Working site on citizenship and multiculturalism issues.
2014/01/22 Leave a comment
Not only happening in the US but also in Canada. While likely still a minority of mosques having a more inclusive approach to gender, increased willingness of some mosques reflects greater integration.
Muslim Women Challenge American Mosques: ‘Now Is The Time’ : NPR.
2014/01/16 Leave a comment
Op-ed by Imam Zijad Delic challenges facing Canadian Muslims in combatting family violence and integrating within Canadian society (Imam Delic was subject of controversy a number of years back when the Government, at the political level, essentially stopped his existing work with government departments and agencies given his past association with the Canadian Islamic Conferenc (here:). His message of living in Canada in accordance with Canadian norms has been consistent over the years:
Canadian Muslim leaders must set standards for more and better social justice education, restorative justice, family counselling and community development. Canadian imams particularly must come to the forefront as engaged mentors, advisers, role models and facilitators — not just as judges and critics of youth. An imam’s job is to educate and remind Canadian Muslims that leniency, mercy, forgiveness and acceptance are the true hallmarks of our faith’s prophetic tradition, not violence and abuse.
2014/01/15 Leave a comment
While I was not a fan of the Supreme Court ruling, which left open the door to the niqab in court, the application of the test seems to have been reasonable in ruling that she must remove the niqab to testify, including before the accused.
Woman to remove niqab to testify in Toronto case | Toronto Star.
2013/12/02 Leave a comment
The usual debate between the fundamentalists, who want literal interpretations, and theological teaching more in line with the Western tradition of inquiry (Center for Islamic Studies in Münster).
After all, we don’t need another fundamentalist centre; we need centres that have a more open perspective, not just a mechanical what “is allowed and forbidden in Islam”. And that is critical to allowing participation in various consultative fora and play an active role:
The curriculum is only just being developed, but the attitude in which Islam will be taught is already visible when talking with the professors at the Center for Islamic Theology. Above all else, Mouhanad Khorchide says one must use intellect to understand religion. “The task of theology is to justify religion rationally and to take responsibility,” he said, adding that it’s not about an unquestioning acceptance along the lines of, “I live my religion because it’s there.” And with that statement, he also gives his critics a very clear answer.
German-funded Islamic studies contested by some Muslim groups | Germany | DW.DE | 02.12.2013.
2013/12/02 Leave a comment
Usual good commentary by Sheema Khan on gender equality issues in Muslim countries. Arab Development Report has similar findings (not all Arabs are Muslim and vice versa of course).
Reflects, in part, the weakness of the madrassas, mosques and Imams in not addressing and advocating these issues head-on. As she notes, the efforts to educate women will likely change things in the long-term, but as we have seen, some of the most fundamentalist and radicalized have benefited from good education.
Muslim countries must tackle gender gap head-on – The Globe and Mail.
2013/11/22 Leave a comment
Good piece by Jonathan Kay that all religions have fundamentalists, and the impact on women in particular:
Since the dawn of modern feminism, social liberals have sought to liberate women from the clutches of conservative Christian doctrines that keep them under their husbands’ thumbs. Since 9/11, a similar project has been underway in regard to Muslims. It is time to take a broader view toward this project. All patriarchal religious traditions that make a fetish of separating the sexes, that entertain phobic and repressed attitudes to human sexuality, that privilege group solidarity over the well-being of children, and that treat women as debased creatures who cannot be trusted to walk among us, except under wig or veil, must be subject to the same scrutiny.
Jonathan Kay: Judaism’s fundamentalism problem | National Post.
2013/11/22 Leave a comment
An interesting article on the daycare centre in Quebec with niqab wearing daycare workers:
«J’ai peur que la petite communauté que nous avons créée dans notre garderie soit déchirée à cause d’une photo devenue virale. Nous choisissons de porter le niqab et les parents choisissent de nous laisser leurs enfants. Avec les enfants, nous nous dévoilons et ils n’ont pas de problème à ce que nous le revêtions pour sortir à l’extérieur. M. Drainville, vous n’avez pas à nous confier vos enfants, mais si les autres parents veulent le faire, c’est leur choix.»
La femme plaide qu’elle et ses éducatrices s’occupent très bien des enfants. «Nous rions avec eux, nous les consolons quand ils pleurent. Nous avons travaillé très fort pour créer un environnement de tolérance, d’amour et de soin avec les parents de nos enfants. Nous voulons le meilleur pour eux.»
Elle indique qu’on la questionne souvent sur le port du voile intégral. «En discutant, on élimine la peur. Même si vous n’êtes pas d’accord avec nos décisions, sommes tous des humains.» Elle conclut en priant les passants «de ne pas nous cracher dessus ou de nous insulter devant les enfants, comme vous l’avez fait par le passé».
Of course, fathers are not able to have face-to-face communication, unlike women and the children.
Garderie à Verdun: «J’ai choisi seule de porter le niqab» | Katia Gagnon | Éducation.
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Multicultural Meanderings 