Re: [NPM] and PMN--Let Itrath Speak! Send your WakeUp Call!
[email protected] Tue, 15 Jun 2004 21:34:35 EDT
| Newsgroups | gmane.culture.religion.muslim.progressive |
|---|---|
| Message-ID | <[email protected]> |
--===============1628184412== Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="-----------------------------1087349675" -------------------------------1087349675 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Language: en Irath, I really liked this article by Ahmed--straight to the point. Stay strong, m= y=20 sister, you have my prayers and support. Daayiee Great work together. =20 In a message dated 6/15/2004 8:09:08 PM Eastern Daylight Time, [email protected]= a=20 writes: Salaam Ahmed, oyy vey. this is a bit intimidating. but in a good way, i think. :-) just wanted to say that there are more muslim candidates running. there are 3 women that i know of running for the ndp, me, monia and fauzia. i think there are a bunch more men running for the ndp as well. not sure where you can find the actual count, aside from perhaps the ndp federal office or the elections canada people at www.elections.ca . itrath > From: Ahmed Nassef <[email protected]> > Reply-To: [email protected] > Date: Tue, 15 Jun 2004 19:23:56 -0400 > To: [email protected] > Subject: [NPM] Let Itrath Speak! Send your WakeUp Call! >=20 > Assalamu Alaykum Dear Friends, >=20 > You can participate in our WakeUp Call to mosque leaders in Vancouver urgi= ng > them to give Itrath an opportunity to speak to the community at: >=20 > http://www.muslimwakeup.com/mainarchive/000882.php >=20 > Peace, > Ahmed > ------------- > Another Woman Silenced: Vancouver Imam Attacks Muslim Candidate for Canadi= an > Parliament >=20 > By Ahmed Nassef >=20 > When Itrath Syed entered her local mosque in Vancouver last Friday, she > expected to get a chance to let her fellow congregants know about her > campaign for the Canadian parliament representing the Delta-Richmond East > Riding south of Vancouver on behalf of the New Democratic Party (NDP). >=20 > After all, not only is Syed one of only two Muslim candidates on the ballo= t > in all of Canada and the sole Muslim candidate in her province, but she an= d > her family have been long-time supporters and members in the British > Columbia Muslim Association (BCMA), the main mosque in Vancouver. >=20 > Syed is a graduate student in Women=E2=80=99s Studies at the University of= British > Columbia and a veteran peace and justice, civil rights and anti-violence > activist, having worked for 7 years at a battered women and children shelt= er > and leading her province=E2=80=99s anti-war efforts. >=20 > However, instead of an opportunity to address the other Muslims there, Sye= d > sat through a scorching sermon that charged her with =E2=80=9Cworking agai= nst the > community.=E2=80=9D >=20 > The sermon, delivered by Imam Zijad Delic, focused on the issue of same-se= x > marriage. Although never mentioning her by name, Syed says that Delic > repeatedly derided =E2=80=9CMuslims who are running for politics,=E2=80= =9D a clear=20 reference > to her. >=20 > Those Muslims who support a =E2=80=9Cfahisha=E2=80=9D (i.e. grave sin), De= lic reportedly > continued, will never get the community=E2=80=99s support. >=20 > On the verge of tears, Syed stood in the mosque parking lot with a friend > after the prayers feeling humiliated and betrayed. >=20 > According to Syed, Daud Ismail, the president of the BCMA, which operates > the mosque, had promised her a chance to address community members two wee= ks > prior, but that was subsequently postponed until this past Friday, June 11= . > Meanwhile, she was never warned that she would be the focus of a religious > sermon opposing her while not being given a chance to respond afterwards. >=20 > Although Ismail told me that he would not comment on the matter, Delic was > unapologetic. While denying that he targeted Syed in his sermon, Delic > repeatedly