Muslim Canadian Congress
Encyclopedia
The Muslim Canadian Congress was organized to provide a voice to Muslims who support a "progressive, liberal, pluralistic, democratic, and secular society where everyone has the freedom of religion
." The organization claimed to have 300 dues-paying members prior to its 2006 split.
by a group of Toronto
area liberal and secular Muslims led by Tarek Fatah. It is a Muslim organization in Canada
beside the Canadian Muslim Union
to ask for a "separation of religion and state in all matters of public policy."
The group has gained prominence by opposing the implementation of Shariah Law in civil law in Ontario
and supporting the country's same-sex marriage
legislation. The group also promotes gender equality and was involved in organizing a Muslim prayer session in which the prayers were led by a woman, Raheel Raza. It has also been critical of Islamic fundamentalism
and has urged the government to ban donations to Canadian religious institutions from abroad arguing that doing so will curb extremism.
Tarek Fatah was its communications director and spokesperson until he resigned in August 2006 and Farzana Hassan was the MCC's president from August 2006 until April 2010.
. According to reports, the split occurred over questions of how the group engages with the broader Muslim community. The basic issue was that the MCC was no longer a credible voice within the Canadian Muslim community
The issue came to head over the MCC's position on the arrest of 17 Muslims in the 2006 Toronto terrorism case
and objections by some MCC leaders to the MCC's participation in anti-war demonstrations during the 2006 Israel-Lebanon War where flags of Hezbollah and Hamas were raised along with posters of Iranian leader Ahmedinejad and Hezbollah leader Nasrallah.
The entire executive and most of the board members eventually resigned. The largest resignation took place on August 22, 2006. The CMU was formed the next day. CMU's philosophy of Liberal Islam is similar to the MCC's but with what they claim is their intention to work "within the Muslim community".
. The Congress also compared Israeli policies to South African apartheid.
In 2007, the MCC came out against a Canadian Human Rights Commission
complaint made by several youths associated with the Canadian Islamic Congress
against Maclean's Magazine for publishing an allegedly Islamophobic
column by Mark Steyn
saying that"The reaction of the CIC has only given credence to his premise - that Muslims in the West cannot accept the values of individual freedom, a free press and the right to offend... How ironic and how unfortunate. For Steyn's thesis could as easily have been disproved by the traditional means of rational debate."
Earlier that year, the MCC came out against a proposal by John Tory
and the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party to publicly fund faith-based schools accusing the Tories of "pandering
to clerics".
The MCC has also been outspoken on the issue of women wearing the hijab
saying "It is not a requirement of Islam that Muslim women stay covered completely" and that women should be assured that not wearing the hijab is not a sin. In October 2009, the MCC called for a ban on burka
and niqab
(though not the hijab), saying that they have "no basis in Islam." Spokesperson Farzana Hassan cited public safety issues, such as identity concealment, as well as gender equality
, stating that wearing the burka and niqab is "a practice that marginalizes women."
In April 2008, the MCC criticized the Ontario Human Rights Commission
(OHRC) for its statement a claim by the Canadian Islamic Congress
that Maclean's
magazine was publishing Islamophobic articles. The MCC stated that "the OHRC has become the virtual organ of Canada’s Islamist organizations and that it has taken sides in the bitter struggle within Canada’s Muslim community where sharia-supporting Islamists are pitted against liberal and secular Muslims" and that "the OHRC decision had the finger prints of its pro-Islamist commissioners who have close association with the Canadian Islamic Congress. It is not just the commissioners, but we have reason to believe that there are staff on the OHRC that support sharia law and endorse the CIC’s positions."
The MCC is associated with the US based Muslims for Progressive Values and Democratic Muslims in Denmark.
Some of the MCC officers profess serious reformation in Islam, and of those one has launched a New Islam movement.
Freedom of religion
Freedom of religion is a principle that supports the freedom of an individual or community, in public or private, to manifest religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship, and observance; the concept is generally recognized also to include the freedom to change religion or not to follow any...
