{"id":244,"date":"2009-02-19T00:14:12","date_gmt":"2009-02-19T00:14:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/cityofbrass\/2009\/02\/american-muslims-call-for-swif.html"},"modified":"2009-02-19T00:14:12","modified_gmt":"2009-02-19T00:14:12","slug":"american-muslims-call-for-swif","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/cityofbrass\/2009\/02\/american-muslims-call-for-swif.html","title":{"rendered":"American Muslims Call for Swift Action Against Domestic Violence"},"content":{"rendered":"

The following is a press release written today by a group of muslim bloggers, journalists, and media people including myself. The idea is to coordinate the friday khutbas (sermons) in as many American mosques as possible this week to focus on the theme of domestic violence. This event is also posted to Facebook<\/a> where you can show your support virtually.<\/p>\n

In fact, I think this should be an annual event, every third friday of February. An annual recognition of the problem of domestic violence in muslim communities would ensure that this attention to this crucial issue isn’t transient. It’s amazing to see how the muslim American community has coalesced in unity around this tragic event, and I hope that this resolve will bring about genuine progress. <\/p>\n

Press release follows:<\/p>\n

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Feb. 18, 2009
Media contact: Wajahat Ali, <\/span><\/span><\/span>510-909-7506<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>, wajahatmali@hotmail.com<\/p>\n

American Muslims Call for Swift Action Against Domestic Violence<\/span><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

Murder
\nof Buffalo resident Aasiya Zubair spurs American Muslims to forcefully
\naddress domestic abuse and violence against women; call on imams to
\naddress DV in Friday sermons<\/i><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

SAN FRANCISCO – A coalition of Muslim organizations, journalists,
\ncommunity leaders, imams, and other concerned citizens are calling for
\nimmediate action by American Muslim leaders and religious figures to
\naddress domestic abuse and violence in America, including that found in
\nthe American Muslim community, on Friday, February 20, 2009. <\/p>\n

In
\nresponse to the collective concern of the American Muslim community,
\nimams and religious leaders across America have been asked to speak out
\nagainst domestic violence to their congregations. They are asked to
\nremind congregants of the Prophet Muhammad’s abhorrence of harshness,
\nabuse and violence, and emphasize solutions that strengthen families
\nand ensure all members are treated with fairness and respect, free of
\nfear of abuse or violence.<\/p>\n

Members of the coalition are
\ncontacting imams and religious leaders in major Islamic centers and
\nmosques. They are encouraging sermons addressing domestic violence and
\nare offering resources available through the Peaceful Families Project,
\na Muslim-run domestic violence prevention organization founded in 2000,
\nto help educate the American Muslim community. This education addresses
\nthe extent to which domestic violence exists and strategies to stop it.<\/p>\n

Several
\nprominent imams have heeded the call to action by concerned American
\nMuslims including Shaykh Hamza Yusuf of the Zaytuna Institute in
\nBerkeley, Ca. and Imam Tahir Anwar of the South Bay Islamic Association
\nin San Jose, Ca. These imams have committed their Friday sermons to
\naddressing domestic violence and preaching that in the Islamic
\ntradition and by the example of the Prophet Muhammad, family harmony
\ncan never be achieved by force and that emotional and physical abuse is
\nnever acceptable.<\/p>\n

This call is being broadcast through various
\nchannels, including blogs, Facebook groups, personal contacts, and news
\nmedia. “The outcry among Muslim Americans against this type of violence
\nis a heartfelt one,” said Shahed Amanullah, editor-in-chief of
\nthe online newsmagazine altmuslim.com<\/a>.
\n“It is essential that we address the problem and take steps to ensure
\nthat no one else faces the same tragic fate as Ms. Zubair.”<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

Specific calls to action for imams and religious leaders include:<\/b><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Unequivocally denounce domestic violence and any attitudes that enable or excuse it<\/li>\n
  2. Remind Muslims that the Prophet Muhammad condemned with unequivocal language all forms of spousal abuse.<\/li>\n
  3. Immediately
    \ncreate community social service committees made up of qualified social
    \nservice providers to supply educational resources and staff
    \ninstitutional programs that support abused and battered women.<\/li>\n
  4. Promote educational and awareness programs that outline abusive and violent behaviors. <\/li>\n
  5. Allow
    \ncommunity members ways of pointing out and preventing the emergence or
    \nescalation of possibly abusive relationships and environments<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Individuals and organizations helping to organize this call (partial list, titles for identification purposes only):<\/b><\/p>\n