Reaching out to Muslim community
Zubeda Vahed.
Moderator Zubeda Vahed speaks last night during Multicultural Inter-Agency Group of Peel's Bridging the Gap with the Muslim Community seminar at the Islamic Centre of North America in Mississauga.
Staff photo by Rob Beintema
Some 200 community members, religious leaders and service providers came together last night in Mississauga to discuss how Muslims can help strengthen diversity in Peel.
Bridging the Gap with the Muslim Community, a one-day conference held at the Islamic Society of North America Canada on South Sheridan Way, was hosted by the Multicultural Inter-Agency Group of Peel.
Those in attendance discussed a number of issues, including how to address hate against Muslims, freedom of speech, self-restraint and Islamophobia.
Keynote speaker Imam Hamid Slimi, a Mississauga resident and chair of the Canadian Council of Imams, said the entire community must help build bridges.
"Being a bridge-builder takes a lot of guts, takes a lot of energy, takes a lot of commitment and I believe we must call for a common world, for a common platform for all of humanity," said Slimi, an author and scholar who specializes in Islamic studies, law and comparative world religions.
"The teachings of Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, is that God, when he looks at you and humanity, he looks at your hearts and deeds. He does not look at your shapes and colours, but your hearts and deeds."
Rev. Barry McGrory said it's only ignorance and differences that separates people.
"The more we come together, the more we pray together, the more we grow," he said.
Shaheen Azmi, a senior policy analyst with the Ontario Human Rights Commission, said knowing their human rights will help people strengthen the community.
"The gap can be bridged in communities by employing and enlivening the human rights system," said Azmi. "Everybody has a role to play in this — communities, organizations, governments. By taking the human rights code, which is something governments are committed to, they can come together with a common document, understanding of discrimination and harassment, and bring people together based on common understanding."
Another message delivered at the conference is that Muslims, to help avoid hate and discrimination, need to be active at the local level by becoming more involved in municipal, provincial and federal elections, participating in public debates and writing to the media. Furthermore, they're encouraged to document and report anti-Muslim hate crime.
onlinenews@mississauga.net
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