Anti-Islam 'Death March' Plans Cast Pall Of Prejudice Over Pride
This weekend people who hate us all plan to march proudly to show their contempt, disregarding all we do, all we risk and who we love.
Ottawa Could Be Canada's Greatest Sanctuary City
Ottawa as a sanctuary city reveals to the world that Ottawa is passionate to sustain a community built on harmony, social cohesion, peace, human dignity and respect for all, regardless of ethnicity and faith. It also sends a message to the world that Ottawa does not tolerate bigotry but embraces diversity with compassion.
To Our Muslim Sisters: Don't Let Faith Stop You From Getting Married
Some Muslim women are out dating amazing men of other faiths. Some are falling in love. Some are planning futures with them - and hoping and praying that their families and communities will accept their interfaith relationship. But is it up to communities to decide what is acceptable for a Muslim woman? No.
Hate Trumped Love In 2016, But We Can't Lose Hope
Under wide threat of injustice, supporting one another, regardless of faith is essential. How? By supporting Standing Rock while demanding peace for Syria. By attending multi-faith gatherings at our local synagogue. By marching behind Black activists because Black Lives Matter. By emailing our MP.
Muslim Police Chaplain's Sexist Remarks Silence Victims Of Abuse
Toronto Police Muslim chaplain Musleh Khan said that a woman should be "obedient" to her husband at all times. The message it sends to victims of abuse interferes with the ability of police to encourage women - particularly Muslim women- to tell police their story.
A Ramadan Message For Muslims After The Orlando Tragedy
This Ramadan we must be reminded that there are those who fast from intimacy and physical love all the time because they are gay and their circumstances or their mindset make it impossible for them to find and fall in love with a partner of the same gender. Muslim family -- we know this is not how life is supposed to be lived.
Inside Allah, The One Divine Mother And The Conscience Of Islam
Traditionally acknowledged by all Islamic schools of thought as being beyond gender, Allah is regarded as encompassing both masculine and feminine characteristics. Nonetheless, in contradiction of this concept, the vast majority of Muslims now refer to Allah by the masculine pronoun of "He" without reservation and in the Quran the pronoun "She" is never mentioned.
Engaged Muslim Voters Are the 'Radicals' Harper's Most Afraid Of
Canadian Muslims have views about gender equity that far surpass the niqab. Canada ranks far lower in gender equity in comparison to some other nations from 20 years ago. The wage gap has not closed. Childcare remains costly. Canadian streets remain unsafe at night. Women's shelters have long waiting lists and some have closed. On Oct. 19, commit the most subversive act you can -- vote.
We Are All Complicit in the Tragedy on Turkey's Shores
By now everyone has seen the tiny corpse of three-year-old Alan Kurdi washed up on Turkey's shores. Canada and its allies must work harder to focus squarely on the root of the problem -- the lack of human rights, withheld not only by ISIS/Daesh, but by others, as well.
The Cycling Cleric's Inspiration - The Ultimate Gift From One Brother to Another
Some call him a hero, but Imad Zammar says that if his mom, Freida Zammar, is present, she is quick to correct them and say, "he's not a hero -- he did what you are supposed to do -- for family." Maybe, but not everyone saves their older brother's life by giving him a kidney. And that is exactly what Zammar did.
Pulling Kids Out of New Sex-Ed Classes Will Only Breed Fear and Hate
Under the new curriculum, nay-saying parents have the option of pulling their kids out of sex-ed class. But should they? As a fellow parent of three children in the Ontario public education system, I say no. You can pull your kids out of sex-ed. And maybe one day you will also pull them out of classes that teach about climate change and evolution. Perhaps you don't trust the teacher who might be gay and so you find a way to pull your kids out of his or her class. You are teaching your kids to run from what they fear and instill in them hatred of others. Isn't it better to arm them with knowledge, teach them to respect differences and then trust them?
King Abdullah Leaves A Legacy of Shame
Last week King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia died at the age of 90. From the time he received the throne in 1995 until the day he died, Abdullah watched, mostly in silence, as the world became mired in religious extremism and as blame for the chaos fell squarely upon the shoulders of ordinary Muslims. Abdullah knew and implicitly sealed the export of hateful Wahabism from Saudi Arabia's borders to all corners of the earth, ignoring centuries of tradition from its Islamic anti-thesis, Sufism.
A Muslim Message to Those Leaving Canada to Join ISIS
Recently ISIS released a video featuring former Canadian, 23-year-old John Maguire, now known as Abu Anwar Al-Canadi, demanding Muslim Canadians carry out terrorist attacks on Canadian soil. Though interpretations of religion which fail to uphold universal human rights legitimize ISIS ideologies for men like Maguire, not all Canadian adherents of conservative interpretations of Islam wish to live in a violent dictatorship, bound by the most rigid shariah law. If you are a Canadian Muslim, considering joining ISIS, here are a list of sins you will commit if you do.
Post-Shooting, Muslim Canadians Stand in Solidarity With Our Country
Ordinary Muslim Canadians in Ottawa on Wednesday had the same worries and concerns as everyone else. As Canadians we are blessed to live in a nation where everyone is free and equal under the law. Our organizations, among others, work to wipe out extremism both at home and abroad and will continue.
An Open Letter From Some Muslims Who Love Canada and Human Rights
On Tuesday, October 7 the Harper government voted for military action against ISIS/ISIL notwithstanding all opposition parties opposed it. We are concerned that Canada may become further targeted by extremists and that Canadians, including members of our armed forces and our police, may be placed in greater danger as a result of its participation in the war.
Dear Mr. Ambassador: We Are Concerned About Egypt's LGBTQ Community
On October 18, we shall be holding a peaceful demonstration outside the Embassy of Egypt in Ottawa to protest Egypt's degrading and dehumanizing treatment of sexual minorities. Egypt has shown a lack of compassion and respect for the basic human rights of some of its most vulnerable citizens.
Following Hajra in Mecca: Islam's Matriarchal Roots
At Hajj, we Muslims must walk 7 times between the hills of Safa and Marwa and at some point many touch the water from the well of Zam-Zam. Why? Because only in following the footsteps of Hajra do Muslims complete the Hajj. Who was Hajra? She was the founder of Mecca. Yes -- a woman founded Mecca. Islam has a matriarch. And not only was she a woman. She was a slave.
Ordinary Muslims Part 2: The Cycling Cleric Riding for Our Hearts
Mohamad Jebara -- also known as The Cycling Cleric -- serves as Chief Imam at the Cordova Spiritual Education Center. Young, dynamic and married, with two children, his Friday sermons are filled with love and compassion for humanity and he ridicules the notion that God can be viewed as a "bogeyman." This Friday, September 5, Mohamad will cycle from Ottawa to Quebec City.
Ordinary Muslims Part 1: There Is No Islam In ISIS
Recent news that several young Canadian men, including two Calgary brothers, died fighting for ISIS has shocked Canada's Muslim community -- the vast majority of whom scoff at the notion that the terrorists who have overrun Syria and Iraq are acting upon authentic Islamic teachings, much less a compose a "caliphate."
Dear Stephen Harper, Eid Mubarak
As Muslims celebrate Eid, it's important to look at the past month during which the world has witnessed thousands suffer in Gaza, Iraq and Syria. We has Prime Minister Stephen Harper to speak out about these issues, but are disappointed. We must do more in the name of humanity, Prime Minister Harper.
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