iERA Press Pack

Press Pack

Table of Contents:

Introduction
iERA’s Aim
iERA and anti-Semitism
iERA and the charges of Homophobia
iERA and the charges of misogyny
Hamza Andreas Tzortzis, Homophobia and Freedom of Speech
Abdurraheem Green, Homophobia and Misogyny
Notes to Editors

To contact our media team please email media@iera.ca or call +16479658412

1. Introduction

The Islamic Education and Research Academy (iERA) is a global Islamic propagation organisation committed to presenting Islam to the wider society. In Canada, we are a registered not-for-profit organisation under the name: iERA Islamic Education Canada.

Our work is focused on empowering Muslims to articulate their beliefs and practices to non-Muslim audiences. We believe this is important as community tensions and related problems arise from a lack of dialogue and discussion. It is through engaging with others that fears and anxieties associated with a lack of knowledge can be reduced, thereby strengthening social and communal ties.

In the interest of social cohesion and harmony, and to maintain a sense of respect and transparency, we have sent this to the Prime Minister of Canada, the Immigration Minister and Minister of Culture, Communications and Immigration of Quebec.

2. iERA’s Aim

The aim of iERA is to present the religion of Islam in a warm and intelligent way, appropriate to social context. Through this we aim to get Muslims to pro-actively engage with different communities and work for the welfare of all members of society.

iERA is an independent global organisation based in the UK, with affiliate offices in different countries, such as Canada (iERA Islamic Education Canada). iERA has an open policy of sharing platforms with individuals and organizations that promote Islam in a peaceful and law-abiding manner.

3. iERA and anti-Semitism

iERA and some of its speakers have been charged with accusations of anti-Semitism. This is a charge that we categorically reject and the fallacy of this accusation can be easily seen through both our words and deeds. We would like to formally express that we do not under any circumstances promote, condone or support discrimination and enmity towards the Jewish people. In actual fact Islamic teachings have always sought to protect and preserve the Jewish people. The historical reality that Islam ensured security and peace for the Jewish people is not an accident; it is ingrained in the source texts of Islam. For instance the Prophet Muhammad (peace & blessing be upon Him) said that “whoever harms a non-Muslim [under Muslim protection] harms me”. Additionally the Qur’an, the divinely-revealed book of the Muslims, states in its 60th chapter “And He does not forbid you to deal kindly and justly with anyone who has not fought you for your faith or driven you out of your homes: God loves the just”.

Consequently this has manifested itself practically in Islamic history, for instance, Heinrich Graetz, a 19th century Jewish historian expressed how Islamic rule in Spain favoured the Jews in the context of kindness and liberty of belief;

“It was in these favourable circumstances that the Spanish Jews came under the rule of Mahometans, as whose allies they esteemed themselves the equals of their co-religionists in Babylonia and Persia. They were kindly treated, obtained religious liberty, of which they had so long been deprived, were permitted to exercise jurisdiction over their co-religionists, and were only obliged, like the conquered Christians, to pay poll tax…” [H. Graetz. History of the Jews. London,1892, Vol 3, p. 112.].

The Jewish historian Amnon Cohen shares similar view that the Jewish minorities sought justice from Islamic courts rather than their own, indicating that Islam sought to protect the Jewish people.

“The Jews went to the Muslim court for a variety of reasons, but the overwhelming fact was their ongoing and almost permanent presence there. This indicates that they went there not only in search of justice, but did so hoping, or rather knowing, that more often than not they would attain redress when wronged…” [A World Within: Jewish Life as Reflected in Muslim Court Documents from the Sijill of Jerusalem (XVIth Century). Part One, 1994, Pennsylvania, p. 17.]

These are the values that underpin the foundations and work of iERA. In this light, we would like to reaffirm our position that we condemn all forms of injustice and anti-Semitism.

4. iERA and the charges of Homophobia

To demystify Islam’s position on this matter we must clarify that the act of homosexual sex is strongly forbidden in Islamic ethics and morality, which is similar to the Christian and Jewish position on this issue, and also of all major world religions. To contextualise this further, Islam forbids any sexual activity outside of marriage and views society as being fundamentally family-centric. We need to appreciate that Islam is not based on an liberal philosophy and therefore it has its own conception of how society should conduct itself. Any act that antagonises the Islamic conception of society is against Islamic ethical and moral values; hence Islamic Law has mechanisms and rules in place to protect society.

