Muslims for White Ribbon

Call to Action to Eradicate Domestic Violence

As October, the Domestic Violence Awareness month, has ended and we now approach December 6, the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women, Muslim Canadians reflect on the reality of domestic violence within our own communities, compounded by abhorrent and yet persistent cultural practices rooted in the misguided notion of restoring family honour.

As Muslims, we base our ethics and behaviour on the teachings of the Quran and the authenticated example of the Prophet Muhammad, who never hit a woman and taught the men that “the best amongst you is he who treats women the best”.  The Quran unequivocally emphasizes the sanctity of all life, forbids all forms of coercion in matters of religion, and reminds us all that each of us is accountable for our actions directly to God, the only Judge.

There is no room within these teachings for any person, by virtue of gender or position within the family, to seize control over the life and bodily security of another.  Domestic violence and, in the extreme, practices such as killing to “restore family honour” violate clear and non-negotiable Islamic principles, and so we categorically condemn all forms of domestic violence.

We the undersigned declare our commitment to intensify our efforts to eradicate domestic violence from our communities through:

1. Working within our community and with other communities to raise awareness of harmful (and sometimes lethal) attitudes that lead to this violence.
2. Working within our communities to raise awareness about the serious psychological, judicial, social and religious consequences of such practices, through Friday sermons, public lectures, workshops, and other means.
3. Morally opposing the use of the word “honour” when describing such killings to ensure no positive connotation is implied directly or indirectly in connection to such heinous crimes.
4. Working with community leaders and Imams in order to ensure that they are equipped with the necessary resources and training so that they can offer mediation, conflict resolution, and domestic violence counselling in a manner that reflects professional standards, contemporary research, and religious scholarship.
5. Educating parents and youth about existing resources that can help them deal with intergenerational and intercultural conflict far before it gets to the point of violent confrontation.
6. Teaching parents and youth how to deal with intergenerational and intercultural conflicts.

As a first step, starting immediately and specifically on December 9, we commit ourselves to addressing this issue at all levels, including and especially within our Friday sermons, which must highlight Islamic perspectives on domestic abuse, perspectives that condemn all forms of violence against women and children, most especially threatening, abusing, and killing women in the name of protecting the family’s honour.  As Muslims and as Canadians, we stand with all Canadians and pledge to combat domestic violence in all its manifestations, wherever and whenever they arise.

Contacts

Imam Sikander Ziad Hashmi, Islamic Society of Kingston

613-572-4252

Samira Kanji, President & CEO, Noor Cultural Centre

416-570-1660

Ihsaan Gardee, CAIR-CAN Executive Director

613-254-9704

ENDORSED BY:

