The Canadian Council of Muslim Women is a national non-profit organization established to assist Muslim women in participating effectively in Canadian Society and to promote mutual understanding between Canadian Muslim women and women of other faiths.

National Conference
October 16, 17 and 18, 1998
Niagara Falls, Ontario

CANADIAN COUNCIL OF MUSLIM WOMEN

CONFERENCE FACT SHEET

Purpose of the conference is to provide opportunities for learning and for identifying followup actions, for Muslim women and men, about the interpretations and practices of laws, policies, human rights and Islam. We will address those politics which affect the full and active participation of Muslim women in all aspects of their lives.

We are honoured to have international scholars, Amina Wadud, Mahnaz Afkhami and Laila al Marayati amongst our speakers.
 

Please Come! Topics of interest for the family and community.

Child Care Provided

PROGRAM AGENDA: October 17, 199  
 

1998 CONFERENCE:

CCMW invites you to our National Annual Conference to be held in Niagara Falls, Ontario, on October 16, 17 and 18, 1998. Niagara Chapter is the host of this Conference. Please contact either the Niagara Falls Chapter or any of the Board members for further information.

PROJECTS

Insha Allah, we are hoping to present the completion of some of our projects at the Conference. The Handbook on Canadian Laws applicable to women and a booklet "Muslim Women, In Myth & In Reality" will be completed.

The book on Canadian Muslim Pioneer Women in proceeding well. These are personal stories of women who have led the way in many areas of our lives. We know that these individual women's stories will enrich not only Muslim but also add to the history of Canada.

We have initiated another project with Dr. Parin Dossa of Simon Fraser University, on the subject of inter ethnic, inter religious marriages and the effects on Muslim Women & their children. We think this will add to our knowledge base in Canada.

CCMW devises an annual workplan based on our goals and objectives and from the recommendations we receive from the national conference. The chapters implement these objectives to further the vision of CCMW.

Examples Are:

Toronto Chapter has been meeting with local politicians and Isabel Bassett, Provincial Minister of Ontario, for Citizenship, Culture & Recreation will be the speaker at their Annual General Meeting on August 29, 1998.

Toronto also held workshops on Ontario's Family Law, as well as continuing their collator- ation with B'nai Brith and Christian Interfaith groups.

Edmonton Chapter was involved with the Interfaith Conference held in Edmonton, August 3, 1998. Mumtaz Ebrahin, Lila Fahlman and Zohra Husaini led workshops.

London has had a number of workshops such as Financial Planning and Women in Islam.

Ottawa continues to collaborate on the Women's Health Project, Kashmir Project and with the Muslim Community Circle regarding social services for youth and the elderly. Farhat Kurd Rahman represents CCMW on the Board of the National Organization of Visible and Minority Women.

Ottawa Chapter wrote to the Prime Minister regarding Iraq.

Niagara Falls is hosting the National Conference for 1998.

Regina continues collaboration with other ethnic and women's organizations.

Montreal was involved in Interfaith Dialogues such as "Whether religion is a source of division for women" and "Religion - an instrument of oppression or Liberation of Women".
 

BOARD ACTIVITIES

The 1997 Conference led to a Conference Report as well as an AGM report, and a workplan.

Razia Jaffer attended a world wide conference of volunteerism held in August '98 in Edmonton. It was attended by 2,700 individuals from all over the world and by Prime Minister Jean Chretien and Princess Zahra Aga Khan.

Alia Hogben spoke at Carleton University's Action Group for Aghan Women, in February 1998.

We continue to be consulted by a number of groups, the most recent one was the Ministry of

Health regarding the Health Card information.

We wrote to the Prime Minister about the Afghan Women's situation and also supported action by a group of Iraqis regarding the effect on women and children of the embargos.

The 1998 Conference planning has been an arduous task and we are grateful to the Niagara Chapter for their collaboration in hosting the Conference.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

The A.G.M. will be held October 18, 1998 Sunday at the time of the Conference.

As there will be vacancies on the Board, the Board has appointed a Nominating Committee, chaired by Solmaz Sahin. Chapters have been notified of the process and criteria for nominations.

If anyone would like information, please contact CCMW or Solmaz directly at phone (905) 262-4105.

OF INTEREST

Canadian Islamic Congress: A national organization has been formed. They produce a newsletter and are advocating on behalf of Canadian Muslims.

Please contact Mohamed Ibrahini El Masry, (519) 7461 C1C

Islamic Social Services & Resources Association

(ISSRA) of Toronto is asking for funds so that the organization can continue to provide direct services to families.

Please contact Abdullah Hakim Quick   ph (416) 767-1531

Ottawa Muslim Community Circle is trying to establish a social service agency in the Ottawa area. They have initiated 2 projects: "Family Relations, including Domestic Violence" and Future of Muslim Students."

