Canadian Muslims Issue Call to Action to Eradicate Domestic Violence

-For immediate release-

(Ottawa, Canada - 15/11/11) – Prominent national as well as local Muslim organizations, community leaders and activists, as well as Imams from across Canada are joining together today 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. As a first step, it calls on Imams across Canada to draw attention to December 6, the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women by devoting their sermons on Friday December 9 to the issue.

The statement reads in part:

"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.”

The full statement can be read here.

Ihsaan Gardee, Executive Director of the Canadian Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-CAN), says he supports the statement and encourages Canadian Muslims leaders and institutions who have not yet done so, to contact CAIR-CAN and add their name to list of organizations and individuals who have already endorsed (details listed below) the Call and echo its message in their Friday sermons on December 9, 2011.

"This is an important statement and its call must and will continue to be heard. Canadian Muslims take seriously their responsibility to confront what is a betrayal of the fundamental values of our faith and the example set by the Prophet Muhammad," he added.

CAIR-CAN is a national, non-profit, grassroots organization striving to be a leading voice that enriches Canadian society through Muslim civic engagement and the promotion of human rights.

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 or 613-853-4111


- 30 -

ENDORSED BY:

Muslim Organizations

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


Other Organizations

1. Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic www.schliferclinic.com *
2. Canadian Association of Jews and Muslims (CAJM) *
3. Canadian Association of Multicultural People www.facebook.com/pages/Canadian-Association-of-Multicultural-People/146896072047414
4. Pakistan Canada Association Waterloo-Wellington Counties
5. Social Services Network www.socialservicesnetwork.org *
6. 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. Abdullah Hatia, Imam, IAOS Regina *
4. Abu Musa Imran Ally, Imam, TARIC Islamic Centre
5. Abu Noman Tarek, Imam, Islamic Centre of Cambridge
6. Ahmed Limame, Imam, Gatineau Mosque OIC *
7. Ahmed Shafaat, Dr., Imam, Dorval Mosque – www.islamicperspectives.com *
8. Faraz Rabbani, Executive Director, SeekersHub Toronto
9. Habeeb Alli, Imam
10. Hamid Slimi, Dr. & Imam
11. Irshad Osman, Khateeb, Danforth Islamic centre and Toronto Islamic Centre
12. Jamal Badawi, Dr. *
13. Jamal Taleb, Imam, London Muslim Mosque *
14. Mohamad Jebara, Imam *
15. Mohammad Zahid, Shaikh
16. Omar Subedar, Imam, The Mathabah Foundation
17. Samy Metwally, Imam, Ottawa Muslim Association (OMA)
18. Shabir Ally, Imam, Islamic Information and Da'wah Centre International
19. Shafiq Hudda, Imam, Islamic Humanitarian Services
20. Sikander Ziad Hashmi, Imam, Islamic Society of Kingston
21. Tevfik al Jerrahi, Shaikh, Canadian Sufi Cultural Center
22. Timothy J. Gianotti, Dr.
23. Yahya Fadlalla, Dr. & Imam
24. Yusuf Badat, Imam, Islamic Foundation of Toronto
25. Zahir Bacchus, Imam & Principal, Lote Tree Foundation *
26. Zia Ullah Khan, Imam *
27. 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. Asma Elliot, President, Canadian Council of Muslim Women, Brampton-Mississauga Chapter
*
7. Elizabeth F. Rahman, Translator & Writer *
8. Emdad Khan, Dr., President, South Nepean Muslim Community
9. Farheen Khan-Umer, Development Coordinator, Interim Place (Women's Shelter) Peel; Chair, Council for the Advancement of Muslim Professionals - Canada Network
10. Farina Siddiqui, Community and Social Activist
11. Fauzia Mazhar, Coordinator, The Coalition of Muslim Women of KW
12. Fatima Omar Khamissa, CEO & Founder, God Conscious Women’s Institute, www.godandenergy.com *
13. Haji Muhammad Saleem Shaikh, Retired high school teacher *
14. Hanny Hassan, C.M., former President, Council of Muslim Communities of Canada
15. Ibrahim Danial, Board Member, Canadian Muslim Lawyers Association (CMLA) and Muslim Association of Professionals (MAP) *
16. Ibrahim Hayani, Ryerson University
17. Idrisa Pandit, Coordinator, Muslim Social Services of Kitchener-Waterloo *
18. Irfan Khurshid, Executive Director, ICNA Relief Canada
19. Jeewan Chanicka, Community Activist & Youth Worker
20. Johnny Roberts, Human Rights Activist *
21. Kassim Ebrahim, Marriage Officer - Province of Ontario *
22. Kathy Bullock, Dr., President, The Tessellate Institute
23. Mariam Bhabha, founder and former chair of the Federation of Muslim Women and co-founder and former chair of the Bosnian-Canadian Relief Association *
24. Mohammed Azhar Ali Khan, C.M., O. Ont., Community worker, retired journalist, civil servant and Refugee Judge *
25. Muneeb Nasir
26. Rabia Khedr, Disability and Human Rights Activist
27. Reza Rizvi, Co-Founder and Past President, Children of Hope
28. Saleha Khan, Human Rights & Hate Crimes Consultant *
29. Samira Kanji, President, Noor Cultural Centre
30. Sandra Noe, Mediator & Human Rights Advocate, Navigation from Conflict to Resolution – www.resolvedisputes.org *
31. Shawana Shah, Neighbours Friends and Families Muslim Project (NFF -Ottawa) *
32. Sukaina Dada, Occupational Therapist, Smile President *
33. Suleiman Gardee, Dr.
34. Taha Ghayyur, Sound Vision & TorontoMuslims.com
35. 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.

* Indicates a signatory was added to the list after its initially release