Muslim Organizations

1. Ahlul Bayt Centre, Ottawa

2. Amal Center for Women www.amalwomencenter.ca *

3. British Columbia Muslim Association (BCMA) www.thebcma.com *

4. Canadian Association of Muslims with Disabilities (CAM-D) www.camd.ca

5. Canadian Council of Muslim Women (CCMW) www.ccmw.com *

6. Canadian Council on American Islamic Relations- CAIR-CAN www.caircan.ca

7. Canadian Council of Imams www.canadiancouncilofimams.com

8. Canadian Muslim Forum www.fmc-cmf.com

9. Canadian Muslim Lawyers Association (CMLA) www.muslimlaw.ca *

10. Centre for Islamic Development www.cidonline.org *

11. Cordova Spiritual Education Centre & Cordova Academy www.cordovaacademy.com *

12. DAR Foundation www.darfoundation.com

13. DawaNet www.DawaNet.ca

14. El-Tawhid Juma Circle Mosques *

15. Faith of Life Network www.faithoflife.net

16. Federation of Muslim Women (FMW) www.fmw.org

17. Islamic Association of Saskatchewan (IOAS), Regina www.iaosregina.com *

18. Islamic Centre of Cambridge www.iccambridge.com

19. Islamic Chaplaincy Services Canada

20. Islamic Community Center, Brossard www.iccbrossard.com *

21. Islamic Family and Social Services Association (Edmonton) http://www.ifssa.ca/ *

22. Islamic Humanitarian Services www.al-haqq.com*

23. Islamic Information and Da’wah Centre International www.islaminfo.com

24. Islamic Institute of Toronto www.islamicinstitute.ca

25. Islamic Social Services Association (ISSA) www.issaservices.com

26. Islamic Society of Kingston www.kingstonmuslims.net

27. Islamic Society of North America Canada (ISNA Canada) www.isnacanada.com *

28. Jamiatul Muslemeen of Ottawa (Jami Omar) www.jamiomar.org

29. Kanata Muslim Association www.kanatamuslims.org *

30. Kawartha Muslim Religious Association (KMRA) www.kmra.ca *

31. London Muslim Mosque www.londonmosque.ca

32. Lote Tree Foundation www.lotetree.ca *

33. Masjid al-Farooq Islamic Centre www.masjidfarooq.com

34. Muslim Association of Canada www.macnet.ca

35. Muslim Children’s Aid & Support Services www.muslimchildrensaid.ca

36. Muslim Education Network Training and Outreach Services (MENTORS) www.oais.net

37. Muslim Law Students Association (MLSA), Ottawa University

38. Muslim Resource Centre for Social Support and Integration www.mrcssi.com

39. Muslim Seniors Circle, Mississauga, ON www.muslimseniorscircle.ca *

40. Muslim Social Services of Kitchener-Waterloo www.muslimsocialserviceskw.org *

41. Muslim Students’ Association, McMaster University http://www.macmsa.com/ *

42. Muslim Students’ Association, University of Ottawa http://www.uomsa.ca/

43. Muslim Students’ Association, University of Toronto – Mississauga Campus http://www.facebook.com/utmmsa?sk=wall&filter=1

44. Muslim Students’ Association, University of Toronto – St. George Campus www.uoftmsa.com *

45. Muslim Students’ Association, Wilfrid Laurier University (WLU MSA) www.wlumsa.com

46. Muslims for Progressive Values Canada (MPV) – www.mpvottawa.com *

47. Naseeha Muslim Youth Helpline www.naseeha.net

48. National Muslim Law Students Association – Canada (NMLSA) https://sites.google.com/site/nmlsacanada/home *

49. Noor Cultural Centre www.noorculturalcentre.ca

50. Ontario Association of Islamic Schools (OAIS) www.oais.net

51. P4E Support Group Inc. www.thep4e.com

52. Presence Musulmane www.presencemusulmane.org

53. Rohingya Canadian Association *

54. Salaam: Queer Muslim Community of Canada: http://salaamcanada.com/ *

55. SeekersHub Toronto www.seekershub.org

56. Smile Canada http://www.smilecan.org/ *

57. Sound Vision www.SoundVision.com

58. Talim-ul-Islam (TUI), Weston, Ontario

59. TARIC Islamic Centre www.taric.org

60. The Alternative For Her Community Centre (TAFHCC) – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OmtRrCPqGXs *

61. The Coalition of Muslim Women of Kitchener -Waterloo www.cmw-kw.org

62. The Tesselate Institute www.tessellateinstitute.com *

63. United Caring Establishment Canada (UCEC) www.unitedcaring.org *

64. United Muslim Martial Arts (UMMA) *

65. Young Muslims Canada www.youngmuslims.ca

Other Organizations

1. Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic www.schliferclinic.com *

2. Canadian Association of Jews and Muslims (CAJM) *

3. Canadian Association of Multicultural People www.facebook.com/pages/Canadian-Association-of-Multicultural-People/146896072047414