attacked her during a telephone interview. >=20 > =E2=80=9CMy problem is not with NDP. My problem is with her=E2=80=A6 suppo= rt for [same-sex > marriage],=E2=80=9D he told me. >=20 > In an angry, almost vengeful tone, Delic at once seemed to challenge Syed= =E2=80=99s > faith=E2=80=94at one point, he went on about how she should not be called=20= a =E2=80=9CMuslim =E2=80=9D > candidate=E2=80=94while at the same time asserting that, since Syed wears=20= the > head-covering, she should be bound by stricter standards than non-Muslim > candidates. >=20 > Apparently in Delic=E2=80=99s world, the choice to don the head covering,=20= or hijab, > gives Muslim women the added burden, one not borne by men of course, of > having to conform to Delic=E2=80=99s vision of true Islam. >=20 > For Delic, the gay marriage issue is so important that it justifies the > public humiliation of a highly respected human rights activist in the > Greater Vancouver community. When asked if he would give Syed a chance for= a > rebuttal, he insisted that she should not be given a chance to address the > mosque attendees unless she first comes out with a statement retracting he= r > support of her party=E2=80=99s positions on same-sex union. Delic also ins= isted that > he has nothing to apologize for. >=20 > Many Canadian Muslims, however, don=E2=80=99t share Delic=E2=80=99s views. >=20 > =E2=80=9CThe community has every reason to be proud of Itrath Syed,=E2=80= =9D says Tarek > Fatah, co-founder of the Muslim Canadian Congress. =E2=80=9CHer crime is t= hat she > believes in universal human rights for all minorities, including gays and > lesbians. For this principled stand, this young observant Muslim woman is > paying the price.=E2=80=9D >=20 > Monia Mazigh, the other Muslim running for office with the NDP in Ottawa,=20= is > disturbed that some are making one=E2=80=99s position on same-sex marriage= a litmus > test for a vote. Mazigh became something of a media star throughout the > country because of her courageous battle on behalf of her husband, Maher > Arar, a Canadian citizen who was detained by US authorities then handed ov= er > to Syria, where he spent 374 days in a Syrian jail before finally being > released. >=20 > =E2=80=9CIt is very dangerous to endorse or oppose a candidate just becaus= e he > supports or opposes same sex marriage,=E2=80=9D Mazigh said. =E2=80=9CWe s= hould not mix > religion and politics.=E2=80=9D >=20 > But the blurred line between religion and politics is at the core of the > issue for Imam Delic. When confronted with whether he supported the > separation of religion and state in Canada, Delic wavered. After first > responding, =E2=80=9CNo, I don=E2=80=99t,=E2=80=9D he continued, =E2=80= =9CI support Canada. What can I do. > There is no choice right now.=E2=80=9D >=20 > In the meantime, at the Vancouver mosque, where women are not allowed to > vote for any of the male mosque leaders, a Muslim woman=E2=80=99s voice is= being > silenced. >=20 > =E2=80=9CI am not willing to subject myself to be judged,=E2=80=9D says Sy= ed. =E2=80=9CThe mosque > space should belong to all Muslims, but they have this complete control ov= er > who can speak and who can=E2=80=99t.=E2=80=9D >=20 > Ahmed Nassef is editor-in-chief of MWU! He can be reached at > [email protected]. >=20 -------------------------------1087349675 Content-Type: text/html; charset="UTF-8" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Language: en <HTML><HEAD> <META charset=3DUTF-8 http-equiv=3DContent-Type content=3D"text/html; charse= t=3DUTF-8"> <META content=3D"MSHTML 6.00.2800.1400" name=3DGENERATOR></HEAD> <BODY style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #fffff= f"> <DIV> <DIV>Irath,</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I really liked this article by Ahmed--straight to the point. = Stay strong, my sister, you have my prayers and support.