrity and economic benefits compel the government to act. It is beneath Americans' dignity and values to allow those who cannot afford housing to become homeless. Extreme poverty and homelessness limit people's ability to contribute to the economy. By providing housing to those who cannot afford it, those at risk for homelessness are able to more effectively rehabilitate, work, and become productive members of society. Thus the government must allocate more resources to provide homes, directly or indirectly.

The Islamic Information Center has one of the nations top internship programs, that runs year round. The gemstone of this program is the summer internship in our Washington DC office, located at the National Press Club, and international media hub. Typically, students from around the world, including Canada, the UK, and the Middle East apply for this coveted internship. During the Summer Internship, the interns are immersed in the DC atmosphere, regularly meeting with international news agencies, organizing seminars, and interacting with federal officials. By the end of the internship, the students are well versed in what it takes to be a Muslim activist in this day and age!

 

In continuation of IIC's efforts to bring authentic Islamic information to the American people, IIC is producing a news talk show to air on the UPN/CW networks. This show will showcase religious experts who will discuss a variety of Islamic concepts and modern issues and will air on a monthly basis. For the first few months of development, the program will only air on regional MD/DC/VA networks, and then IIC will work to expand the show to more national markets.

 

The Islamic Information Center is starting a project to become an officially recognized United Nations Non-Governmental Organization. Such a recognition will greatly help IIC's humanitarian efforts world wide, and will give the Islamic Information Center the type of prestige required to "open doors" at the highest levels of government and media agencies. By achieving this "NGO" status, IIC hopes to begin various international aid projects with charitable organizations. IIC would also like to help the poor and destitute in the Middle East, who often times are faced with starvation and inadequate medical care. Later this year, the Islamic Information Center will unveil its Iraqi Orphan project, a program devoted to helping the rising crisis in Iraq, as families continue to lose one or both parents on a regular basis..

 

Imam Syed Naqvi will be holding a series of regular Friday prayers at the United States Capital as a part of his Islamic Information Center Visiting Scholar Series. The goal is to provide the Islamic perspective of the Prophet and Ahlul Bayt at such services, so that a variety of types of messages can be heard. Organizers believe that this will be extremely beneficial to all involved parties, and that it will be a profound learning experience.

There are a wide variety of domestic issues that the Islamic Information Center is focused upon. To tackle these aspects of society, the Islamic Information Center has established the Board of Advisors, which is a team of academics and scholars devoted to focusing on such topics . These advisors are of the highest caliber of intellectuals, and are based in North America, often times holding distinguished professorships at universities in the United States and Canada.

 
Almost none of the major Muslim organizations have done serious outreach to the college campuses throughout the United States. As a result, the best and brightest of American youth are often left without the vital resources they need to learn the truth about Islam. To that effect, the Islamic Information Center has begun a series of University Seminars. These events focus on Islamic concepts as well as modern issues, and attempt to explain Islam's perspective on the world. Asofar the seminar series has visited The George Washington University, Johns Hopkins, and New York University. 2009 seminars are still be planned - stay tuned for updates!