4. Pakistan Canada Association Waterloo-Wellington Counties

5. Social Services Network www.socialservicesnetwork.org *

6. The Care Factor Community Services Inc www.thecarefactor.ca

Imams & Muslim Scholars

1. Abdul Hai Patel, Imam

2. Abdul Mannan Syed (Nadwi), Imam, Muslim Society of Waterloo *

3. Abdullah Hatia, Imam, IAOS Regina *

4. Abu Musa Imran Ally, Imam, TARIC Islamic Centre

5. Abu Noman Tarek, Imam, Islamic Centre of Cambridge

6. Ahmed Limame, Imam, Gatineau Mosque (OIC) *

7. Ahmed Shafaat, Dr., Imam, Dorval Mosque – www.islamicperspectives.com *

8. Faraz Rabbani, Executive Director, SeekersHub Toronto

9. Habeeb Alli, Imam

10. Hamid Slimi, Dr. & Imam

11. Irshad Osman, Khateeb, Danforth Islamic centre and Toronto Islamic Centre

12. Jamal Badawi, Dr. *

13. Jamal Taleb, Imam, London Muslim Mosque *

14. Mohamad Jebara, Imam *

15. Mohammad Zahid, Shaikh

16. Omar Subedar, Imam, The Mathabah Foundation

17. Samy Metwally, Imam, Ottawa Muslim Association (OMA)

18. Shabir Ally, Imam, Islamic Information and Da’wah Centre International

19. Shafiq Hudda, Imam, Islamic Humanitarian Services

20. Sikander Ziad Hashmi, Imam, Islamic Society of Kingston

21. Tevfik al Jerrahi, Shaikh, Canadian Sufi Cultural Center

22. Timothy J. Gianotti, Dr., Professor of Islamic Studies and Noor Cultural Centre Khateeb

23. Yahya Fadlalla, Dr. & Imam

24. Yusuf Badat, Imam, Islamic Foundation of Toronto

25. Zahir Bacchus, Imam & Principal, Lote Tree Foundation *

26. Zia Ullah Khan, Imam *

27. Ziyad Delic, Dr. Imam, Ottawa

Community Leaders

1. A.Q. Mufti

2. Abdur Rafey Faruqi, President, UTM MSA; Director of Operations, Naseeha Muslim Youth Helpline

3. Adam Gilani, President, Muslim Students’ Association, University of Ottawa

4. Amjid Iqbal

5. Anela Jadunandan, Community Development Worker *

6. Asma Elliot, President, Canadian Council of Muslim Women, Brampton-Mississauga Chapter *

7. Elizabeth F. Rahman, Translator & Writer *

8. Emdad Khan, Dr., President, South Nepean Muslim Community

9. Farheen Khan-Umer, Development Coordinator, Interim Place (Women’s Shelter) Peel; Chair, Council for the Advancement of Muslim Professionals – Canada Network

10. Farina Siddiqui, Community and Social Activist

11. Fauzia Mazhar, Coordinator, The Coalition of Muslim Women of KW

12. Fatima Omar Khamissa, CEO & Founder, God Conscious Women’s Institute, www.godandenergy.com *

13. Haji Muhammad Saleem Shaikh, Retired high school teacher *

14. Hanny Hassan, C.M., former President, Council of Muslim Communities of Canada

15. Ibrahim Danial, Board member, Canadian Muslim Lawyers Association (CMLA) and Muslim Association of Professionals (MAP) *

16. Ibrahim Hayani, Ryerson University

17. Idrisa Pandit, Coordinator, Muslim Social Services of Kitchener-Waterloo *

18. Irfan Khurshid, Executive Director, ICNA Relief Canada

19. Jeewan Chanicka, Community Activist & Youth Worker

20. Johnny Roberts, Human Rights Activist *

21. Kassim Ebrahim, Marriage Officer – Province of Ontario *

22. Kathy Bullock, Dr., President, The Tessellate Institute

23. Mariam Bhabha, founder and former chair of the Federation of Muslim Women and co-founder and former chair of the Bosnian-Canadian Relief Association *

24. Mohammed Azhar Ali Khan, C.M., O. Ont., Community worker, retired journalist, civil servant and Refugee Judge *

25. Muneeb Nasir

26. Rabia Khedr, Disability and Human Rights Activist

27. Reza Rizvi, Co-Founder and Past President, Children of Hope

28. Saleha Khan, Human Rights & Hate Crimes Consultant *

29. Samira Kanji, President, Noor Cultural Centre

30. Sandra Noe, Mediator & Human Rights Advocate, Navigation from Conflict to Resolution – www.resolvedisputes.org *

31. Shawana Shah, Neighbours Friends and Families Muslim Project (NFF -Ottawa)*

32. Sukaina Dada, Occupational Therapist, Smile President *

33. Suleiman Gardee, Dr.

34. Taha Ghayyur, Sound Vision & TorontoMuslims.com

35. Wahida Valiante, Chair and National President, Canadian Islamic Congress (CIC); Chair, Islamic History Month Canada

NOTE To add your name and/or organization to the list of endorsers, please email CAIR-CAN at: info(@)caircan(.)ca . Please indicate “Call to Eradicate DV Endorsement” in the subject line. Be sure to include your, and/or your organization’s full name, your title, and telephone number for verification.

* Indicates signatory was added after the Call was released

Released October 31, 2011

There is no honour in killing

Every now and then, a controversy arises regarding Islam or Muslims.

As a community, we have a responsibility to respond appropriately.

When it’s due to incorrect actions of Muslims, we must confront the issue and work towards making sure it doesn’t continue.

