Mehdi Rizvi is a former member of the Community Editorial Board, Toronto Star and an affiliate of the Center of Excellence for Research on Immigration and Settlement, which is a consortium of three Toronto universities. He is a chemist who has worked in the manufacturing of pharmaceuticals, cement and UV printing products for the last 35 years.
by Mehdi Rizvi
Pakistan’s pride showed a new face last week, when the United Nations declared July 12 to be World Malala Day. Malala Yousufzai celebrated her 16th birthday by speaking before the General Assembly, Less than a year after being shot in the face, the Pakistani teenager confidently called for global improvements in girls’ education.
by Mehdi Rizvi
The Quebec Soccer Federation has reversed its ban on players wearing turbans on the pitch, saying it is pleased with Fédération Internationale de Football Association’s (FIFA) clarification on the issue and it’s ”deeply sorry” if anyone was offended.” Thus ended the game between supporters and opponents of the issue, as recently played on Quebec soccer fields.
by Mehdi Rizvi
In mid-April, the Ontario Court of Appeal applied a controversial four-part test that the Supreme Court handed down last December, to help courts find the balance between laws and religious customs – notably the question of whether a woman should be allowed to testify in court while wearing a niqab, a veil across her face, so that her expressions are obscured.
by Mehdi Rizvi
The attempted assassination of Malala Yousufzai, 14 year old Pakistani student, on a school bus in Northern Western Pakistan, has jolted the conscience of the world. The crime reflects the alarming situation Pakistani women now face, as they pass through a terrible crisis of re-establishing identity and existence in their own country, since very conservative religious/political groups took over the Swat Valley in 2008.
by Mehdi Rizvi
Maytree foundation and Civic Action recently released the fifth report in the DiverseCity Counts series. The series features research by Dr Chris Fredette, an Assistant Professor with the Sprott School of Business in the area of management and strategy. He holds a PhD in Organizational Studies from York University's Schulich School of Business.
These researchers used three surveys of board chairs and executive directors to develop detailed analysis of diversity in the boards of non-profit sector organizations. They say that the focus on governance and leadership diversity is both timely and increasingly instrumental to the success, legitimacy, and viability of nonprofit and public organizations.
by Mehdi Rizvi
Education and work experience are among the valuable assets new immigrants bring to Canada. Almost one in five newcomers is a skilled-worker principal applicant, selected because, in theory, their skills fit what Canada needs.
Often those skills are professional skills. According to Statistics Canada, in 2008, close to 45 percent of all newcomers held a university degree. Among those who were admitted as principal applicants in the skilled workers category, 72 percent held a university degree, as did 41 percent of newcomers in the "spouse and dependents, skilled worker" category, and 33 percent of family class immigrants.
by Mehdi Rizvi
Education and work experience are among the valuable assets new immigrants bring to Canada. Almost one in five newcomers is a skilled-worker principal applicant, selected because, in theory, their skills fit what Canada needs.
Often those skills are professional skills. According to Statistics Canada, in 2008, close to 45 percent of all newcomers held a university degree. Among those who were admitted as principal applicants in the skilled workers category, 72 percent held a university degree, as did 41 percent of newcomers in the "spouse and dependents, skilled worker" category, and 33 percent of family class immigrants.
by Mehdi Rizvi
Recently, news surfaced about an objectionable anti-Jewish text taught in the East End Madrassah, a Toronto Islamic Sunday school. Such stories about educational institutions seem to be popping up more often these days. South of the border, as part of a course about Islam, an instructor at the US military Joint Forces Staff College told his class that "They [Muslims] hate everything you stand for and will never coexist with you, unless you submit." And the New York Police Department screened "Third Jihad," an Islamophobic movie, as a training exercise for 1500 officers and staff.
These revelations were disturbing, disappointing and discouraging for all peace-loving people.
OMNI news reports the complaints against the East End Marassah.
Toronto's Jewish communities expressed shock at curriculum posted on the school's website that called the ancient Jews "treacherous" and "crafty" and accused them of "conspiring to kill Prophet Mohammed". The Toronto school board later suspended the operating permit issued to the Islamic Shia Study Centre. The school "will not be able to use TDSB property until the police investigation is complete and they are able to demonstrate that they comply with board policies and procedures", said TDSB spokesperson Rayan Bird.
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An ancient Jewish saying says, "The only cure for baseless hatred is baseless love." |
In a media release, the Islamic Shia Study Centre management immediately offered unreserved apologies to Jewish community for any unintentional offence caused by the lesson.
