common ground news

Religion and Citizenship at Canada’s 150th

Religious and civic leaders, as well as academics and public servants, gathered at Saint Paul University in Ottawa on May 8- 9 to talk about how Canadians can invigorate civic participation through greater inclusion at a conference themed “Our Whole Society: Religion & Citizenship At Canada’s 150th.” “True diversity

Canadian Muslims

Quebec group launch campaign against Charter of Values

(January 11, 2014) – A Montreal-based group is calling on all Canadians to join them on January 12th and 13th to protest against the Quebec government’s proposed Charter of Values for the province. The group called Support Another is asking fellow Canadians to join their campaign by wearing a

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One family’s experience in what it takes not to hate

By Rabia Chaudry (August 12, 2013) – It’s rare to open a paper these days without seeing stories about violence across religious and ethnic lines. Many scholars spend their careers asking why people become susceptible to such hatred. But maybe the real question we should be asking ourselves is

Canadian Muslims

The day I joined the Catholics for Lent

By Mohamed Ali Saleh I joined the annual Lent celebrations at Epiphany of Our Lord Byzantine Catholic Church one Friday last month in Annandale, Virginia. I didn’t mind fasting from meat all day, then enjoying a huge dinner of cheese-stuffed pirohis (ravioli-like pasta) served by a woman who cheerfully

Canadian Muslims

When our children ask about God

By Asma Uddin “If God made everything, the sun, the trees, the Earth, then … who made God?” “Where was I before God made me?” Zaynab, my five-year-old daughter, has been asking questions about faith, God and her purpose in the world at an ever-increasing rate. She is at that amazing,

Canadian Muslims

Doha's climate change legacy more than words

By Wael Hmaidan The normally frenetic pace of Doha’s construction sites slowed earlier this month as workers stopped and stared at something that had never been seen in the State of Qatar before. Almost 1000 people marching down Doha’s Corniche, waving signs and chanting. It was a

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A Pakistani Immigrant Reflects on America

By Tarik Zia My journey from Pakistan to a new home began in late July when, after much anticipation, I arrived in the United States. This was a tough decision for someone who had lived for 40 years in one place and was now choosing to live in a new

Canadian Muslims

Beyond Free Speech vs. Religion

By Rebecca Cataldi Weeks after an anti-Islamic film created by an Egyptian in California sparked controversy and sometimes violent protests around the world, debates about freedom of expression continue. Some have advocated limiting the right to use free speech to denigrate religions, both to respect religious sensitivities and to protect

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Following the footsteps of Abraham in Canada

By Habeeb Ali “Canada is the second Holy Land”, said a Christian American visitor from Atlanta, Georgia. He was part of a group of 15 Muslim, Jewish and Christian Americans who called themselves World Pilgrims and travelled to Canada to learn from and dialogue with members of its different faith

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Interfaith community steps up after mosque fire

By Mark Scheel On 4 July in Joplin, Missouri, a fire broke out on the roof of the Islamic Society of Joplin mosque, apparently an act of arson. Firefighters quickly extinguished the blaze before the building sustained significant damage. However, a second fire of unknown origin, which many are concerned

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Religious leaders call for ethical response to economic crisis

By Maria-Paz Lopez In June, at the 2nd Ibero-American Interreligious Summit in Barcelona, religious leaders from Latin America, Spain and Portugal exhorted member states “to admit the ethical origin of the present crisis and to support and respect the efforts of the religious communities in alleviating an increase in

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Muslim American men up close and personal

By Nadia Mohammad Terrorist. Jihadist. Misogynist. Brown. Bearded. Un-American. These are the terms and images often associated with Muslim men in America. A compilation of autobiographical essays by Muslim American men, All-American: 45 American Muslim Men on Being Muslim, presents a series of personal accounts that counter these assumptions and

common ground news

Cross-pollination distinguishes great Islamic art

By Naazish YarKhan When exploring ways to bring people closer, the arts are an oft-neglected tool. With their beauty and potential to elicit emotions, they have the potential to bridge cultural divisions. When the art in question is itself the culmination of intercultural exchanges and influences, it has even more

Canadian Muslims

The new face of Muslim American leadership

By Hussein Rashid According to a recently released study about American religious membership, Islam is one of the fastest growing religions in the United States. What many Americans may not realise is that as this group grows its religious leadership is also rapidly evolving. When it comes to Jews and

common ground news

On the brink: can non-violence bring Syria back?

By Michael Nagler and Stephanie Van Hook When the Arab Spring was initiated by Mohammed Bouazizi’s self-immolation last year in Tunisia, it ignited longings for freedom throughout the region; more than that, it took hold of the creative imaginations of non-violent activists and millions of dissatisfied individuals around

Asghar Farhadi

Hollywood recognizes Iran’s “glorious culture”

By Persheng Vaziri If you could climb over the mountain of threats and political posturing that are part of the language used by the United States, Europe and Iran and look out, you might see the light of a movie screen. If you set aside the loud clamour in the

Canadian Muslims

A Muslim chaplain who matters for non-Muslims, too

By Noah J Silverman The story of Hillel’s creation, growth and success is not only one of the major accomplishments of the Jewish community in America in the 20th century, it is also a distinctly American story of which citizens of all religious backgrounds should be proud. As President

Canadian Muslims

Muslim moms in Canada, more than full-time housewives

By Daood Hamdani (August 7, 2011) – In early July, Canadians engaged in an online conversation with the aim of increasing their understanding of Muslims, the main non-Christian faith community estimated by government demographers at 1.1 million in 2011 or 3.2 per cent of the total population. It

common ground news

The attacks in Norway and the price of fear

By Natana J. DeLong-Bas (July 28, 2011) – There are certain events that are so painful and incomprehensible that they stop us in our tracks and make us wonder what kind of world we live in. The horrific mass murder of teens and young adults at a summer camp in

Canadian Muslims

A victim of terrorism speaks out

(July 1, 2011) – When I recall my life – which I once thought would be normal, as most people assume theirs will be – I tend to divide it into three stages. One of those is the most traumatic, leaving deep wounds that have never ceased to cause me pain and

Canadian Muslims

The right of others to disagree

By Sheikh Ibrahim Ramadan (June 7, 2011) – Among the things I remember from my mother, may she rest in peace, is a meaningful story attributed to the Prophet Abraham. The story goes as follows: Abraham never liked to eat except with guests, to the extent that he would frequent

Canadian Muslims

A new narrative of empathy for the West and the Arab world?

By Rahim Kanani (May 28, 2010) – As people in the West continue to read about, listen to and watch the stories of ordinary citizens in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Bahrain, Syria and Yemen, they are realising more and more that human desires, needs and wants – of people in North America,

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Jews extend Qur’an to Muslims

By Habeeb Alli (May 11, 2011) – I’m thrilled again to have been a part of recent history – while someone burned the Qur’an in the United States, another presented us with a Qur’an in an expression of solidarity. I told this to my congregation during a Friday

Canadian Muslims

What’s in store for US-Pakistan relations post-bin Laden?

By Huma Yusuf (May 6, 2011) – Scenes of rejoicing in Washington and New York accompanied the news that Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden had been killed by US special forces on Sunday. But in Pakistan, many remained glued to their television sets, wondering what this event means for

Canadian Muslims

Muslims #1 victims in terrorist attacks

By Hussein Abdallah (April 22, 2011) – Late last month, Yemeni officials claimed that Al Qaeda-affiliated gunmen allegedly took control of a munitions factory in southern Yemen and then booby-trapped the facility after looting it. Residents of the town who flocked to the factory afterward trying to recover what was