Calgary Imam Says Islam, Family Violence Don't Mix; Goes on Hunger Strike

December 19, 2007

Author: Staff Writer

Source: The Candaian Press

http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5hHVfIlRrXn9ncgH0mnIQUq0BNSkQ

An imam from Alberta was planning to go on a weekend hunger strike to bring attention to domestic violence and how it is completely against the teachings of Islam.

Any violence involving families is "absolutely un-Islamic," Syed Soharwardy of the Calgary Islamic Centre said Friday.

"We should not be using religion as a scapegoat to justify what we need. We should resolve our disputes based on reasoning, logic (and) cool-mindedness."

The imam's comments came after the death earlier this month of 16-year-old Aqsa Parvez of Mississauga, Ont., who reportedly had a long-standing dispute with her family over her apparent reluctance to wear the traditional Muslim headscarf, the hijab.