"Our curriculum is not intended to promote hatred towards any individual or group of people," said the statement. "Rather, the children are taught to respect and value other faiths, beliefs and to uphold Canada's basic values of decency and tolerance. Our team of scholars has already undertaken to review all texts and material being used in the curriculum to ensure that our teachings are conveying the right message."
The Canadian Association of Jews and Muslims expressed concern and regret over the incident, and reiterated that we should be vigilant that an unfortunate incidents like this is not turned into a campaign to single out the Muslim community in Canada.
On the other hand, some extremist circles are trying to blow the incident out of proportion, in an attempt to politicize the issue and achieve some political gains at the cost of Canadian national unity, by saying that the teaching materials involved were written in Iran.
Sayyid Muhammad Rizvi, Imam of the Islamic Shia Ithna-Asheri Jamaat of Toronto, pointed to a long track record of working closely with other faith groups in Toronto, especially the nearby synagogue. He stated on the Jamaat's website that "The East End Madrassah has acknowledged a failure within its internal system that has enabled unauthorized content to be included in the textbook without appropriate review. We are committed to improve the system to ensure that such mistakes are not repeated. This is not consistent with the actions of our numerous sub-committees, affiliates, and initiatives that benefit the community, only one of which is the EEM."
Although anti-Semitism has a long sorry record in Canada, controversies about Islam are fairly recent. A new wave of immigrants who landed after 1970 have altered the religious profile, demographic landscape and multicultural make-up of the country.
According to the 2006 census, Roman Catholics constitute 33.4 percent of Toronto's population. The Anglican Church and United Church of Canada account for 6.9 percent apiece. Other religious groups include Islam (5.5 percent), Hinduism (4.1 percent), Judaism (3.5 percent), Buddhism (2.1 percent), and Sikhism (1.9 percent). More than 16 percent of the population claim they have no religion.
The word "Islam" means "peace" in the Arabic language. Judaism, Christianity and all other religions brought the same message of peace, love and equality at different times in different lands, urging followers to build a civilized global society, free from prejudice based on caste, colour or creed. Unfortunately, what religions preach honestly, many followers don't practice sincerely.
The real challenge ahead for multicultural societies is where and how to draw a line between hate and history. As Jonathan Kay noted in a Globe and Mail article, "Like the Bible, Muslim scripture contains a lot of material that by modern standards would be considered sexist, homophobic or even anti-Semitic".
The Bible, Qur'an and other ancient religious texts are taken as the word of God by their followers, even though modern standards are much more accepting of differences. Even the faithful hesitate to edit their scriptures, much less allow outsiders to do so.
On the other hand our libraries and websites have a vast literature written by western scholars that condemn Islam, the Qur'an, its laws, and the socio-cultural norms preached and practiced by Muslims. Are archival materials spreading hatred? Or is that material not used by our students and researchers?
History is full of conflicts and contradictions. Although ancient religious texts can't be edited and we can't stop teaching history in classrooms, we do need to remember that history is written by the victors.
It is up to believers to build bridges of understanding. The path to progress and prosperity lies through peaceful co-existence. But creating understanding is a two way process that ought to be reciprocated with friendly gestures and mutual respect, by all segments of society.
The best solution lies in a 7th century saying of Ali Bin Abu Talib, the first Imam and 4th Caliph of Muslims. He said, "We have two kinds of relationships with other human beings. Either we are brethren in faith, or brethren in humanity."
by Mehdi Rizvi
Human resources Minister Diane Finley announced recently that Canada would now allow employers to pay temporary foreign workers wages that are 15 percent less than Canadians earn. In March budget, Finance Minister Jim Flaherty said employers would have to make every effort to hire local Canadians before they would be allowed to bring in temporary foreign workers.
Immigration Minister Jason Kenney further added that unemployed Canadian workers who refuse to accept low-wage jobs would lose EI benefits. He said that, if they accept these jobs, our need for temporary foreign workers would be reduced.
This vision appears on paper to have some merit. But it is not easy to understand, foresee, forecast and analyze what the federal government really wants to achieve from this research-deficient rapid transformation from permanent to temporary immigration.
by Mehdi Rizvi
The "mix of federal-provincial strategies" on immigration "is a recipe for confusion," according to Professor Keith Banting, Research Chair in Public Policy at Queen's University.
Differences among provincial immigration and integration strategies have set the stage for continuing federal-provincial conflict and created a system that is confusing and complex, he added. "With more than 50 streams in various provincial nominee programs and various pathways at federal level," immigrants with equal qualifications will get treated differently, "depending on which door they knock on," he said.
