The Extra-ordinary Conference of June, 1997 in U.K. gave us a cause to probe our own conscience and degrees of conviction in Islamic teachings - as a community. For gathered at the Conference were over 100 delegates representing the bulk of the World community.
The great majority voted for what may appear to be simply an amendment to the Constitution. But there was more to it and around it. The amendment was a removal of the restriction placed against the holder of the Presidency becoming eligible for a third consecutive term, the amendment not being like any other amendment in that:
a)The restriction is common among many organisations and states wide across the world for the reasons behind it are universally the same and well known.
b)The restriction was adopted unanimously and emphatically in 1990 by W.F.
c)Many of the members who voted for the removal of the restriction have and will continue to have the same restriction in their own constitution.
And yet, for the first time in the history of the World Federation there was a record attendance, from all corners of the world for the short session of three hours, to achieve the satisfaction of doing a favour by way of voting the restriction out - all in the name of democracy ostensibly and at the cost of honesty!
No one among those who came to do the favour had the moral courage because they couldn’t in the circumstances stand up and point out the anomalies like the denial of a secret ballot or not honouring the right to speak up on a point of order.
Overall, this was a test for all the delegates and the majority of them failed in it against their own soul in upholding what was just or right or fair, and what an easy test when neither life or limb was at stake! They acted as the leaders of the Community who claim to have the obligation of spreading the message from the martyrdom of Imam Husain A.S.
In this context, let's end by quoting the Preamble to the very Constitution which was tampered in a manner that made a mockery of the Preamble.
"We the Organisations comprising of the followers of the Shia Ithna-asheri Faith
RECOGNISING THAT all efforts to serve the believers in particular and humanity in general should be for the sake of none but Allah;
RECOGNISING THAT believers are guardians of one another, they enjoin good and forbid evil;
RECOGNISING THAT commandment of Allah is to establish justice on earth, therefore, a Muslim society acts as an instrument to ensure that His commandment is fulfilled; and
RECOGNISING THAT the affairs of a Muslim society are conducted by consultations,
Do ordain and establish this constitution."