Bismillah [hidayahnet] SHORT COURSE FOR IMAMS AND COMMUNITY ON CANADIAN HISTORY, POLITICS, LAW, AND MEDIA, ISLAMIC FAMILY LAW AND FAMILY COUNSELING

[Internationalnews]

SHORT COURSE FOR IMAMS AND COMMUNITY ON CANADIAN HISTORY, POLITICS, LAW, AND MEDIA, ISLAMIC FAMILY LAW AND FAMILY COUNSELING THE CANADIAN ISLAMIC CONGRESS MEDIA COMMUNIQU� April 10, 2005 The Canadian Islamic Congress announced today that it is offering for the first time in Canada a two-day intensive course covering Canadian history, politics, media and law, as well as Islamic family law and professional family counseling. The Labour Day weekend course -- Saturday and Sunday, September 3 and 4 -- will be taught in Toronto by qualified academics and practicing professionals. It is designed for Canadian Muslims, both men and women, and especially Imams and other Muslims serving the community, as a means to enhance their knowledge base in these important areas. "We have recognized for a long time that there is a real need here," said CIC national president, Dr. Mohamed Elmasry. "This course is designed to meet that need, in order that Canadian Muslims can achieve a more proactive role in Canada's multicultural society. We are focused on smart integration, instead of invisible assimilation, or being marginalized as 'other' people."   Most Canadian Imams are trained abroad and have attained the equivalent of a university Bachelor's degree (BA); some hold Master's (MA) degrees and a few are Ph.D.'s. Most Imams are assisted by lay-volunteer men and women. Some are Canadian-educated, but others are not, and a lack of familiarity with the Canadian scene can be isolating, for both these individuals and their local community. "It is an excellent step in providing structural Canadian knowledge in an intensive way," said Mrs. Wahida Valiante, who is CIC's national vice-president and a professional family counselor herself. Muslims make up Canada's largest non-Christian religious group, currently numbering more than 750,000. Recent StatsCan research predicts there could be 1.4 million Canadian Muslims within the next decade.   There are some 200 mosques / masjids across the country, with a large percentage in the GTA (Greater Toronto Area), and their number also is steadily increasing.     Dr. Elmasry added that the upcoming weekend course, which is sponsored by some of Canada's largest mosques --  including TARIC Islamic Centre of  Toronto and the Muslim Council of Montreal.-- is one of a planned series. "This is a major community initiative," added Haroun Salamat, president of the TARIC mosque. More information is posted on: http://www.canadianislamiccongress.com/course/index.php CONTACTS: Dr. Mohamed Elmasry (519) 746-4107 (O) (519) 577-2267 (Cell) e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Mrs. Wahida Valiante (905) 771-1023 e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] FOR FRENCH MEDIA: Dr. Mohamed Nekili (514) 745-1255 e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] -30-     http://groups.yahoo.com/group/internationalnews/ Please visit also:� www.apm-ram.org Please see also: http://www.whatreallyhappened.com/ Please read and feel free to forward, print, and publish. We would like to apologize for any repeated messages, and any typing or grammatical errors. We act because we believe in this quote: “ You can fool some of the people all the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you cannot fool all of the people all the time” Disclaimer This material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. 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