Young Muslims Corporation

Eradicate Domestice Violence
Prominent Canadian Muslim organizations, community leaders and activists have joined together to issue a Call to Action to Eradicate Domestic Violence. This Call highlights six ways Canadian Muslims can intensify their efforts to abolish all forms of domestic violence.

Call to Action to Eradicate Domestic Violence

As October, the Domestic Violence Awareness month, has ended and we now approach December 6, the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women, Muslim Canadians reflect on the reality of domestic violence within our own communities, compounded by abhorrent and yet persistent pre-Islamic practices rooted in the misguided notion of restoring family honour.

As Muslims, we base our ethics and behaviour on the teachings of the Quran and the authenticated example of the Prophet Muhammad, who never hit a woman and taught the men that “the best amongst you is he who treats women the best”. The Quran unequivocally emphasizes the sanctity of all life, forbids all forms of coercion in matters of religion, and reminds us all that each of us is accountable for our actions directly to God, the only Judge.

There is no room within these teachings for any person, by virtue of gender or position within the family, to seize control over the life and bodily security of another.  Domestic violence and, in the extreme, practices such as killing to “restore family honour” violate clear and non-negotiable Islamic principles, and so we categorically condemn all forms of domestic violence.

We the undersigned declare our commitment to intensify our efforts to eradicate domestic violence from our communities through:

1. Working within our community and with other communities to raise awareness of harmful (and sometimes lethal) attitudes that lead to this violence.
   
   
2. Working within our communities to raise awareness about the serious psychological, judicial, social and religious consequences of such practices, through Friday sermons, public lectures, workshops, and other means.
   
   
3. Morally opposing the use of the word “honour” when describing such killings to ensure no positive connotation is implied directly or indirectly in connection to such heinous crimes.
   
   
4. Working with community leaders and Imams in order to ensure that they are equipped with the necessary resources and training so that they can offer mediation, conflict resolution, and domestic violence counselling in a manner that reflects professional standards, contemporary research, and religious scholarship.
   
   
5. Educating parents and youth about existing resources that can help them deal with intergenerational conflicts and misogynist leanings far before it gets to the point of violent confrontation.
   
   
6. Teaching parents and youth how to deal with intergenerational conflicts and misogynist leanings.

As a first step, starting immediately and specifically on December 9, we commit ourselves to addressing this issue at all levels, including and especially within our Friday sermons, which must highlight Islamic perspectives on domestic abuse, perspectives that condemn all forms of violence against women and children, most especially threatening, abusing, and killing women in the name of protecting the family’s honour. As Muslims and as Canadians, we stand with all Canadians and pledge to combat domestic violence in all its manifestations, wherever and whenever they arise.

Contacts

Imam Sikander Ziad Hashmi, Islamic Society of Kingston
613-572-4252

Samira Kanji, President & CEO, Noor Cultural Centre
416-570-1660

Ihsaan Gardee, CAIR-CAN Executive Director
613-254-9704

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ENDORSED BY:

Muslim Organizations

1. Ahlul Bayt Centre, Ottawa
2. Canadian Association of Muslims with Disabilities (CAM-D) www.camd.ca
3. Canadian Council on American Islamic Relations- CAIR-CAN  www.caircan.ca
4. Canadian Council of Imams  www.canadiancouncilofimams.com
5. Canadian Council of Muslim Women (CCMW) www.ccmw.com
6. Canadian Muslim Forum www.fmc-cmf.com
7. Canadian Muslim Lawyers Association (CMLA) www.muslimlaw.ca
8. Cordova Spiritual Education Centre & Cordova Academy www.cordovaacademy.com
9. DAR Foundation   www.darfoundation.com
10. DawaNet   www.DawaNet.ca
11. El-Tawhid Juma Circle Mosques
12. Faith of Life Network www.faithoflife.net
13. Federation of Muslim Women (FMW) www.fmw.org
14. Islamic Centre of Cambridge    www.iccambridge.com
15. Islamic Chaplaincy Services Canada
16. Islamic Family and Social Services Association (Edmonton) http://www.ifssa.ca/
17. Islamic Humanitarian Services www.al-haqq.com
18. Islamic Information and Da'wah Centre International   www.islaminfo.com
19. Islamic Institute of Toronto    www.islamicinstitute.ca
20. Islamic Social Services Association (ISSA) www.issaservices.com
21. Islamic Society of Kingston  www.kingstonmuslims.net
22. Islamic Society of North American Canada (ISNA Canada) www.isnacanada.com
23. Jamiatul Muslemeen of Ottawa (Jami Omar) www.jamiomar.org
24. Kanata Muslim Association www.kanatamuslims.org
25. London Muslim Mosque   www.londonmosque.ca
26. Lote Tree Foundation  www.lotetree.ca
27. Masjid al-Farooq Islamic Centre www.masjidfarooq.com
28. Muslim Association of Canada  www.macnet.ca
29. Muslim Children’s Aid & Support Services www.muslimchildrensaid.ca
30. Muslim Education Network Training and Outreach Services (MENTORS) www.oais.net
31. Muslim Law Students Association (MLSA), Ottawa University
32. Muslim Resource Centre for Social Support and Integration  www.mrcssi.com
33. Muslim Social Services of Kitchener-Waterloo www.muslimsocialserviceskw.org
34. Muslim Students’ Association, McMaster University http://www.macmsa.com/
35. Muslim Students’ Association, University of Ottawa
36. Muslim Students' Association, University of Toronto Mississauga
37. Muslim Students' Association, Wilfrid Laurier University (WLU MSA)  www.wlumsa.com
38. Muslims for Progressive Values Canada (MPV) www.mpvottawa.com
39. Naseeha Muslim Youth Helpline www.naseeha.net
40. Noor Cultural Centre www.noorculturalcentre.ca
41. Ontario Association of Islamic Schools (OAIS)  www.oais.net
42. P4E Support Group Inc.  www.thep4e.com
43. Presence Musulmane www.presencemusulmane.org
44. Rohingya Canadian Association
45. Salaam: Queer Muslim Community of Canada: http://salaamcanada.com/
46. SeekersHub Toronto www.seekershub.com
47. Smile Canada http://www.smilecan.org/
48. Sound Vision   www.SoundVision.com
49. Talim-ul-Islam (TUI), Weston, Ontario
50. TARIC Islamic Centre www.taric.org
51. The Alternative For Her Community Centre (TAFHCC)  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OmtRrCPqGXs
52. The Coalition of Muslim Women of Kitchener -Waterloo www.cmw-kw.org
53. The Tessellate Institute www.tessellateinstitute.com
54. United Muslim Martial Arts (UMMA)
55. Young Muslims Canada www.youngmuslims.ca

Other Organizations

1. Canadian Association of Jews and Muslims (CAJM)
2. Canadian Association of Multicultural People www.facebook.com/pages/Canadian-Association-of-Multicultural-People/146896072047414
3. Pakistan Canada Association Waterloo-Wellington Counties
4. The Care Factor Community Services Inc   www.thecarefactor.ca