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Daayiee</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Great work together. </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>In a message dated 6/15/2004 8:09:08 PM Eastern Daylight Time, itrath@s= haw.ca writes:</DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE style=3D"PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: blue=20= 2px solid"><FONT face=3DArial>Salaam Ahmed,<BR><BR>oyy vey. this is a=20= bit intimidating. but in a good way, i think. :-)<BR><BR>just wanted t= o say that there are more muslim candidates running. there are<BR>3 wo= men that i know of running for the ndp, me, monia and fauzia. i think<= BR>there are a bunch more men running for the ndp as well. not sure wh= ere you<BR>can find the actual count, aside from perhaps the ndp federal off= ice or the<BR>elections canada people at www.elections.ca .<BR><BR>itrath<BR= ><BR><BR><BR>> From: Ahmed Nassef <[email protected]><BR>> Re= ply-To: [email protected]<BR>> Date: Tue, 15 Jun 2004 19:23:56 -0= 400<BR>> To: [email protected]<BR>> Subject: [NPM] Let Itrath=20= Speak! Send your WakeUp Call!<BR>> <BR>> Assalamu Alaykum Dear Friends= ,<BR>> <BR>> You can participate in our WakeUp Call to mosque leaders=20= in Vancouver urging<BR>> them to give Itrath an opportunity to speak to t= he community at:<BR>> <BR>> http://www.muslimwakeup.com/mainarchive/00= 0882.php<BR>> <BR>> Peace,<BR>> Ahmed<BR>> -------------<BR>>= Another Woman Silenced: Vancouver Imam Attacks Muslim Candidate for Canadia= n<BR>> Parliament<BR>> <BR>> By Ahmed Nassef<BR>> <BR>> When=20= Itrath Syed entered her local mosque in Vancouver last Friday, she<BR>> e= xpected to get a chance to let her fellow congregants know about her<BR>>= campaign for the Canadian parliament representing the Delta-Richmond East<B= R>> Riding south of Vancouver on behalf of the New Democratic Party (NDP)= .<BR>> <BR>> After all, not only is Syed one of only two Muslim candid= ates on the ballot<BR>> in all of Canada and the sole Muslim candidate in= her province, but she and<BR>> her family have been long-time supporters= and members in the British<BR>> Columbia Muslim Association (BCMA), the=20= main mosque in Vancouver.<BR>> <BR>> Syed is a graduate student in Wom= en=E2=80=99s Studies at the University of British<BR>> Columbia and a vet= eran peace and justice, civil rights and anti-violence<BR>> activist, hav= ing worked for 7 years at a battered women and children shelter<BR>> and=20= leading her province=E2=80=99s anti-war efforts.<BR>> <BR>> However, i= nstead of an opportunity to address the other Muslims there, Syed<BR>> sa= t through a scorching sermon that charged her with =E2=80=9Cworking against=20= the<BR>> community.=E2=80=9D<BR>> <BR>> The sermon, delivered by Im= am Zijad Delic, focused on the issue of same-sex<BR>> marriage. Although=20= never mentioning her by name, Syed says that Delic<BR>> repeatedly deride= d =E2=80=9CMuslims who are running for politics,=E2=80=9D a clear reference<= BR>> to her.<BR>> <BR>> Those Muslims who support a =E2=80=9Cfahish= a=E2=80=9D (i.e. grave sin), Delic reportedly<BR>> continued, will never=20= get the community=E2=80=99s support.<BR>> <BR>> On the verge of tears,= Syed stood in the mosque parking lot with a friend<BR>> after the prayer= s feeling humiliated and betrayed.<BR>> <BR>> According to Syed, Daud=20= Ismail, the president of the BCMA, which operates<BR>> the mosque, had pr= omised her a chance to address community members two weeks<BR>> prior, bu= t that was subsequently postponed until this past Friday, June 11.<BR>> M= eanwhile, she was never warned that she would be the focus of a religious<BR= >> sermon opposing her while not being given a chance to respond afterwar= ds.<BR>> <BR>> Although Ismail told me that he would not comment on th= e matter, Delic was<BR>> unapologetic. While denying that he targeted Sye= d in his sermon, Delic<BR>> repeatedly attacked her during a telephone in= terview.