The Qur’an commands us to: “Stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses to God, even though it be against yourselves, or your parents, or your kin, the rich or poor…” (Qur’an – 4:135)

Currently, there is much discussion regarding “honour killings” – the idea that the killing of a family member somehow brings back family honour (allegedly lost due to the action of the victim).

There is misunderstanding that this relates to Islam, further compounded by the fact that such crimes are committed by some Muslims in North America.

First of all, this barbaric practice is by no means limited to Muslims. Such crimes have been committed by members of other faiths, even in Canada.

The penal codes of countries such as Argentina, Venezuela, Peru and Ecuador, allow for the use of a defence of honour, according to a 2002 UN report. Until 2009, “provocation” (which includes discovery of an adulterous wife), was a legal defence in England for a man who killed his wife. A 2004 EU report identified the Romas, female immigrants from Bulgaria, Romania and Poland at risk of honour crimes in Greece.

This barbaric practice occurs in many cultures and cannot be traced back to Islam. However, we acknowledge that such practices are committed by some Muslims and are established in some Muslim societies. This is totally unacceptable.

Our position, as Muslims, must be unequivocal: Islam does not sanction domestic violence, and especially, not murder.

There is no such thing as “honour killing” in Islam. I ask you to find me one classical Islamic religious text that sanctions the murder of a family member to preserve honour. It just doesn’t exist.

In fact, one of major practices in Arabia, prior to Islam, was female infanticide. It was abolished with the advent of Islam.

“Honour killing” is similar. Why are girls singled out? Have you ever heard of a son killed to preserve family honour? No, girls are being singled out. This is similar to female infanticide.

That’s not to say that boys should be killed. Honour killings shouldn’t exist – not for girls, not for boys, not for anyone, because this is a practice of deep ignorance.

The Qur’an categorically prohibits murder.

Let me be very clear: killing a girl or a woman, for having an affair, a relationship, a boyfriend, not wearing hijab, and so on, is not a license for murder.

Murder is an extremely serious crime; and cannot be justified in any way, especially for girls who are under the care of their parents.

The Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) never hit a woman. He repeatedly emphasized kind treatment of women, advising men: “The best of you is the one who is best to his women.”

Honour is an important Islamic value.

But it is comes ultimately from God, as does dishonour. Honour is associated with that which is commendable; dishonour with that which is reprehensible. We should try to set examples for our children, instill good morals and have healthy relationships.

But any misbehaviour certainly should not be addressed by murder. That is dishonourable and reprehensible. Furthermore, Muslims are obliged to follow the law of the land.

This is not to say that sexual licentiousness is not a serious issue, or that our children can do whatever they want, or that we should condone prohibited actions.

We need to take a wise approach. Discuss with your children the changes and pressures they face. Let’s be open and prioritize. Don’t create stiff regulations – such as forcing your child to marry a cousin. Be flexible. If there are problems, seek help.

If, in spite of your sincere efforts, your family member does not heed your advice, and does something that you consider shameful, know that you’ve done your job. You aren’t responsible for their actions.

The last thing you should do is unlawfully take the life of a loved one and create dishonour for yourself. We must keep away from such crimes and must unequivocally say no to honour killings.

This is a condensed version of a sermon delivered by Imam Sikander Ziad Hashmi of the Islamic Society of Kingston, Ont.

The facts about violence against women

• On average, every six days a woman in Canada is killed by her intimate partner. In 2009, 67 women were murdered by a current or former spouse or boyfriend.¹
• On any given day in Canada, more than 3,000 women (along with their 2,500 children) are living in an emergency shelter to escape domestic violence.²
• Each year, over 40,000 arrests result from domestic violence—that’s about 12% of all violent crime in Canada.³ Since only 22% of all incidents are reported to the police, the real number is much higher.
• As of 2010, there were 582 known cases of missing or murdered Aboriginal women in Canada.⁴ Both Amnesty International and the United Nations have called upon the Canadian government to take action on this issue, without success.^5,6
• In just one year in Canada, 427,000 women over the age of 15 reported they had been sexually assaulted.⁷ Since only about 10% of all sexual assaults are reported to the police, the actual number is much higher.⁸
• Half of all women in Canada have experienced at least one incident of physical or sexual violence since the age of 16.⁹
• About 80% of sex trafficking victims in Canada are women and girls.¹⁰
• 61% of all Canadians say they personally know at least one woman who has been sexually or physically assaulted.¹¹
• More than one in ten Canadian women say they have been stalked by someone in a way that made them fear for their life.¹²
• The cost of violence against women in Canada for health care, criminal justice, social services, and lost wages and productivity has been calculated at $4.2 billion per year.¹³

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Reality Check: Domestic Violence and Muslim Families

What is the rate of domestic violence in the American Muslim community?

