This column was originally published in the February 24th, 2012 edition of The Kingston Whig-Standard
Since its inception, 30 years ago, the Canadian Council of Muslim Women has strived to implement its guiding principles of equality and empowerment for women and their families. We deliberately identify ourselves as Canadian and as Muslim because both are integral parts of our identity.
We are proud to call ourselves “believing” Muslim women who know that Islam teaches compassion, social justice and equality of all peoples, including women. We have worked hard to advocate for the objectives of assisting Muslim women to integrate and participate, as well as to learn that their faith is strongly based on the value of gender equality.
Neither of these objectives is easy to achieve. At times it seems the obstacles loom so large that our efforts only advance the objectives by inches. Our challenges are from two directions – from some in the Muslim communities, and from the racism and prejudices of some fellow Canadians. However, we are also encouraged by so many like- minded groups and individuals –both Muslims and non –Muslims.
An example is that during the trial, of the recent tragic murders of the Shafia women, we spoke against the label of “honour killing” and asked that such murders be more appropriately named femicide. We received several venomous emails. I have been called an “Islamist apologist,” and a “contemptible woman”
who should be sent to Sudan. Another said “don’t let such people into Canada, let them remain in Islamist Hell Holes” because such horrors are not committed in Canada by people named Harry, Joe or Mark.
To say “western” men are so civilized that they do not kill their women is inane and not worth contradicting.
We are also lambasted by some of our co-religionists because we did not agree with the term “honour killing.” We were called naïve and defensive because we will not accept that these killings are an intrinsic part of being South Asian or Muslim.
All of them missed the crucial point we make of condemning ANY murder of women and girls, because we don’t want any justification accepted based on religion, culture or men’s explanations. Of course, we need to understand the context of any murder but this should not mean that the focus should be on the
perpetrators’ rationales. Some Muslims criticize us for our insistence that there are legitimate alternative interpretations to the severe traditional understanding of Muslim beliefs and
practices. Our challenge of the manifestations of tribal patriarchy, including gender inequality, does not sit well with some Muslims.
We hold there is no contradiction between our faith and universal human rights. It matters not that we base our understanding on excellent scholarly work, because there are too many other opposing voices well – oiled by some Muslim majority states.
Fortunately we are encouraged by groups such as the two international networks – Women Living Under Muslim Laws and MUSAWAH. Both these networks bring together Muslim women from all over the world to create changes in laws, so that women can live fully with dignity and equal rights.
Musawah is currently doing some remarkable scholarly and advocacy work around the concepts and practices of male guardianship and male protection [wilayah and qiwamah] These concepts are highly problematic as they are continuing aspects of tribal patriarchy causing much damage in the lives of women and girls.
Undoubtedly, there are some difficult issues amongst Muslims which must be challenged. Some Muslims’ anti-west diatribes don’t help, but it is tiresome to be lectured that Islam is incompatible with democracy and the rights of citizens. Certainly the Quran, like other sacred books, has verses which can sound either violent, or intolerant. But there are others which have the gentlest and finest messages of compassion and tolerance.
For example, about tolerance of diversity, God says,“Every community faces a direction of its own of which God is the focal point. Vie therefore with one another in doing good works.” Again, “There should be no coercion in matters of faith.”
A clear message, “We have created you all out of a male and a female and have made you into nations and tribes, so that you may come to know one another. The noblest of you in the sight of God is the one who is most deeply conscious of God.”
You may well ask why some Muslims and non–Muslims don’t heed to these commandments.
