There's a call for action regarding Toronto Life's recent article on the story of Aqsa Pervez.
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Don't Believe the Hype!!! Call to Action against Toronto Life's
Misrepresentation of Aqsa's Parvez's Murder
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=49864066322&ref=nf
The December 2008 edition of Toronto Life features the story of Aqsa
Parvez, a young Muslim girl who was killed in her home in Mississauga
last winter (http://www.torontolife.com/features/girl-interrupted/). While featuring Aqsa's story is recognition of a young woman's life cut
tragically short, the Toronto Life article perpetuates common
stereotypes about Muslim and immigrant communities, diverting attention
from the urgent issue of violence against women across Canada.
On Tuesday November 11th, join us in a "Don't' Believe the Hype"
Campaign! We are asking you to raise your voice on the important issue
of violence against women, racism, and Islamophobia.
Get Involved!!
EMAIL or PHONE Toronto Life Editor in Chief, Sarah Fulford. Once you do
that, call up five of your friends and get them to do the same. You can
reach Ms. Fulford at 416-364-3333 ext 3063, [email protected]
WHY? Violence against women, racism, and Islamophobia are issues that
affect all of us in diverse and important ways. Fifty-one percent of
women in Canada have experienced at least one incidence of physical or
sexual violence since the age of 16, and there have been approximately
25 female victims of domestic homicide each year in Ontario from 1975 to
2004. Join us in voicing your concerns and helping to call attention to
misrepresentations that are all too common in our media
WHAT TO EXPECT? This number 416-364-3333 ext 3063 will take you directly
to Sarah Fulford's office, where her assistant will either pick up, or
you will be put through to her assistant's voicemail. You can leave a
personal message or voicemail recording for her assistant to pass on to
Ms. Fulford.
WHAT TO SAY? Identify who you are and where you are from. State that you
are leaving a message for the Sarah Fulford, Editor In Chief and express
your dismay with the article on Aqsa Parvez. Bonus Points: Talk about a
personal experience that proves to you why addressing this issue is so
important and urgent.
Here are a couple of talking points about the article that may help. Feel free to use them directly or make up your own:
1) Aqsa's murder must be looked at through the larger context of
violence against women in Canada. The problem is not limited to any one
community or religious faith. 2) The article calls Aqsa's murder "Toronto's first honour killing". Approximately 25 women a year are murdered in incidents of domestic
violence. The use of the term "honour killing" is an attempt to
sensationalize the situation by invoking common stereotypes about the
prevalence of "honour killings" among South Asian Muslim families,
thereby suggesting that domestic violence is not occurring at alarming
rates across Canada. Instead, we should be working to end violence
against all women. 3) The article associates Muslim religiousity with a tendency towards
violence. In other words, the more religious a Muslim is, the more
likely s/he is to engage in this type of violence. This is false and
based on Islamophobic stereotyping. 4) The question, "Has multiculturalism gone too far?" suggests that
Muslims and immigrants are threats to Canadian society, rather than
contributing members to Canadian society. The idea that "our" tolerance
or respect for cultural diversity has let "them" continue their
oppressive and dangerous behaviours is not only based on racist and
Islamophobic stereotyping of diverse Muslim and immigrant communities,
but also ignores the ongoing racism that exists in Canada despite our
public commitment to multiculturalism. 5) The focus should be on violence against women, not hijab. The article
sets up a false dichotomy between Muslim women who wear the hijab as
oppressed and Muslim women who do not wear the hijab as liberated. Furthermore, it reinforces the idea that all young girls want the same
things, completely ignoring the diversity and richness of Muslim women's
voices and lived experiences.
Other Ways to Get Involved
COME TO THE SPEAK OUT AND PRESS CONFERENCE on Tuesday, November 11, 2008
at 10:30 AM at YWCA located at 80 Woodlawn Avenue East, Main Lounge,
Toronto Ontario. Panelists include representatives of: Muslim Young
Women, Metropolitan Action Committee on Violence against Women and
Children, Urban Alliance on Race Relations. For more information
contact: [email protected] 647-388-6900
SUBMIT TO THE AQSA ZINE # 1. It is s a grassroots zine that is open to
all 13-35 year old young women who self-identify as Muslim. This issue's
theme is self-defense and resistance. It is a creative avenue for us to
express ourselves, share our own experiences, and connect with others. Submissions deadline is December 1, 2008. [email protected] Blog:
aqsazine.blogspot.com