The Canadian Muslim Union (CMU) is a registered not-for-profit corporation in Canada.
The CMU was started on August 20, 2006 following an unsuccessful attempt to resolve deep divisions in the
Muslim Canadian Congress (MCC) board. The attempt failed when members representing one of the factions did not show up for the Board meeting called to resolve the differences and to elect a new executive. The board members who attended, which included all of the executive (including
El-Farouk Khaki
El-Farouk Khaki (born October 26, 1963) is a Tanzanian-born Muslim Canadian of Indian origin who is a refugee and immigration lawyer, and human rights activist on issues including gender equality, sexual orientation, and progressive Islam. He was ...
) and a majority of the total board from the Toronto area (including
Gary Dale), decided unanimously to resign from the MCC and form a new, democratic organization.
The CMU, while advocating separation of Religion and State, works with and within the Muslim community, engaging it in issues of human rights, human dignity,
social justice
Social justice is justice in terms of the distribution of wealth, Equal opportunity, opportunities, and Social privilege, privileges within a society. In Western Civilization, Western and Culture of Asia, Asian cultures, the concept of social ...
and alternate progressive and inclusive visions of Islam. In doing so, it aims to instill joy in the celebration of identities as Muslims and as Canadians with social consciences & a commitment to social justice.
The CMU has hosted a number of events including several mixed-gender woman-led Friday afternoon prayers and has co-sponsored a "Peace
Iftar
Iftar ( ar, translit=Iftar Ramadan, إفطار رمضان), also known as (from , , 'breakfast'), (), is the evening meal with which Muslims end their daily Ramadan fast at sunset. They break their fast at the time of the call to prayer ...
" wit
Salaameach
Ramadan since 2006. They have also partnered with other groups for various events such as public forums with
Tariq Ali
Tariq Ali (; born 21 October 1943) is a Pakistani-British political activist, writer, journalist, historian, filmmaker, and public intellectual. He is a member of the editorial committee of the ''New Left Review'' and ''Sin Permiso'', and con ...
o
October 15, 2006an
The CMU also was one of many groups who presented a position statement to the Ontario Citizens' Assembly on Electoral Reform in 2007. They endorsed some form of proportional representation as a key to electing a more representative government.
External links
Progressive Muslim group implodesby Reuel S. Amdur, ''The Arab-American News''
Islamic organizations based in Canada
Liberal and progressive movements within Islam
{{Islam-org-stub