Anti-HomophobiaStatementfromCanadaImamsandMuslimLeaders

inconjunctionwithastatementfromtheLGBTIQcommunityRE:Orlandoshooting

ReleaseDate:June24,2016

CommunityUnityIftar-The519,519ChurchStreet,TorontoON

We theundersigned, representMuslim organizations, communities and individuals acrossCanada.

Theracist,homophobicandtransphobicmassacreinOrlandoonJune12,2016thatledtothedeathof51membersoftheLGBTIQcommunity,almostallpeopleofcolour,BlackandLatinoistragicanddisturbing.

It is a tragedy that has impacted people around the world and caused us all to pause forreflection.Wecareabout thepainand the fear thatmembersof theLGBTIQcommunityarecontinuingtoexperience.

Asacommunity,westand firmlyagainstall formsofoppression includinghomophobiaandtransphobia.We are concerned about this oppression and its impacts on members of theLGBTIQ communities and the world.All people should be free from discrimination andoppressionandbeabletolivetheirlivesinpeaceandsecurity.

As a community, Muslims understand the pain and suffering that comes from hatred andignorance.

Because of the identity of theOrlando shooter, there has been, once again, an escalation inanti-Muslim sentiment and Islamophobic rhetoric,leaving many Muslims feeling unsafe intheirhomesandcommunities.Noperson,grouporcommunityshouldeverhavetoexperiencebigotryorviolencebecauseofwhotheyare.CanadianMuslimsstandfor justiceanddignity.Canada is our home, one that protects the rights of all communities.We live together as awiderfamily,respectingeachother’srightsasfriends,neighbours,co-workersandcitizens.

Asafaithcommunity,weliveourlivesaccordingtothewaywebestunderstandGodwantsusto.JustasMuslimsareprotectedundertheCanadianCharterofRightsandFreedoms,wesupporttherightsandfreedomsofallCanadians.Wedonotbelieveintheimpositionofanybeliefs/valuesonothers.

TheCanadianMuslimcommunityisdiverseandreflectsthevariedbackgroundsoftheglobalcommunity.

WetreasureCanadiandiversityandseeitasastrengthtodrawupon.Itsaddensusthatanyactofviolencehereorabroadcouldbemisinterpretedasstemming fromthedoctrinesandpracticesofIslam.

Werefusetoletthesetypesofactionsdefineus.Wewillcontinuetostanduptofear,hatredandprejudiceinallitsformsandstandtogethertoprotecteachother’shumanrights.

SEESIGNATORIESONFOLLOWINGPAGES

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Page2SIGNEDBY:INDIVIDUALS:(SeeOrganizationsfollowingthiscategory)AbdulRehmanKhan,KhateebAlexCarter,PoliticalandSocialAdvocate,Associateprofessor/professeuragrégéAnelaJadunandan,Executive-OntarioAssociationofIslamicSchoolsandMuslimActivistAzfarRizvi,ExecutiveDirector-InstituteofCanadianArchivesDr.AbderrahmanBeggarDr.AbdullahHakimQuick,ImaamandMuslimScholarDr.AishaSherazi,OttawaCommunityActivist,OttawawriterandeducatorDr.FirasAl-Dhaher,MDDr.IqbalIkeK.Ahmed,MDFRCSCDr.JasminZine,ProfessorSociology&MuslimStudiesOption-WilfridLaurierUniversityDr.SalhaSalimJeizan,AcademicandCommunityAdvocateDr.TimothyJ.Gianotti,AssociateProfessorofArabic&IslamicStudies,RenisonUniversityCollege (UniversityofWaterloo)&Director/PrincipalTeacher,IslamicInstituteforSpiritualFormation, TorontoEl-FaroukKhaki,Immigration&Refugeelawyer,co-Founder,El-TawhidJumaCircleFaisalKutty,LegalCounsel,MuslimCivilLibertiesAssociationFarheenKhan,Writer,ConsultantandCommunityActivistFarihaKhanMD,CCFPFauziaMazhar,Chair,CoalitionofMuslimWomenofKWGillaryMassa,CommunityAdvocateGinellaMassa,MediaProfessionalHaafidRahman,Director-TheCanadian-MuslimVoteHumaDurrani,SeniorBusinessConsultantIftikharMahmood,CFPCreatewealthPlanningImamAbdulHaiPatel,ImmediatePastCoordinatorCanadianCouncilofImamsImam(Shaikh)AhmadKutty,SeniorResidentScholar-IslamicInstituteofToronto(IIT)ImamHabeebAlli,ChaplainandAuthorImamIbrahimHindy,SalaheddinCentreImam(Dr.)ShabirAlly,IslamicInformationandDawaCentreImāmYūsufBadāt,IslamicFoundationTorontoInciKuzucuogluJasonNahrgangJeewanChanicka,Principal,CommunityEducatorandActivistKhalidUsman,Chair,CanadiansofPakistaniOrigin,FormerCouncillorCityOfMarkham(Continuedonnextpages)

