Standing Against Islamophobia

Montreal Non-Profit Educates Muslim Women on Their Rights

NewsClaudel Proulx — Published December 1, 2015 | Updated December 1, 2015 at 5:33am

A man who had been listening to our conversation passed by our seat and said “Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.” Saad didn’t get caught up in his game of discrimination, though. She calmly continued the speech she had previously begun. “I have a carapace now,” said Saad. “You have to cut yourself from the emotion.”

“It’s a question of attitude too. Sometimes, you have to ignore, answer, or defend yourself depending on the situation. And when you get used to it, you know how to act, but you have to be strong. It’s not easy,” said Saad.

“It’s a question of attitude too. Sometimes, you have to ignore, answer, or defend yourself depending on the situation. And when you get used to it, you know how to act, but you have to be strong. It’s not easy.” — Hanadi Saad, founder Justice Femme group

Misunderstanding Islam in society can be blamed partly on media coverage, according to Foudil Selmoune, an imam at the Islamic Community Centre (ICC) of South Shore in Brossard. He pointed out that the media tends to relate acts of terrorism to Islam— like the Paris attacks of Nov. 13—when these events have nothing to do with the religion. Selmoune recited verse 5:32 of the Quran, “Whoever kills a soul unless for a soul or for corruption [done] in the land—it is as if he had slain mankind entirely.”

Eighty-five per cent of victims of Islamophobia in Quebec are women wearing a veil, said Saad. Since the debate on the Quebec Charter of Values of 2013, 64 complaints were filed for discrimination based on religion. 65 per cent of these complaints came from the Muslim community, according to the Quebec Human Rights Commission.

Women who are victims of Islamophobia, “don’t want to talk, they don’t want to act. They exclude themselves,” she said. Saad explained her incentive behind the foundation of Justice Femme—their slogan is “Women To Talk, Women To Act.”

There’s a trap of falling into victimization that Saad says results in a “collective depression,” creating a pattern of passive attitude in the harassed Muslim women community.

Saad is also involved at the ICC, a centre that helps Muslim women who are victims of Islamophobia hosting, organizing, and giving speeches to help Muslim women. Saad emphasizes the need to ask for legal aid and psychological help. Justice Femme’s services offer this through lifestyle coaching in the “Se soutenir pour mieux se tenir” workshops. Saad explains the coaching focuses on stress and emotional management as well as on building self-confidence. Inaction results in no progress.

“Who doesn’t know how to do 911?” asked Saad, referring to the importance of calling the police in cases of Islamophobic aggressions. According to Saad, many of these women mistrust the system, and fear the police, perceiving them as absolute authority. She explains their passive behaviour might come from their socioeconomic status, and educational and cultural background.

In fact, Saad stated most immigrants or new citizens who have lived in the province for less than 10 years won’t complain when they are targeted by Islamophobic attacks. These are people who might not know their rights and can’t recognize the resources available to file a complaint, she said. They fear social exclusion and fewer job opportunities by speaking out.

Also as immigrants, they might not see these occurrences as priorities in their lives. Justice Femme then acts as an intermediary between women and the police.

Saad will offer workshops every three months on self-defence in cases of Islamophobic aggressions towards Muslim women. They will take place in Laval, Montreal, St-Laurent, Anjou, Brossard, Sherbrooke, and Quebec City starting in December. She will start her conference tour called “Stand Up For Your Rights” to educate women on laws, and on their rights and freedoms related to Islamophobia. The conference tour runs through December and January. Further dates haven’t been announced yet.