." The organization claimed to have 300 dues-paying members prior to its 2006 split.
Origins
It was formed in December 2001, in the wake of 9/11September 11, 2001 attacks
The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks (also referred to as September 11, September 11th or 9/119/11 is pronounced "nine eleven". The slash is not part of the pronunciation...
by a group of Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
area liberal and secular Muslims led by Tarek Fatah. It is a Muslim organization in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
beside the Canadian Muslim Union
Canadian Muslim Union
The Canadian Muslim Union is a registered not-for-profit corporation in Canada.The CMU was started on August 20, 2006 following an unsuccessful attempt to resolve deep divisions in the Muslim Canadian Congress board...
to ask for a "separation of religion and state in all matters of public policy."
The group has gained prominence by opposing the implementation of Shariah Law in civil law in Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
and supporting the country's same-sex marriage
Same-sex marriage
Same-sex marriage is marriage between two persons of the same biological sex or social gender. Supporters of legal recognition for same-sex marriage typically refer to such recognition as marriage equality....
legislation. The group also promotes gender equality and was involved in organizing a Muslim prayer session in which the prayers were led by a woman, Raheel Raza. It has also been critical of Islamic fundamentalism
Islamic fundamentalism
Islamic fundamentalism is a term used to describe religious ideologies seen as advocating a return to the "fundamentals" of Islam: the Quran and the Sunnah. Definitions of the term vary. According to Christine L...
and has urged the government to ban donations to Canadian religious institutions from abroad arguing that doing so will curb extremism.
Tarek Fatah was its communications director and spokesperson until he resigned in August 2006 and Farzana Hassan was the MCC's president from August 2006 until April 2010.
Split
The Congress suffered a serious split in the summer of 2006 when several of its members and leaders left to form the Canadian Muslim UnionCanadian Muslim Union
The Canadian Muslim Union is a registered not-for-profit corporation in Canada.The CMU was started on August 20, 2006 following an unsuccessful attempt to resolve deep divisions in the Muslim Canadian Congress board...
. According to reports, the split occurred over questions of how the group engages with the broader Muslim community. The basic issue was that the MCC was no longer a credible voice within the Canadian Muslim community
The issue came to head over the MCC's position on the arrest of 17 Muslims in the 2006 Toronto terrorism case
2006 Toronto terrorism case
The 2006 Ontario terrorism case refers to the plotting of a series of attacks against targets in Southern Ontario, Canada, and the June 2, 2006, counter-terrorism raids in and around the Greater Toronto Area that resulted in the arrest of 18 people found to be Al-Qaeda members of an Islamic...
and objections by some MCC leaders to the MCC's participation in anti-war demonstrations during the 2006 Israel-Lebanon War where flags of Hezbollah and Hamas were raised along with posters of Iranian leader Ahmedinejad and Hezbollah leader Nasrallah.
The entire executive and most of the board members eventually resigned. The largest resignation took place on August 22, 2006. The CMU was formed the next day. CMU's philosophy of Liberal Islam is similar to the MCC's but with what they claim is their intention to work "within the Muslim community".
Stances
In 2006, the Muslim Canadian Congress supported the campaign of boycott, divestment and sanctions against IsraelIsrael
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
. The Congress also compared Israeli policies to South African apartheid.
In 2007, the MCC came out against a Canadian Human Rights Commission
Canadian Human Rights Commission
The Canadian Human Rights Commission is a quasi-judicial body that was established in 1977 by the government of Canada. It is empowered under the Canadian Human Rights Act to investigate and try to settle complaints of discrimination in employment and in the provision of services within federal...
complaint made by several youths associated with the Canadian Islamic Congress
Canadian Islamic Congress
The Canadian Islamic Congress refers to itself as Canada's largest national non-profit and wholly independent Islamic organization without affiliation to any foreign group, body, or government and says it represents -- Sunni and Shi'a Muslims, men and women, youth and seniors...
