The following is a speech given by CCMW board member Shaheen Ashraf for the  Canadian Association for Race Relations and the Muslim Jewish Dialogue Group about why Canada should welcome refugees.

“Working together” December-15-2015:

Thank you for that WARM introduction Dr. Karen Mock, Respected Organizers, Most Distinguished guests, When I ask myself this question, (and I am also asking all of you the same) why or how, we should work together to bring Refugee families to Canada? Few suggestions come to mind & I shall share them with you soon, but first… Do not forget, I shall be asking you this question of why we should work together to help refugees, again, so think about it.

I am honoured tonight to represent the Canadian Council of Muslim Women and I want to talk about the role CCMW plays in our Society. How we partner with other organizations, of our faith AND other faiths for the betterment of our Communities.

When CCMW was founded in the early 1980’s, the feminist movement was JUST coming on the global stage. Our sisters, along with our founder Dr. Lila Fahlman, were working hard. We have been working since THEN, on issues of gender equity, gender equality, we speak up against domestic violence, Violence against WOMEN, we work together for a general well being of women.  This is our primary role. We also work on raising awareness towards the constitutional guarantees of religious freedoms.  We worked with about 50 other organizations towards “One Law for ALL” when certain people were pushing for “Specific Religious Arbitrations” in Ontario, back in 2005 (or was it 2008?) My Senior memory fails me. Dr. Mock could help me remember as she was one of our partners.

We were called upon to give Positions on “Islamic Work Ethics” among other things. Our Executive Director is always busy responding to Media calls and giving our Organization’s positions, writing papers (and these are available on our website) (our Borad and Chapter members do the same). We have had “Awareness Raising” Campaigns, given Workshops on VAW, we focus on basic Human Rights, especially for women. We have Tool Kits on our website to help us deliver these workshops. We pray sincerely, that educating everyone will end this horror of HATE campaign happening all around the world today.

When events like 9/11, or any unnecessary killings happen around the world, we make it a point to share our sorrow and condemn & denounce the actions of the few, but effect us all negatively. We know very well that such events demand that many in our community respond and make some kind of announcements. We recognize that groups like ours, religious leaders, political leaders, and individuals, have their respective roles in making this world a better place. We believe that many good people are working towards essential human rights and we have hope that things will get better. God willing.

Coming to the most recent crisis “The Syrian Refugee Crisis” I feel,  this welcoming gesture will give Canada a good reputation in the Middle East. Something that we sorely need today.  A week ago the head of the International Organization for Migration (the IOM) Director-General William Lacy Swing applauded the Canadian government’s pledge to bring in 25,000 Syrian refugees by the end of February 2016. He commented “It is an important humanitarian act, It reflects a lot of political courage, leadership and vision.” He added that he was “very encouraged by this gesture”. He praised Canada’s welcoming stance towards this initiative at a time when xenophobia in Europe and the United States, is growing.

Canada is known around the world as a Compassionate Country. I mean we did admit a lot of Europeans after World War II. We also cannot forget admitting Vietnamese people who came to be known as Boat People as they arrived in them. I think, if I am not mistaken, many European countries ARE taking in refugees from Syria. Germany for one, is taking a large number. (somewhere around 800,000- a million)??? God has blessed us with this huge wonderful country where these 25,000 would be like a drop in a bucket.

According to the United Nations, these families have already been qualified as ‘refugees’ and they have had all Security checks done. These are not just single young men trying to jump the line. These are marginalized families who have been forced to FLEE their homes. Not to forget, that many of these people, coming here, already have family ties in Canada.

As I said earlier, Canada is a huge country and in need of man power in certain areas. We could settle the new comers in those areas.  I am sure the Govt. has already plans about this and put in some good programs, created new jobs,  I mean all this will be good for our economy. These refugees will call Canada their home and help us BUILD our Country like the ones before them (I mean we all come from different parts of the world, did we not?).

Over the decades, we have noticed that the Economy of countries that accepted displaced people, is far stronger than those who did not, like the USA / Canada and Western Europe,.

I also want to bring in our “Religious values” and when I say this, I am thinking about the values of “The Children of Abraham”.   Our history is inter-twined, we have common goals. Working together to bring in the refugees are new opportunities for our Global communities, to have the same voice, (the voice of PEACE and FOR peace). We can learn from each other, by sharing and build on these shared grounds.  It is through our interfaith dialogue that we will find our common ground so we can take concrete actions of solidarity.

We, (the children of Abraham) believe in social justice and charity and we have to pick up the cudgel and start using these values to benefit mankind. We, who have PEACE to start our dialogue with, as we say salaam or shalom. WE need to take care of the less fortunate as our Traditions declare in our Holy books.

We, the People of the Book have to come forward and recognize that our Fellow humans NEED us. This is a time of NEED and we have to Rise to the occasion.  The Quran, and I am sure the other Holy Books, the Torah & the New Testament too, guide us to take care of the less fortunate among us.

Muslims are urged to have respect for refugees and asylum seekers and special attention needs to be paid to the sufferings of forced Migrants, like the Syrians today, the Iraqis yesterday and so on and so forth.

Just to share a few examples with you:

For the word ‘Safeguard’ (Aman) is the term the Quran uses to refer to refuge that is offered. Such refuge remains inviolate even if the person being offered protection, is in a conflict against Muslims (9:6) “And if any of those (even people of different beliefs), seek your protection, grant them protection, so that they might hear the word of God and thereupon bring them to a place where they can feel SECURE”

For Agreements: The Quran requires Muslims to comply with their agreements and treaties for the Rights of refugees: “O you who have attained to faith, be true to your covenants” (5:1). It also provides a set of instructions in dealing with refugees and migrants, praising those who go to the assistance of people in distress, people who have forsaken the domain of evil (9:100 & 117)

For Rights:  The Prophet declared brotherhood among the Muhajirun (plural of Muhajir, a migrant), at that time, those who went to Madinah for refuge, and the Ansars (the helpers at Madina AKA “refuge givers”) and stated that “the rights of Migrants are the same as those of their Hosts”. This was declared by the Prophet then, consequently, it is for all time to come), it was recognized that they (the refuge seekers) were entitled to certain rights and humane treatment just as their hosts. So we have a LEAD to follow.

For Oppression: The Quran condemns people whose actions oppress people, eventually prompting mass migrations: “And remember when We took your covenant saying, Shed NOT the blood of your people, nor turn them out from their dwellings” …. (2:84 -5)

For Women & Children:  The Quran puts forth regulations to lend ADDITIONAL support to women and children who are considered more vulnerable (4:2, 9, 36, 75, 127).  All these verses guide us to be kind to the women, to the orphans, to the neighbour (your own OR a stranger), some are specific prayers to take them out of the “land of the oppressors”. I am giving you only a few of the examples from the Holy books.

A challenge has been thrown at us my dear people and we need to Work together to overcome it. We need to be in step with each other in pursuit of peace and compassion towards these people who have been displaced by people calling themselves ISIL or ISIS (you know, the Goddess of Fertility in the Egyptian Mythology is not very happy these days as there is so much misery being created in her name).

So my dear friends, can I please ask you to ponder on the very question of “Working Together” on welcoming these people who are suffering because certain elements in the Society have made it impossible for them to live in their ancestral homes.   Thank you.