CAIR-CAN Advisory Board / 2001-10-04

Original address: http://caircan.ca/aboutus.shtml (Dead link)

Web Archive (October 4, 2001): http://web.archive.org/web/20011004101402/http://caircan.ca/aboutus.shtml

Original title: What is CAIR CAN?

 What is CAIR CAN?

The Council on American-Islamic Relations CANADA (CAIR CAN) is an Ottawa-based, nonprofit organization with a grassroots membership. It shares close but distinct relations with the Washington, D.C. based CAIR.

Why was CAIR CAN established?

CAIR CAN was established to promote an accurate image of Islam and Muslims in Canada. We believe misrepresentations of Islam are most often the result of a lack of knowledge on the part of non-Muslims and reluctance on the part of Muslims to articulate their cause.

What is the mission of CAIR CAN?

CAIR CAN is dedicated to presenting an Islamic perspective on issues of importance to the Canadian public. In offering that perspective, we seek to empower the Canadian Muslim community through activism in media relations, human rights and lobbying.

How does CAIR CAN carry out its mission?

Media Relations

We work with media professionals to help shape an accurate image of Islam. This includes providing accurate information about Islam and Muslims, providing human resources from local Muslim communities, meeting with editorial boards, and conducting sensitivity training-sessions for institutions.

CAIR CAN members also monitor the local and national media to challenge negative stereotypes of Islam and Muslims.

Publications

We offer to the public a variety of publications addressing the needs of Muslims in Canada. Our publications include An Employer’s Guide to Islamic Religious Practices, An Educator’s Guide to Islamic Religious Practices, and A Health Care Provider’s Guide to Islamic Legal Practices. We also offer a succinct “Know Your Rights” pocket guide.

We hope to soon make available a quarterly newsletter produced by CAIR CAN containing information about our activities. Practical handbooks, such as Hajj and Ramadan Publicity Resource Kits, are available for use by the Muslim community and the media.

Action Alerts

CAIR CAN issues action alerts to local communities as a means of promoting local activism and generating a grassroots response on important issues. We believe that local response is a key factor in making our voices heard.

Human Rights Work

CAIR CAN works through its legal advisors and local members to fight discrimination directed against Muslims in Canada. This discrimination often relates to the violation of basic rights guaranteed in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms or national or provincial human rights legislation.

Training/Outreach

CAIR CAN helps to train Canadian Muslim community members and leaders in techniques of effective media and public relations. Experts are available to offer seminars in local communities.

Inter-Faith Relations

Islam places much emphasis on promoting mutual respect and good relations between followers of all faiths. CAIR CAN works toward this goal through public education and inter-faith cooperation.

CAIR CAN ADVISORY BOARD

Chair:  

Dr. Sheema Khan
Ottawa, Canada

Directors:       

Khadija Haffajee
Ottawa, Canada

Dr. Jamal Badawi
Halifax, Nova Scotia

Shahina Siddiqui
Winnipeg, Manitoba

Faisal Kutty, LLB
Toronto, Ontario

Dr. Mustapha Fahmy
Kingston, Ontario