I have previously written on the tendency of immigrants to bring with them hatreds, prejudices and conflicts prejudicing their country of origin. An op-ed on this issue was published in the Calgary Herald and can be found here.
In that article, I talked about about religious fundamentalists and the doomed Air India flight.
Unfortunately, the reality is that cultural belief systems are contributing to "honour killings" whereby women and girls are being killed in Canada for contravening out-dated norms of behaviour.
Andy Hayher and I chose to speak on this topic last Tuesday, and found that the majority of callers were in agreement that these out-moded belief systems had to be changed. A link to the audio (mostly in Punjabi) can be found Download 20120103honourkilling.
I was asked to speak on this matter on Alberta Primetime and discussed this matter with Ms. Karamali (a social worker from Edmonton) and Imam Syed Soharwardy, a controversial individual and (likely) self-appointed President of the Islamic Supreme Council of Canada.
In my view, religious and cultural views that contribute to women being viewed as property are foundational to the occurrence of honour killings. Regrettably, honour killings occur throughout South Asia (India, Pakistan) and the Middle East. Also unfortunate -- a number of countries have "defences" to the charge of murder if the motivation was the preservation of "honour". The Muslim diaspora are ill-served if Imam Soharwardy represents leadership on this issue as I believe that he tends to minimize the occurrence, prevalance and basis for "honour killings".
**** Update ****** After the Shafia verdict (where all three were convicted of first degree murder) I was approached by a number of media organizations for my thoughts on honour killings and immigration policy. I was on Charles Adler's show discussing the Shafia verdict, and my own experience with honour crimes on January 30, 2012.
in what regard do you qualify this imam as controversial and self proclaimed? Your article should be entitled ethnic hatred and indian-pakistani diaspora...
Posted by: Jean coursier | January 21, 2012 at 08:03 PM
Raj, I saw your interview on Global news tonight. You coming from a visable minority and possible immigrant to Canada (I do not know your background, just assuming). I loved what you said, you are so right in my veiw. Immigrants should not use our country as a "Hotel" and should back up the country that they chose to come to. If you want to live in Canada and take an oath to be a Canadian citizen. Then they should live by canadian beliefs, laws and standards as a country, and not try to bring their countries beleifs to try and get Canada to reform to their previous country. Great job Raj. Loved to hear someone finally say what you said tonight. I feel if I said it I would be considered a racist if I spoke up and said it.
Thanks Raj.
Bailey
Posted by: Bailey | January 30, 2012 at 11:48 PM
Hi Bailey. I didn't immigrate here (born in Hamilton, ON) but I am the son of immigrants. We shouldn't be afraid of calling a spade a spade. Thanks for the comment.
Posted by: Raj Sharma | January 31, 2012 at 11:13 AM