I just did. Here is the text, and here you can find the petition and sign it. (Thanks to Ali Dashti for the link.)
On October 21st 2003, Muslim leaders in Canada elected 30 member council to establish a judicial tribunal for Muslims known as “ the Islamic Institute of Civic Justice”. The move is designed to persuade Canadian court to uphold decisions made under the Muslim Law.The International Campaign for the Defense of Women’s Rights in Iran is running an International Campaign against this new move in Canada.
We strongly believe that this move is anti women’s move and will push back women in the society in general. In the past 20 years, women’s rights have been increasingly under attack by the Islamic governments and groups. Women are subject to abuse for disobeying social Islamic standards. Daily degradation of women, prohibition from many forms of employment, field of study and sports, sexual segregation in buses, schools and public places, Stoning to death of women or murdering them for sexual relations outside marriage, acid-throwing in the faces of women, and flogging for transgressing Islamic laws for improper behavior have been imposed on women under Islamic influence not only in countries such as Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan but also in Western countries.
The women’s rights movement has fought this reactionary movement and many paid a price in doing so. . As part of this radical movement, we believe that all people who live in Canada are citizens with equal rights, and should live according to same social laws and norms. We do not divide society into cultural, religious, national and racial majorities and minorities. We stand for equal and universal laws and freedoms for all humanity, which should embrace all, irrespective of sex, race, ethnicity, etc.
We now are calling on all individuals and progressive organizations to oppose the proposed tribunal for legal recognition of settlements according to Shari’a. This proposal is anti-freedom, anti-women, misogynist and anti-modernism and is strongly racist.We therefore have the following demands:
1. Religion to be declared private affair of the individual. And complete
separation of religion from education for children under the age 16.2. Prohibition of violent and inhuman religious ceremonies, practice and any form of religious activities that is incompatible with people’s
civil rights and liberties and the principle of the equality of all.3. Prohibition of teaching religions subjects and dogmas or religions interpretation in schools and educational establishments or in general any law and regulation that breaches the principle of secular non- religious
By signing this petition, you defend the universal rights of human beings. Your support will strengthen the radical movement for secularism.
Homa Arjomand
The coordinator
homawpi@rogers.com
OK-I signed the petition: Attached are the comments I included with my signature.
Shari'a Law is the ultimate human rights violation and should be abolished worldwide. Canadian Government officials should be considered the epitome of stupidity if they ever let a facre like this make its way into Canadian society.
What the hell ever happened to Canadian pride? Make the Muslims live by the laws of the land. If they want this barbaric set of rules to live by, they should go home.
Signed it last night, and have seen that at least 2 of the 60 people I sent the link to have signed it.
The RADICAL movement for secularism?
Radical to who? Muslims or Canadians?
Question for anyone who can answer:
I have been asked if this petition will actuall go anywhere, or will basically end up a stack of online signatures with no hopes of being seen by the Canadian government?
Either way, I hope a great many people see and sign it.
Sometimes these petitions help. Everyone sign up!
signed it
also people, post this on other forums and so on!
don't let the islamofascists win!
Personally, I think that's the wrong petition to sign. I think whoever wrote this has an overarching distaste for religion, and so, isn't very objective about the issue of religious tribunals, vs. religion in general. Notice she did not mention religion when she said "We stand for equal and universal laws and freedoms for all humanity, which should embrace all, irrespective of sex, race, ethnicity, etc."
In any case, firstly, prohibiting the teaching of religion to children under 16 yrs of age would be counter to many people's desire to bring their children up with religious education, which they have the right to do. Catholic schools (which are generally better than public schools) would be also have to be outlawed. More importantly, religious education for youth is irrelevant to the subject of tribunals in the first place. One has to do with the rule of law throughout the land, and the other has to do with the private practice of religion.
Second, prohibiting the practice of "any form of religious activities that is incompatible with people’s civil rights and liberties and the principle of the equality of all" is an incredibly vague, subjective, and dubious proposition. Who gets to judge what is "incompatible"? Secularists? Who have no understanding of religious belief in the first place? This is like letting a vegan dictate to a meat-eater how to cook their own steak.
Third, I'm assuming that when it says prohitibing the teaching of any religious subjects or doctrines at all it means in the public school system. This is also not very compatible with a liberal education. Completely excising religion as a subject (which necessarily includes an understanding of doctrines) would be a bad mistake. Religion has been around for thousands of years, and humanity as a whole is inextricably linked with it, and to omit this aspect of human development would be to seriously stunt the educational growth of a young person.