Please contact Mahmood Rasheed    ph (613) 825-7059

An International Aid Organization Mercy International contacted us for financial assistance to help Muslims in Albania and Sudan. The organization is in Kuwait, Switzerland etc.

Please help by calling Edward Weisberg   ph (416) 971-9200
 
 

Sisterhood is Global is a women's organization based in Washington, D.C.

They have exciting workshops with internationally renowned scholars as well as projects to help women.

CCMW is a member of SIGI

Please contact their office at (301) 657-4355 (Washington, D.C.)

SOME INTERESTING DATA

ONTARIO & CANADIAN MUSLIM STATISTICS
Compiled by: Dr. Youssef Mroueh,
Arab Islamic Studies Centre, Pickering

Afkhami, M. Faith and Freedom, Women's Human Rights in the Muslim World. Syracuse University 1995.

Afkhami, M. & Friedl, E. ed. Muslim Women and the Politics of Participation, Syracuse University Press, 1997.

Ahmed, Akbar: Postmodernism and Islam.

Routledge, N.Y., 1992.

Armstrong, Karen: Muhammad, A Biography of the Prophet. Harper, 1992.

Arkoun, Mohammad: Rethinking Islam. Westview Press, Oxford, 1994.

Al Qaradawi, Yusuf: Islamic Awakening Between Rejection and Extermism. Interantional Institute of Islamic Thought. Herndon, Virginia, 1995.

Al Faruq, Lamya: Women, Muslim Society and Islam. American Trust Publications, Plainfield, Indiana, 1994.

An Naim, Abdullahi Ahmed: Toward an Islamic Reformation, Civil Liberties, Human Rights and International Law. Syracuse University Press, 1990 (paperback 1996)

Bowker, John: Voices of Islam. Oneworld Publications, Oxford, 1995.

El Masry, Mohamed. One Thousand Questions on Islam. KW Islamic Assn, 401 Clairbrook Cres., Waterloo, Ont., N2L 5V7

Esack, F. Quran, Liberation & Pluralism. Oneworld, 1997.

Eposito, John: The Islamic Threat. Oxford

University Press, 1993.

Hadddad, Yvonne and Idlemen Smith, Jane: Muslim Communities in North America. State University of N.Y. Press, Albany, 1994.

Hamid, A.W.: Islam the Natural Way. Muslim Education & Literary Services, London, 1996.

Hoodfar, Homa: Shifting Boundaries in Marriage and Divorce in Muslim Communities.

Hoodfar, Homa: Women Living Under Muslim Laws, France, 1996.

Kandiyoti, Deniz, ed: Women, Islam and the State.

Lazreg, Marnia: The Eloquence of Silence. Routledge, London, 1994

Murata, S.: The Tao of Islam. State University Press of New York, 1992.

Martin, R.C., Woodward, M.R. & Atmaja, D.S. Defenders of Reason in Islam. Oneworld Press, 1997.

Mernissi, Fatima: Beyond the Veil, Male and Female Dynamics in Modern Muslim Society. Indiana University Press, 1987.

many other books by Mernissi

Mayer, Anne. Islam & Human Rights. Westview Press, 1995.

Nasr, SH: Ideals and Realities of Islam. Aquarius Press, London, 1994.

Rahman, Fazlur: Islam and Modernity, Transformation of an Intellectual Tradition. University of Chicao Press, 1982

Sharabi, Hisham: Neopatriarchy. Oxford University Press, 1998.

Shaaban, Bouthania: Both Right and Left Handed. Women's Press, London, 1988.

Siddiqui, Mohd Ahmadullah ed: Islam A Contemporary Perspective. N. American Assn. of Muslim Professionals and Scholars, Macom, Illinois, 1994.

Stowasser, B.F. Women in the Quran, Traditions & Interpretations. Oxford University Press, 1994.

Schimmel, A. My Soul is A Woman. Continuum Press, 1997.

Sunbol, A. ed. Women, the Family & Divorce Laws in Islamic History - Syracuse University Press, 1996.

Vakili, Valla: Debating Religion and Politics in Iran. The Political Thought of Abdolkarim Saroush. Council on Foreign Relations 58 East, 68th Street, N.Y. 1021, 1996.

Wadud, Muhsin, Amina: Quran and Woman. Kuala Lumpur, 1994

Walther, Wiebke: Women in Islam. Markus Wiener, N.Y. 1993
 

Canadian Council of Muslim Women
Le Conseil Canadien des Femmes Musulmanes
2400 Dundas Street, W., Suite 513
Mississauga, Ontario L5K 2R8