A U.K. news portal has reported that an Imam associated with the Islamic Society of North America was expected to travel to London to express concerns about the business practices of an Indianapolis-based international real estate company which plans to launch the first-ever publicly traded Shariah-compliant investment fund next year. According to the report:
A U.S. Imam, a Christian minister, and a low-wage janitor from Indiana are coming to London to stress the importance of worker rights in Islamic social thought and to save the integrity of Shari’ah-compliant investing, a rapidly growing financial practice that appeals to ethical Muslims and non-Muslims alike. The delegation will attend the Islamic Real Estate Finance Conference and meet with investors, London-based imams, and British trade union and community leaders to raise awareness about the business practices of Indianapolis-based international real estate company HDG Mansur, which plans to launch the first-ever publicly traded Shari’ah-compliant investment fund, Al-Umran Global Property Fund Limited, next year. Although such funds are designed to promote the social justice goals of Islam, HDG Mansur, the second largest property owner in Indianapolis, is refusing to support good jobs with health care for the city’s janitors, leaving janitors employed by their cleaning contractor Executive Management Services (EMS) and thousands of others in poverty.
Although the name of the Imam is not mentioned, local media identify him as Sheikh Abdool Kahn in a report on the conference and the surrounding controversy. ISNA is a U.S. umbrella group that holds title to many U.S. mosques through is affiliate the North american Islamic Trust and is an important part of the U.S. Muslim Brotherhood.