<BR>> <BR>> =E2=80=9CMy problem is not with NDP. My problem is= with her=E2=80=A6 support for [same-sex<BR>> marriage],=E2=80=9D he told= me.<BR>> <BR>> In an angry, almost vengeful tone, Delic at once seeme= d to challenge Syed=E2=80=99s<BR>> faith=E2=80=94at one point, he went on= about how she should not be called a =E2=80=9CMuslim=E2=80=9D<BR>> candi= date=E2=80=94while at the same time asserting that, since Syed wears the<BR>= > head-covering, she should be bound by stricter standards than non-Musli= m<BR>> candidates.<BR>> <BR>> Apparently in Delic=E2=80=99s world,=20= the choice to don the head covering, or hijab,<BR>> gives Muslim women th= e added burden, one not borne by men of course, of<BR>> having to conform= to Delic=E2=80=99s vision of true Islam.<BR>> <BR>> For Delic, the ga= y marriage issue is so important that it justifies the<BR>> public humili= ation of a highly respected human rights activist in the<BR>> Greater Van= couver community. When asked if he would give Syed a chance for a<BR>> re= buttal, he insisted that she should not be given a chance to address the<BR>= > mosque attendees unless she first comes out with a statement retracting= her<BR>> support of her party=E2=80=99s positions on same-sex union. Del= ic also insisted that<BR>> he has nothing to apologize for.<BR>> <BR>&= gt; Many Canadian Muslims, however, don=E2=80=99t share Delic=E2=80=99s view= s.<BR>> <BR>> =E2=80=9CThe community has every reason to be proud of I= trath Syed,=E2=80=9D says Tarek<BR>> Fatah, co-founder of the Muslim Cana= dian Congress. =E2=80=9CHer crime is that she<BR>> believes in universal=20= human rights for all minorities, including gays and<BR>> lesbians. For th= is principled stand, this young observant Muslim woman is<BR>> paying the= price.=E2=80=9D<BR>> <BR>> Monia Mazigh, the other Muslim running for= office with the NDP in Ottawa, is<BR>> disturbed that some are making on= e=E2=80=99s position on same-sex marriage a litmus<BR>> test for a vote.=20= Mazigh became something of a media star throughout the<BR>> country becau= se of her courageous battle on behalf of her husband, Maher<BR>> Arar, a=20= Canadian citizen who was detained by US authorities then handed over<BR>>= to Syria, where he spent 374 days in a Syrian jail before finally being<BR>= > released.<BR>> <BR>> =E2=80=9CIt is very dangerous to endorse or=20= oppose a candidate just because he<BR>> supports or opposes same sex marr= iage,=E2=80=9D Mazigh said. =E2=80=9CWe should not mix<BR>> religion and=20= politics.=E2=80=9D<BR>> <BR>> But the blurred line between religion an= d politics is at the core of the<BR>> issue for Imam Delic. When confront= ed with whether he supported the<BR>> separation of religion and state in= Canada, Delic wavered. After first<BR>> responding, =E2=80=9CNo, I don= =E2=80=99t,=E2=80=9D he continued, =E2=80=9CI support Canada. What can I do.= <BR>> There is no choice right now.=E2=80=9D<BR>> <BR>> In the mean= time, at the Vancouver mosque, where women are not allowed to<BR>> vote f= or any of the male mosque leaders, a Muslim woman=E2=80=99s voice is being<B= R>> silenced.<BR>> <BR>> =E2=80=9CI am not willing to subject mysel= f to be judged,=E2=80=9D says Syed. =E2=80=9CThe mosque<BR>> space should= belong to all Muslims, but they have this complete control over<BR>> who= can speak and who can=E2=80=99t.=E2=80=9D<BR>> <BR>> Ahmed Nassef is=20= editor-in-chief of MWU! He can be reached at<BR>> [email protected]= m.<BR>> </FONT></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV> <DIV></DIV></BODY></HTML> -------------------------------1087349675-- --===============1628184412== Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Disposition: inline _______________________________________________ ProgressiveMuslims mailing list [email protected] http://ganymede.nitric.co.za/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/progressivemuslims --===============1628184412==--