Page3SIGNEDBY:INDIVIDUALS:(Continued)MayuriMaryamSalaam,RNMichaelAbdurRashidTaylor,IslamicChaplaincyServicesCanadaMihadFahmy,LLB,LLM,LawyerMohammedBaobaid,PhD,MuslimResourceCentreforSocialSupportandIntegration FounderandExecutiveDirector,London,ONMohammedHashim,Organizer-TorontoandYorkRegionLabourCouncilNaeemSiddiqi,Author,CreditRiskProfessionalNaheedMustapha,IndependentJournalistNoraHindy-EducatorandCommunityActivistOmarSiddiqui,Chair-CanadianMuslimLeadershipInstitute.Inc RabeaMurtaza-MuslimsforOntario'sNewHealthandPhysicalEducationCurriculumRajaKhouri,President-CanadianArabInstituteRev.renéeI.A.mercuri,interfaith/interspiritualministerandDirector-el-TawhidJumaCircle, TorontoUnityMosqueRifatHussain,CommunityActivist,London,OntarioRimaBernsMc-Gown,PhD,writerandresearcherRubyAlvi,MDCCFPMHSc.SahverKuzucuogluSalehaKhan,IHMC,MuslimResourceCentreforSocialSupportandIntegration CanadiansMuslimsforPeaceCampaign,FamilyHonourProject,London,ONSamiyaAhmed,HealthCareConsultant&CommunityAdvocateSamraZafar,Founder-BraveBeginningsSandraNoe,ChairoftheFederationofMuslimWomenSeherShafiq,ExecutiveDirectoratTheCanadian-MuslimVoteShahinaSiddiqui,PresidentIslamicSocialServicesAssociation,Inc.ShahlaKhanSalter,LawyerandDirectorofUniversalistMuslimsShahnazKhan,Professor-WomenandGenderStudies&GlobalStudiesShailaCarter,CEO-MuslimWomen’sCollectiveShaneezaNaseer-Ally,ExecutiveDirector-ForYouthInitiative(FYI)ShaykhFarazRabbani,IslamicScholarUrzHeer,FounderCAMPToronto-ExecutiveDirector,TheCareFactorWaelHaddara,MDFRCPC,AssociateProfessor-SchulichSchoolofMedicine,WesternUniversityWahidaC.Valiante,PastPresidentandChairofIslamicHistoryMonthCanadaand CommunityActivistYasmeenSiddiqui,BoardofDirectors,IDRFZehraAbbass,Founder,Aasra.co-AssistantProfessorPreclerkshipDirectorDepartment

ofFamilyandCommunityMedicineSeeOrganizationsonnextpage

Page4SIGNEDBY:ORGANIZATIONS:ArabCommunityCentreofTorontoCanadianCouncilofMuslimWomen(CCMW)CanadianMuslimLawyersAssociation(CMLA)CouncilfortheAdvancementofMuslimProfessionals(CAMP)-TorontoChapterDawaNetEl-TawhidJumaCircle(ETJC)InstituteofCanadianArchivesInternationalDevelopmentandReliefFoundation(IDRF)IslamicHistoryMonthCanada(IHMC)IslamicSocialServicesAssociation(ISSA)IslamicInstituteToronto(IIT)Naseeha,MuslimYouthHelplineNationalCouncilofCanadianMuslims(NCCM)NoorCulturalCentreNorthAmericanSpiritualRevival(NASR)OrganizationforIslamicLearningSalaam:QueerMuslimCommunityThe Canadian-Muslim VoteUnitingMuslimsandAlliesforHumanity(UMAH)-UniversityofTorontoUniversalistMuslims