'We're Canadian and We're Muslim' - Eight Women Honored as Inspirations

From the Star in Canada

`We're Canadian and we're Muslim'

Eight women who reach beyond the mosque to help others are to be honoured as inspirations
Oct 26, 2007 04:30 AM

Daphne Gordon
Living Reporter

Despite a persistent stereotype that they exist on the margins of society, Muslim women are working to improve the lives of all Canadians, says Alia Hogben, head of a national group. In a post-9/11 world, some Canadian Muslim women have disengaged from their communities, notes Hogben, executive director of the Canadian Council of Muslim Women. But others are doing good work that reaches far beyond the mosque, acting as ambassadors for their faith.

"These women are saying, `We're Canadian and we're Muslim and we're proud of both.' These women are fully engaged in life," says Hogben, referring to eight women who are the first to be honoured by the council as the country's most inspiring Muslim women.

They'll be recognized at the council's national conference in Toronto this weekend.

The group includes Ayshi Hassan, a grandmother of 29 from London, Ont., who has been advocating for change since the 1950s.

"I was 16 when I came here and I was interested in what was going on around me," says Hassan, 86. "I joined every organization I could think of and then we organized our own organization. There were five Muslim families with 11 children in London."

She taught Arabic to children born in her community and helped build the first mosque in Ontario. She lobbied for changes to immigration policies and volunteered in election campaigns.

In her job at a refugee centre, she helped new Canadians of all ethnic and religious backgrounds get settled.

Hassan is still active in her community. Just the other day, she and two of her children picked up trash by a river near their home.

"Muslim people are just like everyone else," she says. "They're concerned about the environment and their communities."

The group also includes Rabia Khedr of Mississauga, a mother of four who aims to make life better for Canadians with disabilities.

She's interested in advocating for disabled people who are also people of colour, particularly women. To do that, she helped found the Canadian Association of Muslims with Disabilities and now acts as spokesperson.

She also organizes swimming events at local pools for women of all faiths who don't feel comfortable wearing bathing suits in mixed company. And she sets up regular family skating days for people of all faiths.

"I voluntarily do things that promote inclusion," says Khedr, who has a degree in political science from the University of Toronto.

"I'm trying to make sure my kids aren't on the outside," says Khedr, admitting that's how she sometimes felt growing up Muslim in Mississauga. "I want to make sure they're in there, that there's a sense of belonging."

These women were among approximately 30 women nominated across the country.

"We were impressed by the women we chose because of the work they've done," says Hogben.

"They show that you can be a new immigrant and very quickly turn around and give back to your community, not limited to your own ethnicity."

For more information about the conference, see ccmw.com.