🔒 Privacy Policy of the Islamic Reform Forum

1. Introduction

Welcome to the Islamic Reform Forum! We are a non-profit organization committed to promoting dialogue, education, and reformist thought. We are dedicated to protecting your personal data and your right to privacy. This Privacy Policy governs the manner in which the Islamic Reform Forum (referred to as “we,” “us,” or “our”) collects, uses, maintains, and discloses information collected from users (referred to as “you” or “user”) of our website and services, particularly when you subscribe to our newsletter or make a donation via islamicreformforum.com.

2. Information We Collect

We collect personal data only when you voluntarily provide it to us, or through automated technologies on our website.

Information You Provide (Personal Identification Information):

• Newsletter: We collect your Email Address and any name you provide when you sign up for our mailing list.
• Donations: When you make a donation, our payment processors collect your name, email address, payment information (e.g., credit card details), and billing address. We only receive confirmation of payment, donation amount, and your contact details, but not your full payment details.

Information Collected Automatically (Usage Data and Tracking):
We automatically collect non-personal information about how you access and interact with our website and emails, such as IP addresses, browser type, operating system, and the dates/times of your visits or email opens/clicks. This data is collected using tools like Google Analytics.How We Use the Collected Information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

• To Send Periodic Newsletters and Updates: The primary use of your email address is to send you our forum’s newsletter, publications, announcements regarding new content, events, and relevant information related to our mission of Islamic reform, intellectual dialogue, and advocacy.
• To Process Donations: We use your information and that processed by our payment partners to successfully process and acknowledge your financial contributions and send receipts.
• To Improve Our Outreach and Website: We use anonymized usage data (via Google Analytics) to understand which parts of our website are most popular, how users navigate our content, and how we can improve the user experience.
• For Analytics and Service Improvement: To monitor the effectiveness of our email campaigns (via Mailchimp) and to improve the functionality of our website (hosted by Hostinger).

1. Legal Basis for Processing (For EU/GDPR Users)

For users in the European Union (EU) or European Economic Area (EEA), we process your personal data under the following legal bases:

Legitimate Interests: We rely on our legitimate interests to process anonymous usage data, ensure security, and prevent fraud, provided that these interests do not override your fundamental data protection rights.Sharing Your Personal Information and Third-Party Processors

We do not sell, trade, or rent your Personal Identification Information to any third party.

We use third-party service providers (“Processors”) to perform functions necessary to our operations. We may share your information with these third parties only for the limited purpose of providing those services:

• Email Marketing: Mailchimp – Email address, Name, Email interaction data (opens/clicks)
• Donation Processing: PayPal & Zeffy – Name, Email, Payment information (handled securely by processor), Billing details
• Website Hosting: Hostinger – Technical logs, IP address, general server activity
• Analytics: Google Analytics – Anonymized IP addresses, usage data, device information, and site navigation patterns

All third-party Processors are obligated to protect your information and may not use it for any other purpose.

6. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use “cookies” (small text files stored on your device) and similar tracking technologies.

Non-Essential Cookies (Analytics): We use Google Analytics to analyze website traffic and user interaction. These cookies require your explicit consent upon visiting our site (usually granted through a banner or pop-up). You can manage or revoke this consent at any time through the settings on our site or by clearing your browser’s cookies.International Data Transfers (Global Compliance)

Our organization operates globally. Your information may be stored and processed in any country where we have facilities or where we engage service providers (such as Mailchimp, Google, and our donation processors which operate in the U.S.).

For EU/EEA Users (GDPR): If we transfer your personal data outside of the EU/EEA, we will ensure that adequate safeguards are in place, such as relying on Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) approved by the European Commission, or ensuring the recipient is certified under a recognized framework that provides an adequate level of protection.

For Worldwide Users: We take all necessary steps to ensure that your data is treated securely and in accordance with this Privacy Policy and all applicable laws.

8. Your Data Protection Rights

Depending on your location and the applicable law (e.g., GDPR, CCPA/CPRA), you may have the following rights regarding your personal data:

• Right to Access: The right to request copies of the personal data we hold about you.
• Right to Rectification: The right to request that we correct any inaccurate or incomplete information.
• Right to Erasure (“Right to be Forgotten”): The right to request the deletion of your personal data, under certain conditions.
• Right to Object to Processing: The right to object to our processing of your personal data, particularly for direct marketing or based on legitimate interests.
• Right to Data Portability: The right to request the transfer of your collected data to another organization, under certain conditions.
• Right to Withdraw Consent: The right to withdraw consent at any time where processing is based on consent (e.g., for the newsletter or non-essential cookies).

How to Exercise Your Rights: To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at the dedicated email address listed in Section 11.”Unsubscribe” / Opt-Out

Every promotional email sent by the Islamic Reform Forum will contain a clear, functional link at the bottom allowing you to “Unsubscribe” or “Manage Preferences.” Clicking this link will immediately and automatically remove your email address from that specific mailing list.

10. Changes to this Privacy Policy

The Islamic Reform Forum has the discretion to update this Privacy Policy at any time to reflect changes in our practices or legal obligations. When we do, we will revise the updated date at the bottom of this page. We encourage you to frequently check this page for any changes.

11. Contacting Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, the practices of this organization, or your data protection rights, please contact us at:

Organization: Islamic Reform Forum
Website: islamicreformforum.com
Email: privacy@islamicreformforum.com

This document was last updated on: 11/26/2025

Essential Cookies: These are necessary for the website to function (e.g., session cookies) and are used without your explicit consent.

Consent: By signing up for the newsletter or consenting to non-essential cookies (like Google Analytics), you provide clear consent for us to process that data. You have the right to withdraw this consent at any time.

Contractual Necessity: Processing data related to donations is necessary to fulfill a contract (i.e., completing your donation transaction).