Working site on citizenship and multiculturalism issues.
2014/03/14 Leave a comment
Some good pieces on radicalization, starting with a RCMP initiative to curb radicalization among at risk youth:
RCMP set to tackle extremism at home with program to curb radicalization of Canadian youth
Secondly, an overview of the case of Damian Clairmont, a Muslim convert from Calgary, who became radicalized and was killed in Syria:
Not His War: How a Catholic Canadian Became an Islamic Extremist
2014/03/12 1 Comment
Good short interview with Irshad Manji on Islam and multiculturalism. Continues to surprise me that so many forget that multiculturalism was about integration from both the diversity and equity aspects, and never was about an “anything goes” or extreme relativism. Always in the context of the Canadian Constitution, including the Charter, and overall Canadian laws and regulations.
2014/02/19 Leave a comment
Good piece by Sheema Khan on the challenges within mosques:
The BCMA [B.C. Muslim Association] is but one of many organizations across Canada that operate on cultural practices imported from abroad, escaping accountability. Many receive charitable status and government grants while their governance structures exclude women. This must change. Government agencies should be more circumspect when handing out grants and charitable tax status. More importantly, Muslims must push for change from within.
The emerging “unmosqued” movement in the United States seems to have captured the frustration of second- and third-generation Muslims with the way their mosques are run. The movement seeks to engender honest debate, discussion and reform of the Muslim community’s most important institution. Issues include transparency of governance, full participation of women and youths and the hiring of imams who understand the North American context. This is a natural step in the evolution of a vibrant, diverse community.
2014/02/13 Leave a comment
More on the Huron College Islamic preaching course (Ontario university defends decision to kick non-Muslim out of course that teaches Islamic preaching | National Post).
If seminaries have an exemption from a faith test, does an individual course fall into that category? And if some of the courses on Christian preaching at Huron are open to students of other or no faith, why shouldn’t the one on Islamic preaching. And how do other universities with seminaries or theological colleges handle this?
Nobody, including Watson, has a problem with a course in public speaking about Islam being offered at a college if it is inclusive. He also has no problem with it being exclusive, but offered in a venue such as a mosque or a community centre or a seminary that is not tax-funded. It’s really quite a simple issue. Open up the course or shut it down.
On the other hand, it may be better to have training for Islamic preachers in Canada, rather than relying on imported Imams, less familiar and open to an openly diverse and multi faith society.
Barbara Kay: Huron College should open up its Islam course, or shut it down | National Post.
2014/02/12 1 Comment
More on the ongoing controversy, and ongoing activities, of fundamentalist preachers and the requirement for gender segregation at UK universities:
The speaker this time was Ustadh Alomgir Ali, a lecturer from Haddad’s Muslim Research and Development Foundation. His audience comprised men at the front and women – the majority of whom waited outside in the rain before the lecture began while the men gathered inside – at the back. Although there were no signs enforcing segregation, he spoke at length in favour of gender division and of a “crisis in society”, with the relationship between men and women in need of correction.
“In Islam, we have laid down certain prohibitions because it leads on to other sins,” he told his audience. “The first important point you must learn at university is lowering the gaze.”
His lecture concluded with some advice. “Brothers and sisters, the important thing is to learn etiquette of modesty, lowering your gaze, avoiding touching the opposite gender and avoiding unnecessary socialising with the opposite gender.”
Islamic preachers: the pied pipers of sexual apartheid? – Telegraph.
2014/02/11 Leave a comment
Interesting story about an accountant who wished to sign up for an Islamic preaching course to test whether a non-Muslim could apply but who is opposed to public universities providing such training:
James Turk, the executive director of the Canadian Association of University Teachers, said his group opposes faith tests. The exception, however, is seminaries. It’s reasonable, Mr. Turk said, to require students who are training to be leaders within their religious communities to adhere to those beliefs.
Mr. Watson believes a course on how to preach is better suited for a mosque or community centre than it is for a publicly funded university. The student believes he should have the right to see what Ms. Mattson is teaching, particularly in light of what he believes is a growing strain of Islamic extremism in the community.
Ms. Mattson encouraged Mr. Watson to take one of her alternative courses on Islam and politics instead.
“I don’t know to what extent he has a genuine interest or to what extent he has an ideological commitment to a certain world view of Muslims,” she said. “There are people who have genuine concerns and there are ways for them to engage in discussions with Muslims, or with me, about these issues. I would think the Islam and politics class would have been much more suited to his interests.”
2014/02/03 Leave a comment
An interesting account of the conversion process by Stephane Pressault a student at St. Paul’s University. Fairly high level and philosophical; not sure how real world it is but worth reading.
When I meet a new convert, I always make sure to ask them where their ancestors are from. This questions often throws people back as if being Canadian contradicts being Muslim. I seek to change that. Becoming Muslim, for a Canadian convert, means understanding how Islam will shape one’s Canadian identity. Only institutionalized tarbiyah, through traditional scholarship that trains culturally relevant leaders and through artisanship and craftsmanship, that revives excellency in work can a convert embody excellence in their Islam.
2014/01/30 Leave a comment
An interesting piece about Saudi Arabia and how some of the new generation of thinkers are questioning Saudi Salafism, a mini-reformation so to speak:
These writers and many others long for a new liberation theology that frees people from political oppression that is deeply rooted in religion. They represent a new generation of Saudi intellectuals who are prepared to challenge Salafist dogma, especially those aspects that have allowed absolute government to pacify society, criminalize civil and political activism and isolate people from the decision-making process. They challenge the meaning of concepts used by official Saudi religious scholars to “domesticate” the population and ensure its acquiescence in showing obedience to rulers and avoiding dissent and chaos.
These Saudis have not abandoned Islam but are searching in its history and interpretations for ways to challenge Saudi Arabia’s political stagnation and religious dogma. They all cherish the freedom to discuss and debate openly and reach out to audiences beyond the limited circles of the educated and intellectuals. Yet, they are denied this opportunity as a result of traditional Salafist resistance and the government’s fear of the new discourse they are attempting to propagate. The Saudi government is frightened by these revisionist approaches to religion and their potential consequences, especially if they empower a young generation tired of rehearsing old religious ideas.
If real political change needs an intellectual framework, then this new generation of writers is definitely contributing to the debate that may in the future lead Saudis to endorse a revisionist liberation theology. All they need at this juncture is a group of dedicated activists who can put their ideas into action.
2014/01/24 Leave a comment
Interesting story about Amir Khadir attending a meeting of Muslim Canadians where the women were seated on one side, the men on the other, and the resulting criticism. I liked the way he handled it:
« J’aimerais que ceux qui prétendent lutter contre l’intégrisme descendent de leur zone de confort et viennent fréquenter ces jeunes qui sont en questionnement, attirés par des gens qui leur offrent un refuge, alors que nous, avec une certaine démonisation des communautés immigrantes, on les repousse dans les bras des intégristes », a répliqué le député de Québec solidaire.
Better to debate and discuss, than pontificate.
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Multicultural Meanderings 