against Maclean's Magazine for publishing an allegedly Islamophobic
Islamophobia
Islamophobia describes prejudice against, hatred or irrational fear of Islam or MuslimsThe term dates back to the late 1980s or early 1990s, but came into common usage after the September 11, 2001 attacks in the United States....
column by Mark Steyn
Mark Steyn
Mark Steyn is a Canadian-born writer, conservative-leaning political commentator, and cultural critic. He has written five books, including America Alone: The End of the World As We Know It, a New York Times bestseller...
saying that"The reaction of the CIC has only given credence to his premise - that Muslims in the West cannot accept the values of individual freedom, a free press and the right to offend... How ironic and how unfortunate. For Steyn's thesis could as easily have been disproved by the traditional means of rational debate."
Earlier that year, the MCC came out against a proposal by John Tory
John Tory
John Howard Tory is a Canadian businessman, political activist, former leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario, former Member of Provincial Parliament and broadcaster...
and the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party to publicly fund faith-based schools accusing the Tories of "pandering
Pandering (politics)
Pandering is the act of expressing one's views in accordance with the likes of a group to which one is attempting to appeal. The term is most notably associated with politics...
to clerics".
The MCC has also been outspoken on the issue of women wearing the hijab
Hijab
The word "hijab" or "'" refers to both the head covering traditionally worn by Muslim women and modest Muslim styles of dress in general....
saying "It is not a requirement of Islam that Muslim women stay covered completely" and that women should be assured that not wearing the hijab is not a sin. In October 2009, the MCC called for a ban on burka
Burqa
A burqa is an enveloping outer garment worn by women in some Islamic religion to cover their bodies in public places. The burqa is usually understood to be the woman's loose body-covering , plus the head-covering , plus the face-veil .-Etymology:A speculative and unattested etymology...
and niqab
Niqab
A niqab is a cloth which covers the face, worn by some Muslim women as a part of sartorial hijāb...
(though not the hijab), saying that they have "no basis in Islam." Spokesperson Farzana Hassan cited public safety issues, such as identity concealment, as well as gender equality
Gender equality
Gender equality is the goal of the equality of the genders, stemming from a belief in the injustice of myriad forms of gender inequality.- Concept :...
, stating that wearing the burka and niqab is "a practice that marginalizes women."
In April 2008, the MCC criticized the Ontario Human Rights Commission
Ontario Human Rights Commission
The Ontario Human Rights Commission was established in the Canadian province of Ontario on March 29, 1961 to administer the Ontario Human Rights Code...
(OHRC) for its statement a claim by the Canadian Islamic Congress
Canadian Islamic Congress
The Canadian Islamic Congress refers to itself as Canada's largest national non-profit and wholly independent Islamic organization without affiliation to any foreign group, body, or government and says it represents -- Sunni and Shi'a Muslims, men and women, youth and seniors...
that Maclean's
Maclean's
Maclean's is a Canadian weekly news magazine, reporting on Canadian issues such as politics, pop culture, and current events.-History:Founded in 1905 by Toronto journalist/entrepreneur Lt.-Col. John Bayne Maclean, a 43-year-old trade magazine publisher who purchased an advertising agency's in-house...
magazine was publishing Islamophobic articles. The MCC stated that "the OHRC has become the virtual organ of Canada’s Islamist organizations and that it has taken sides in the bitter struggle within Canada’s Muslim community where sharia-supporting Islamists are pitted against liberal and secular Muslims" and that "the OHRC decision had the finger prints of its pro-Islamist commissioners who have close association with the Canadian Islamic Congress. It is not just the commissioners, but we have reason to believe that there are staff on the OHRC that support sharia law and endorse the CIC’s positions."
The MCC is associated with the US based Muslims for Progressive Values and Democratic Muslims in Denmark.
Some of the MCC officers profess serious reformation in Islam, and of those one has launched a New Islam movement.
External links
- Muslim Canadian Congress homepage
- Progressive Muslim group implodes by Reuel S. Amdur, The Arab-American News
- How Sharia Law Punishes Raped Women - Hasan Mahmud