Message to Richard Dawkins: ‘Islam is not a race’ is a cop out | Nesrine Malik
2013/09/21 Leave a comment
A reminder that prejudice is still prejudice, no matter how framed or cloaked.
Why it’s been a good year for religion – The Globe and Mail
2013/09/05 Leave a comment
An opinion piece by Yoni Goldstein in the Globe on some of the developments towards more inclusive faith-based approaches in Judaism, Christianity, and, while evidence is mixed, Islam. Change is slow and gradual, but some of the examples within Judaism, and the comments of the new Pope, are worth noting. All religions have a range of opinions and approaches, and it is good to see these examples highlighted, as they reinforce our common humanity.
Why it’s been a good year for religion – The Globe and Mail.
Short Interview Clip on CTV on Quebec Values Charter and Recent Mosque Vandalization
2013/09/03 Leave a comment
For those interested, at about the 9 min mark.
http://www.ctvnews.ca/video?clipId=995404&binId=1.810415&playlistPageNum=1
Islamic conference cancelled by Montreal convention centre
2013/09/01 Leave a comment
While I find many of the comments of the speakers as reported repulsive and bordering on hate speech, I do not favour banning such speech, whether from Islamic or other fundamentalists, or extremists on the other side of the debate (e.g., the Ann Coulters and Pamela Gellers of the world). Better to have the ideas out there, debated, denounced, criticized, demonstrated against. Our democracy is strong and vibrant enough.
While I agree with Imam Salam Elmanayi on letting people speak, stronger language than distasteful would be more appropriate for a leader in the community.
Islamic conference cancelled by Montreal convention centre – Montreal – CBC News.
Islamic fundamentalism: Stories of zealotry | The Economist
2013/08/30 Leave a comment
Short review of Your Fatwa Does Not Apply Here: Untold Stories From the Fight Against Muslim Fundamentalism, by Karima Bennoune. Captures some of the harrowing and destructive stories of fundamentalist excess. Quote:
She is not alone in noticing that Western responses to Islamic troubles often fall into one of two traps: they either blame the religion or blame the West for stunting the Muslim world. But this raises the question of what an appropriate response to Islamic travails should look like. Ms Bennoune seems to imply that the West would do well to encourage non-fundamentalist readings of Islam. If the weed of fundamentalism cannot be uprooted, then it is wise to make sure that the other plants in the garden are in good health.
Islamic fundamentalism: Stories of zealotry | The Economist.
Islamic scholars experience diversity of Muslim practices at U of T summer program | Toronto Star
2013/08/26 Leave a comment
Interesting account of the El-Tawhid Juma Circle Mosque, a LGBTQ-friendly mosque, where women can lead prayers and men and women can sit together. An illustration of the diversity of Islam, although such centres are very much the minority (and not surprising, easier to start in countries like Canada).
Will be interesting to see over time whether the Muslim Canadian population follows the trend of other major religions with more faith centres open to more inclusive policies or not.
Islamic scholars experience diversity of Muslim practices at U of T summer program | Toronto Star.
Des manifs s’organisent contre la venue de prédicateurs islamistes | Fabrice de Pierrebourg | Montréal
2013/08/26 Leave a comment
Another illustration of the diversity of Islam in Canada, and appropriate that demonstrations take place to signal what is acceptable discourse in Canada.
Is Canada doing enough to ‘de-radicalize’ convicted terrorists? | Toronto Star
2013/08/12 Leave a comment
Most countries with radicalization problems have some form of these programs. They are relatively low-cost and provide insights to those who have become radicalized, in addition to helping some get out of radicalization ideology.
The government decision last fall to cancel part-time chaplain contracts, largely impacting Muslim Imams, can only be characterized as bizarre, given that radicalization, while not large-scale, is nevertheless an issue in Canada.
Penny wise but pound foolish. Given Canada’s multicultural reality, chaplains should the diversity of the prison population (72 full-time Christian chaplains compared to 2 full-time Muslim chaplains seems unbalanced to say the least).
Is Canada doing enough to ‘de-radicalize’ convicted terrorists? | Toronto Star.
Citizenship and the Prophet principle – FT.com
2013/07/22 Leave a comment
An interesting summary of a collection of essays on citizenship and sharia, largely written from the perspective that it is preferable not to go down the road of separate religious tribunals, and ending up on the need for greater engagement by Muslim men and women with mainstream life, rather than the more esoteric debates over English law and sharia.
Multiculturalism in Canada: Evidence and Anecdote
Click image for book purchase
Multicultural Meanderings 