Imams & Muslim Scholars

1. Abdul Hai Patel, Imam
2. Abdul Mannan Syed (Nadwi), Imam, Muslim Society of Waterloo
3. Abu Musa Imran Ally, Imam, TARIC Islamic Centre
4. Abu Noman Tarek, Imam, Islamic Centre of Cambridge
5. Ahmed Limame, Imam, Gatineau Mosque OIC
6. Ahmed Shafaat, Dr., Imam, Dorval Mosque
7. Faraz Rabbani, Executive Director, SeekersHub Toronto
8. Habeeb Alli, Imam
9. Hamid Slimi, Dr. & Imam
10. Irshad Osman, Khateeb, Danforth Islamic centre and Toronto Islamic Centre
11. Jamal Taleb, Imam, London Muslim Mosque
12. Mohamad Jebara, Imam
13. Mohammad Zahid, Shaikh
14. Omar Subedar, Imam, The Mathabah Foundation
15. Samy Metwally, Imam, Ottawa Muslim Association (OMA)
16. Shabir Ally, Imam, Islamic Information and Da'wah Centre International
17. Shafiq Hudda, Imam, Islamic Humanitarian Services
18. Sikander Ziad Hashmi, Imam, Islamic Society of Kingston
19. Tevfik al Jerrahi, Shaikh, Canadian Sufi Cultural Center
20. Timothy J. Gianotti, Dr., Professor of Islamic Studies and Noor Cultural Centre Khateeb
21. Yahya Fadlalla, Dr. & Imam
22. Yusuf Badat, Imam, Islamic Foundation of Toronto
23. Zahir Bacchus, Imam & Principal, Lote Tree Foundation
24. Ziyad Delic, Dr. Imam, Ottawa

Community Leaders

1. A.Q. Mufti
2. Abdur Rafey Faruqi, President, UTM MSA; Director of Operations, Naseeha Muslim Youth Helpline
3. Adam Gilani, President, Muslim Students’ Association, University of Ottawa
4. Amjid Iqbal
5. Anela Jadunandan, Community Development Worker
6. Emdad Khan, Dr., President, South Nepean Muslim Community
7. Elizabeth F. Rahman, Translator & Writer
8. Farheen Khan-Umer, Development Coordinator, Interim Place (Women's Shelter) Peel; Chair, Council for the Advancement of Muslim Professionals - Canada Network
9. Farina Siddiqui, Community and Social Activist
10. Fatima Omar Khamissa, CEO & Founder, God Conscious Women’s Institute
11. Fauzia Mazhar, Coordinator, The Coalition of Muslim Women of KW
12. Haji Muhammad Saleem Shaikh, Retired high school teacher
13. Hanny Hassan, C.M., former President, Council of Muslim Communities of Canada
14. Ibrahim Danial, Board Member, Canadian Muslim Lawyers Association (CMLA) and Muslim Association of Professionals (MAP)
15. Ibrahim Hayani, Ryerson University
16. Idrisa Pandit, Coordinator, Muslim Social Services of Kitchener-Waterloo
17. Irfan Khurshid, Executive Director, ICNA Relief Canada
18. Jeewan Chanicka, Community Activist & Youth Worker
19. Johnny Roberts, Human Rights Activist
20. Kassim Ebrahim, Marriage Officer - Province of Ontario
21. Kathy Bullock, Dr., President, The Tessellate Institute
22. Mohammed Azhar Ali Khan, C.M., O. Ont., Community worker, retired journalist, civil servant and Refugee Judge
23. Muneeb Nasir
24. Rabia Khedr, Disability and Human Rights Activist
25. Reza Rizvi, Co-Founder and Past President, Children of Hope
26. Saleha Khan, Human Rights & Hate Crimes Consultant
27. Samira Kanji, President, Noor Cultural Centre
28. Sandra Noe, Mediator & Human Rights Advocate, Navigation from Conflict to Resolution
29. Shawana Shah, Neighbours Friends and Families Muslim Project (NFF -Ottawa)
30. Sukaina Dada, Occupational Therapist, Smile President
31. Suleiman Gardee, Dr.
32. Taha Ghayyur, Sound Vision & TorontoMuslims.com
33. Wahida Valiante, Chair and National President, Canadian Islamic Congress (CIC); Chair, Islamic History Month Canada

NOTE

To add your name and/or organization to the list of endorsers, please email CAIR-CAN at: info(@)caircan(.)ca . Please indicate “Call to Eradicate DV Endorsement” in the subject line.

Be sure to include your, and/or your organization's full name, your title, and telephone number for verification.