Domestic violence includes all forms of abuse: physical, emotional, verbal, sexual, financial, and spiritual.  Based on the few studies that we have about Muslims in America, we know that 12-18% of Muslims in the United States experience physical abuse, and 30-40% experience emotional abuse. Readers can refer to the 2009 SoundVision survey for example.  Compare these statistics to the well-known fact that 1 in 4 women in the general American population are affected or will be affected by domestic violence at some point in their lifetime. I also come across information of approximately one domestic violence fatality each month in the Muslim community.  My guess is that the numbers are higher because fatalities are sometimes reported as suicides or accidents and not identified as domestic violence.

Some people may challenge these statistics.

Numbers are important to a point, and people certainly need numbers to be convinced that this is a real problem. But it’s really important that when we look at numbers, we pay attention to what these numbers are referring to. Every research study will ask slightly different questions to different populations. Domestic violence is a difficult issue to get solid numbers on, but to me, the numbers that we have are enough to say that this is a serious issue. And as Muslims, we have a responsibility to do something about it and to get rid of it.

Don’t these statistics reinforce the stereotype of Muslim men being abusive to their women?

I’m not saying that Muslim men are more likely to abuse their wives. Muslim women like other women in the world are at risk of getting abused because they have lesser positions of power in the family and in society.  The majority of Muslim men are not abusive.

What are some of the challenges you face in domestic violence work?

People don’t want to consider that we have this problem in our families and communities because they’re afraid that it makes Muslims look bad.  It’s a painful reality that people would rather avoid, deny, or minimize.  Domestic violence is not a popular issue. It’s challenging to get people in the room sometimes, and we have to be very thoughtful and creative in how we frame the issue so people will hear it and digest it. Another challenge is that once people hear about it and come forward, we may not have appropriate resources for people who are suffering from abuse. There are logistical challenges, resource challenges, and attitudinal challenges.

What about the claim that domestic violence advocates break up families?

This is an incorrect presumption. When a person is mistreated in their home, and we name that as abuse or domestic violence, naming it does not create the problem.  The problem is already there. The existence of abuse is what breaks up the family. People in abusive family situations suffer all kinds of long term physical and psychological effects. We want to prevent that from happening by identifying the problem and teaching people about healthy relationships. We want our homes to be safe havens.  Sakeenah (tranquility) is an incredible concept – it’s to feel safe and secure in your home. We want to promote family environments that are safe for every family member—the child, the woman, and the man.

What is the role of the community in addressing domestic violence?

As community members become more educated and aware, they also have a responsibility to make the community a safe space for people to come forward.  We have to get over the notion that it’s none of our business. It is our business, and we have to be informed. We have to know the resources. We have to be willing to listen if somebody comes forward. All of us have a responsibility to promote the message that no form of abuse or injustice is acceptable. We are supposed to be the model community.

It is also very important for our community leaders to speak up.  I often hear from imams that after they speak about domestic violence, many people come forward saying they have this problem.  It gives people permission, and sometimes, people need to hear the community leader’s position before they come forward.

Some people might ask: How do I know if it’s domestic violence?

That’s a question people always ask me. Every relationship has conflict in it. The presence of conflict doesn’t equal domestic violence. Arguments and fights can happen in any family.  However, domestic violence is when one person is being intimidated and controlled by the other person. It’s a pattern of behavior in which the abused person is afraid. Many people argue with their spouse, but they’re not afraid of their spouse. We want to make sure people have the skills to resolve conflict in a healthy way, but there are many unhealthy ways that people resort to that don’t necessarily warrant the label of domestic violence.

What is your advice for people in an abusive family situation?

Unfortunately, in cases of domestic violence, it’s often very difficult to get the whole family back on track. Most of the time, abusers are not willing to recognize or admit to the abuse, and they’re not ready to seek help or to change. Abusers are usually too busy blaming the victims and their advocates for breaking up the family, but they’re not willing to make changes themselves.

