"...Arjomand told them flatly that under the guise of protecting
religious freedom and multiculturalism — the fear, perhaps, of
offending the Muslim community's male leadership — they were about to
let the rights of Canadian Muslim women be trampled on.
Most at risk are young immigrants, said Arjomand, who come from the
Middle East or North Africa, where sharia is the law and has been used
to subjugate them their entire lives. They know nothing different.
Now that sharia tribunals are to operate here, she says, many women
will be socially and psychologically coerced into participating. To
refuse would mean rejection by their families and the community — or
worse.... Sharia-approved but illegal activities already occur in
Toronto, and she fears this will give strength to them. Muslim women
are battered but don't dare report it. Bigamous marriages occur. Among
her clients are two 14-year-old girls who were married last year to
older men, in defiance of Ontario law prohibiting marriage before age
16....The women's council's 900 members come from all Islamic sects:
Shia, Sunni, Sufi, Wahhabi, Somali and Ismaili. "It is difficult for
us to speak out because we are practising, pro-faith Muslims who don't
want to provide ammunition to those who malign Islam. <<
anyone do that LOL!!!>>> "...
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Full article in the ordinarily liberal Toronto
Star...http://tinyurl.com/2rd5k
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