Muslims for Progressive Values MPV Ummah Canada - Latest Media Advisory

 MPV Ummah Canada Condemns Violence Against Shia Muslim Minority Communities in Pakistan and elsewhere and Invites Action. February 27, 2013, Ottawa, Canada.  At Muslims for Progressive Values (MPV) Ummah Canada (www.mpvottawa.com ) our congregations and gatherings are places of unity without barrier, irrespective of gender, faith, sexual orientation nor are we divided by sectarian differences in Islam. We pray shoulder to shoulder with our Shia Muslim brothers and sisters. And we make no distinctions between Imams and Khateebs of Shia or Sunni sects of Islam, who are guided by unique but harmonious interpretations of sacred text. We are shocked and saddened by the multitude of attacks in the past year, against Shia Muslim minority communities throughout the Muslim world. The most recent escalations resulted in the death of dozens in Quetta, Pakistan, for the sole reason that these men, women and children belonged to the Shia Muslim minority population there. We condemn the attacks and stand shoulder to shoulder in solidarity with our Shia brethren all over the world and mourn the loss of innocent people targeted by violence for their faith. It is on this basis that we urge protection for Shia Muslim minorities everywhere, who remain the target of sectarian violence.We urge The Government of Pakistan to take measures to protect its Shia Muslim citizens and bring to justice in a court of law the perpetrators of violence. We call on the OIC (Organisation of Islamic Cooperation) to require nation members, where Shia Muslim minorities are targets of sectarian violence, to do the same. As Canadians, we urge our Federal Government of Canada, Prime Minister Stephen Harper and the Department of Citizenship and Immigration Canada, led by Minister Jason Kenny, to make Canada a safe haven for Shia Muslim refugees from Pakistan and other regions where communities of Shia Muslim minorities have been targeted by sectarian violence. We also call upon The Office of Religious Freedom of the Department of Foreign Affairs, its ambassador, Dr. Andrew Bennett and Minister John Baird, to advocate for the Shia Muslim minority groups who are targets of violence in the Muslim world.We call upon citizens of all nations to demand an end to sectarian violence. We invite the citizens of all western nations, in particular, to urge their governments to make their nation a safe haven for Shia Muslim refugees from Pakistan and other regions where Shia Muslim minority communities have been targeted by sectarian violence. “Whoever kills a human being…it is as though he has killed all of humankind.” (The Holy Quran, 5:32). Please click the link below for contact information to express your support for this statement:

 MPV Ummah Canada signs on - please join us:

Activist Organizations and Inclusive Faith Groups in solidarity with Chief Theresa Spence and Idle No More, January 10, 2013 (Ottawa, Canada)

Dear Chief Spence: We are a group of organizations who support and embrace you in your struggle to seek justice and dignity for your community in Attawapiskat and First Nations communities from coast to coast to coast. To see the rest of the letter - click below:

On International Human Rights Day - December 10, 2012 MPV Canada raises awareness of three Canadians in prison in Iran and three individuals under our jurisdiction convicted under security certificates Why do human rights for all matter in Canada? Check out the following link and share: http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/shahla-khan-salter/international-human-rights-day-canada_b_2268702.html

On November, 14, 2012 - Hamas launches rockets and Israel retaliates with Operation Pillar Defense, both killing innocent civilians. Should Canada support Israel or mediate peace? Write to your MP. Here is what Asif Rehman told Minister Baird:  

MPV Canada's statement on the Tragedy at the American Embassy in Libya, in which US Ambassador Chris Stevens and Sean Smith were killed and our condemnation of the violence, dated September 12, 2012:   

MPV is against blasphemy laws in the Muslim world. We are relieved that Rimsha Masih of Pakistan is free and safe but Pakistan's blasphemy laws remain. Please see MPV Canada's letter to The Government of Pakistan to Free and Protect Rimsha Masih, Aasia Bibi and end Pakistan's Blasphemy Laws (email addresses included) the body of which you are free to copy and paste and sign and email to Pakistani leaders:

 BAN ON THE BURKA? No. MPV Canada's position is here:

Can Islam Promote Human Rights and Peace? Yes.

The 4th Annual Ottawa Peace Festival is took place from September 21 to October 2, 2010 at St. Pauls University. All events are free to the public.

On September 27, MPV Ottawa was honoured to be seated with other faith and humanist peace activists on a panel hosted by Dialogue with Diversity and the Canadian Institute for Conflict Resolution. The topic: How Can our World Religions Promote Peace?

To read MPV Ottawa's submission on the Peace panel discussion, click here:

FREE THE THREE CANADIANS IMPRISONED IN IRAN

MPV Canada demands the Iranian Government release fellow Canadians SAEED MALEKPOUR of Richmond Hill Ontario, HAMID GHASSEIMI-SHALL of Toronto and Canadian/French blogger, HOSSEIN DERAKHSHAN. Here is our speech made at the Iranian Embassy in Canada, February 4th, 2012. Contact your MP and tell them that you care about what a Canadian passport is worth and write to Ayatollah Khameini and tell him the actions of his government are un-Islamic. Here is the link for the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDmGU9jjxDY

How can you take action? Check out this link - write to our Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Ayatollah Khamieni: http://peoplewithoutnation.wordpress.com/2012/01/17/take-action-write-a-letter-to-stephen-harper-canadas-prime-minister/

MPV and The Arab Spring

Muslims for Progressive Values stands in solidarity with the protesters across Middle East as they continue to demand for just political, economic, and social reforms that have been denied them for far too long. We urge Arab governments and governments everywhere to respect the universal rights to freedom of speech, freedom of expression and freedom of assembly without resort to violence or provocation. As we continue to bear witness to the most significant uprisings the Arab World has ever seen, we pray for the peace and safety of our brothers and sisters in their fight for a brighter future, and for self-determination.

 For more about Democracy in the Muslim World from MPV Canada - please check out Yahya Abdul Rahman's speech delivered on February 5th, 2011 at a dinner held by Canada's Tunisian community -

Regarding the Death of Osama Bin Laden. May 2, 2011

Based on the US report of the death of Osama Bin Laden Muslims for Progressive Values Canada issued this statement.

Osama Bin Laden must be remembered not as a representative of Islam but as a criminal who hijacked the faith of more than a billion people and helped to cause chaos throughout our world.

It is a further tragedy that during his lifetime Bin Laden did not see the error of his ways and find the authentic path of Islam which promotes peace and love.

We hope and pray that the ideology Bin Laden fought for shall be buried with him and Muslim and non-Muslim citizens throughout the world may be allowed to live in peace, with dignity and democratic freedom, regarding one another as brothers and sisters in humanity.

We honour the memory of the victims of 9/11 and all people of all faiths, men and women, young and old, in the West and abroad, who have died since 9/11 as a result of war and terror.

Salaam/peace.

Muslims for Progressive Values Canada.

 Anti-UN Demonstration on December 11th, 2010 at United Nations Headquarters, NY

MPV supports Mission Free Iran in its upcoming demonstration taking place on December 11th, 2010 at noon at United Nations Headquarters. More than one hundred women shall participate in a mock stoning exercise in protest of gender apartheid laws in many Muslim countries. For our statement click here. For more information see www.missionfreeiran.org.