Overall, I think this is the wrong response to Sharia tribunals. A petition to make "one law of the land" would be more effective, and ultimately, more compelling for lawmakers to pay attention to. The points in this petition are very off-focus for the subject at hand.
However, on a larger scale, I think Canada has brought this on itself to a degree. I've been wondering when the day would come, when Canadians were faced with the ill effects of extreme multiculturalism, and it seems like it has. When one chooses the concept of "mosaic" over "melting pot", Sharia as a para-legal system (or something like it) is bound to happen. You cannot have a cohesive society when everyone isn't required to subscribe to a single national identity. Americans don't have any problem with the practice of multiple religions, because in the end, one must subscribe to American ideology. The melting pot concept doesn't allow for such things like Sharia as a para-legal system. The only such system in America is for the Native Americans, but they are essentially a "nation within a nation", and are such for fairly obvious reasons. There are no other groups that have such a privilege, and even Native Americans on reservations are ultimately subject to broad aspects of American Law.
I think this petition is an attempt to craft a similar set of ideals for Canada, but Canada still doesn't quite seem to know what kind of identity it wants its citizens to have (other than not to be American). Given current expression of the Canadian self-concept and ideals, it will be difficult for the above petition to generate a referendum based upon a very narrow understanding of the Charter.
I have watched this attempt by radical wahabbists to sneak Shariah Law into the Canadian
Courts,sadly,the Liberals were elected back into power in June and I really feel these bozo's will
welcome the system since it doesn't affect their lives.
I watched a TV special about the Shariah system
and a female refugee broke down in tears when the news indicated the Ontario Government would allow it.The woman fled from a Islamic based Country and screamed at the camera "Why did I leave if I now must be ruled by Shariah here in Canada",CAIR now wants the word "Shariah" deleted from any reference to the Shariah-Law.
Trust me on this one,I've seen some insane moves by the Liberals and this will be just another snafu PC judgement.
This link is currently dead .
We are of hopes that this is a "temporary situation.Hopefully, they were not so un-informed as to use YAHOO, or GEOCITIES to host this important page? anyone know?
If sharia law envelops the entire planet Earth,the planet shall be deemed a non-viable dead end, and subsequently disposed of.
Therefore, sharia must be halted, and micro-gravity experimentation & alternative power sources encouraged.Canada, (leader in space robotics tech) is too valuable to loose.
The link is working. I suspect they just suddenly got a larger number of visitors than usual.
Had signed it yesterday.
Just signed it. :-)
What the hell ever happened to Canadian pride? Make the Muslims live by the laws of the land. If they want this barbaric set of rules to live by, they should go home.
Posted by: DCWatson at August 25, 2004 10:46 AM
As it stands right now, this is the Ontario Provincial governments act of stupidity, which of course reflects on the general stupidity of Liberals in this eastern Canadian province.
Do the federal Liberals (who also are all eastern Canadians mainly from this province which breeds stupidity) has the brains to override this stupid act which is a violation of the Canadian charter of rights that apply also to muslim women?
Somehow I doubt it. They are after all, Liberals.
I heard a comment from a "liberal" MP yesterday where she claimed she would not join the coalition of idiots.(it was in regard to the missle defence program)
What ever does she mean? she already belongs to a coalition of Idiots, she's a liberal!!!!
Personally, I think that's the wrong petition to sign. I think whoever wrote this has an overarching distaste for religion, and so, isn't very objective about the issue of religious tribunals, vs. religion in general. Notice she did not mention religion when she said "We stand for equal and universal laws and freedoms for all humanity, which should embrace all, irrespective of sex, race, ethnicity, etc."
Posted by: Neil Uchitel at August 25, 2004 04:29 PM
This woman is an Iranian Muslim. (now a Canadian)
There are other petitions within Canada, but take note that this is an international one, so it gives non-Canadians a voice as well, which is a good thing, no?
Just signed it. Hey Reza, I looked for your signature, didn't see it. Whats going on?
Considering that the Provincial Liberals are mulling it over and CAIR now demands that the word "Shariah" be deleted from the "Shariah" law
I expect the bill to be passed that will allow the misogynistic 7th Century lifestyle to be welcomed in Canada.
We have already seen mercy killings and spousal
abuse that gets accepted in the Muslim culture
among some of the self-segregated neighbourhoods.
Watch for Shariah law to force changes in the Public school system,Hijabs for all the girls,halal food only,prayer rooms,male only teachers,banning of all books that offend Islam,no religous article other than Islamic,Qurans in every class,boys and girls only classes,no recess in fear of un-Islamic behaviour,Arabic language study,and on and on my friends.
Stop the insanity now.
NO ISLAM KNOW PEACE
KNOW ISLAM NO PEACE