Counseling can help when people want to be helped and when they admit that there is a problem. Divorce is also an option, and it isn’t necessarily a bad outcome. Divorce can save a person’s life—whether it’s their physical life or spiritual/psychological life. I’ve seen many abused women completely turn away from Islam as a result of their abuser using Islam as the primary weapon. I’ve seen many teenagers turn away from Islam because they’ve seen their Muslim parent be abusive or they’ve experienced abuse at the hands of a Muslim parent. Often times, I’m invited to communities to speak on the issue after the janazah (funeral prayer) of a victim killed by domestic violence. I don’t want to wait until there is a tragedy.

Everyone deserves to be in a good relationship. People should seek help before things get to crisis proportions. The earlier people seek help, the more likely it is that change will happen and the relationship may be saved.

How can others support your work?

Help us get more accurate statistics. The largest sample size we have now is the 2009 SoundVision survey with 241 participants, but that’s not enough of a sample size to give us an accurate picture. Peaceful Families Project teamed up with Project Sakinah to conduct a national survey assessing Muslim Attitudes about Domestic Violence.  We would like to have a representative sample of Muslims in America.

An Islamic Perspective on Violence Against Women

By Muslim Women’s League
March 1995

While women in many parts of the world have made advances in areas previously closed to them, the problem of violence against women remains pervasive. Unfortunately, this violence takes many forms and occurs across national, cultural, racial, and religious borders.

Islam condemns all forms of violence against women. The basic Islamic premise of equality between women and men cannot be achieved so long as violence against women persists.

In pre-Islamic Arabia violence against women began at birth in the form of female infanticide. Islam prohibited the practice of female infanticide. Not only did the Quran prohibit this practice, it also mocks those who view the birth of a girl child with contempt. (Quran 16:58-59).

Another common form of violence against women is that committed by husbands on their wives. Islam requires that husbands treat their wives with respect and it prohibits any form of physical or emotional abuse. The Quran requires that spouses treat each other with love and mercy. (Quran 30:21). Moreover, the Quran repeatedly warns against the use of injurious statements by a husband against his wife. (Quran 58:2-4).

Rape, unfortunately, remains a common form of violence against women. In addition, the woman is often blamed for being the victim of rape. Islam views rape as a violent crime against the victim, against society, and against God. The perpetrator has committed a crime and hence is morally and legally responsible. The victim is an unwilling partner in the sex act and thus bears neither blame nor stigma. To either ostracize or condemn the victim because she was compelled to engage in sexual intercourse is against the laws of Islam as the victim was an unwilling, and therefore, a blameless participant.

In addition to the violence that women are subjected to during times of peace, women are particularly vulnerable during times of war. Islam condemns violence against women no matter what the circumstances. War is no exception. Prophet Muhammad was strict in ensuring that noncombatants, primarily women and children, were not harmed during war time.

Female genital mutilation, another form of violence against women, has no basis in Islam. Rather, it is a cultural practice which must be eliminated through education and the empowerment of women.

Likewise, forced prostitution is another form of violence against women with no basis in Islam and which must be eradicated through the empowerment of women.

Islam’s mandate of equality between women and men necessitates that all forms of violence against women be eradicated, for so long as women suffer abuses, women cannot achieve their full potential as free and equal members of society.

Source: Muslim Women’s League

Honor Killing: Is Violence Against Women a Universal Problem, Not an Islamic issue?

John L. Esposito and Sheila B. Lalwani

Washington — Women are murdered in so-called honor killings everyday, and the public has a right to know more about these crimes and their victims.

Take India for example. On Saturday, the first-ever Indian Peoples’ Tribunal on so-called ‘Honour Killings” gathered prominent lawyers and activists from major Indian non-government organizations, including the Human Right Law Network, the Women’s Legal Forum and the Women’s Christian Association of India, to raise awareness for these crimes. The event followed an incident earlier this summer when two young people from different backgrounds pledged to marry one another but were killed by their loved ones. Family members perpetrated the so-called honor killing to restore their communal standing. Some praised the murderers as heroes, and authorities treated the crime with impunity.

Were the victims Muslim?

No. That’s the point.

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Domestic Violence Hurts Muslims Too: Stop the Hurt Now

by Dr. Aneesah Nadir, MSW, CISW

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month nationwide. Three to four million women are beaten annually and every 15 seconds a woman is abused in her home. Nationally, domestic violence has become the number one cause of death among women.

One reaction may be, “that’s a tragedy that doesn’t effect Muslim families”. But it does.

While research on the prevalence of family violence among Muslims is just beginning, Imams, community leaders and social workers across North America confirm that Muslim women, children and men are being affected by this devastating social problem.

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