5. Membership 5.1 Membership shall be open to any person who is a Khoja Shia Ithna-Asheri who has attained the age of 18 years and who is interested in promoting the Objects. Membership shall also be open to the non-Khoja spouse of a member of the Jamaat, provided the spouse has attained the age of 18 years, professes the Shia Ithna-Asheri faith and is interested in promoting the Objects. Any child of such a marriage shall also be eligible to be a member of the Jamaat provided he or she has attained the age of 18 years, professes the Shia Ithna-Asheri faith and is interested in promoting the Objects.
5.4 A member whose subscription is at least three months in arrears shall have his membership suspended which shall automatically be reinstated retrospectively on payment of the amount due.
5.5 A member whose subscription is at least six months in arrears shall cease to be a member but shall be reinstated retrospectively on payment of the amount due on reapplication.
5.6 A member may resign by written notice to the Honorary Secretary.
5.7 Membership of the Jamaat shall not be transferable and shall cease automatically if a member ceases to be a Muslim professing the Shia Ithna-Asheri faith.
5.8 A member will not enjoy the full rights of membership if in addition to the membership of the Jamaat he is a member of another Khoja Shia-Ithna-Asheri Jamaat anywhere in the world. Where such dual membership exists, then the membership of the Jamaat will be deemed to be guest membership and as such, will preclude such member from voting at General Meetings or from standing for any position in the Executive Committee. In all other aspects, he will enjoy the benefits of membership
RULES 6 Subscriptions
6.1 The Jamaat shall have five classes of membership: single, family, senior, student and life membership.
6.2 Memberships
6.2.1 Single membership shall be available to individuals who are unmarried and aged 18 or over. Individuals with single membership shall have one vote in Elections and general meetings.
6.2.2 Family membership shall be available to married couples and shall include their children under the age of 18. Both spouses included in family membership shall have one vote each in Elections and general meetings.
6.2.3 Senior membership shall be available to individuals aged 65 or over. Individuals with senior membership shall have one vote in Elections and general meetings
6.2.4 Student membership shall be available to individuals who are able to demonstrate that they are engaged in full-time further education. Individuals with student membership shall have one vote in Elections and general meetings.
6.2.5 With effect from the date of adoption of this Rule, life membership for new members shall cease to be available. Individuals with life membership shall have one vote in Elections and general meetings. Current spouses of existing life members shall also have one vote each in Elections and general meetings as long as they remain married to a life member or they are the widow or widower of a deceased life member.
6.3 The members shall set the amount of the subscription for each class of membership at each AGM. The Executive Committee shall recommend the level of subscriptions to the members.
6.4 The Executive Committee shall recommend that the subscription for:
6.4.1 Family membership is set at no more than 1.8 times the value of single membership;
6.4.2 Student membership is set at no more than 10% of the value of single membership; and
6.4.3 Senior membership is set at no more than 10% of the value of single membership.
6.5 Family, single, senior and student members shall be required to pay their subscriptions in respect of each year commencing on 1st January annually in advance.
6.6 The Jamaat has historically operated an informal class of membership, known as “family membership”. Family membership is held by a husband and wife, who share one vote. With effect from the date of the adoption of this Rule, such family membership shall automatically convert such that each spouse shall each have one vote. As above, the informal class of family membership shall continue to exist as a formal class of membership entitling a husband and wife to separate membership each and entitlement to vote at Elections and general meetings.
6.7 Wives of life members have historically been entitled to vote for the Chairlady. As above, with effect from the date of the adoption of this Rule, current spouses of existing life members shall have one vote in Elections and general meetings for as long as they remain married to a life member or they are the widow of a deceased life member.