To put a caveat to this all, we do not advocate any animosity or violence to anyone regardless of race, colour, creed or sexual orientation and urge all members of society to abide by the law of their land. Significantly we encourage open and frank discussion on these key issues, which unfortunately is yet to occur due to a cultural bias in the media and other institutions. These accusations do an enormous disservice to the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered (LGBT) community by stifling discussion with mainstream religious traditions. Such actions do harm to our ability to openly and frankly exchange and discuss different ideas.

Our position is clear; we do not call for any discrimination against the LGBT community, and condemn all types of hostility and aggression towards them as we believe it is high time for there to be dialogue between all communities about fundamental issues such as the existence and relevance of God, morality and the human condition.

5. iERA and the charges of misogyny

iERA completely rejects the accusation of misogyny. Islam is extremely clear on the role of women in society and her value as an equal human being. This is the view that all of our speakers hold in word and deed.

It is widely believed in the West that Islam subjugates women. Many believe that men force their women to cover their hair, to stay at home, remain uneducated, weak and to treat them as second class citizens within an Islamic society. Nothing could be further from the truth.

We believe women are equal to men. Both men and women are addressed by God (Allah) in the Qur’an with rights, duties and prohibitions. Men and women will be accounted for what God has asked of them and will not be accountable for what was not asked of them. However, men and women were addressed differently by God in the Qur’an and so by His Wisdom He has made men and women the same in some things and different in others. For example, both men and women pray five times each day, fast the month of Ramadan and have the right to own property. Also both men and women are not allowed to steal, murder or have sexual relationships outside of marriage and the penalties for men and women are the same under Islamic law.

Equality doesn’t mean “sameness”. We believe God by His Knowledge has made for men and women different roles, rights, responsibilities and duties; something which has been substantiated by modern research in the study of individual differences in the field of psychology. Men have been given the responsibility of protecting women, providing for them and upholding their dignity. This does not make women less than men in any way but enhances the balance and harmony that exists within an enlightened Islamic society. Islam also takes into account the rights a person has in society with respect to their roles. For example, a mother has a greater right to the companionship of her children than the father due to her part in carrying her children in her womb for the duration of pregnancy.

6. Hamza Andreas Tzortzis, Homophobia and Freedom of Speech

Mr. Hamza Andreas Tzortzis has been accused of homophobia and rejecting freedom of speech. Both of these false accusations are based on misquotes. On homosexuality, Mr. Tzortzis maintains the mainstream Islamic view and categorically rejects any discrimination and animosity towards the LGBT community, for instance Mr. Tzortzis has written “This doesn’t mean that homosexuals are to be seen as anything other than human. The Islamic tradition argues that one must be just and express sincere kindness to all people.”

Additionally, Mr. Tzortzis spoke at an iERA conference in January 2011 formally addressing the LGBT community saying that iERA and its speakers condemn any animosity or aggression towards the LGBT community.

On freedom of speech, Mr. Tzortzis has been misquoted saying that Muslims must reject freedom of speech. This accusation is again borne out from a misunderstanding of the context of his statement. Mr. Tzortzis was speaking in the context of Islam’s position on absolute freedom.

Mr. Tzortzis has written, “Muslims have over a thousand years of scientific and intellectual progress. When Europe was in the ‘Dark Ages’ the Islamic society produced scholars that were to become the reference points for medicine, chemistry, mathematics, architecture and many other fields of science and engineering. According to historians of science, the Muslims were the cause for bringing Europe out of the darkness of ignorance. Robert Briffault in the “Making of Humanity” states the following:

‘For although there is not a single aspect of European growth in which the decisive influence of Islamic culture is not traceable, nowhere is it so clear and momentous as in the genesis of that power which constitutes the permanent distinctive force of the modern world, and the supreme source of its victory, natural science and the scientific spirit.’

‘The debt of our science to that of the Arabs does not consist in startling discoveries or revolutionary theories, science owes a great deal more to Arab culture, it owes its existence.’

Muslims are all for progress and development. However, Muslims do not accept freedom of speech in its absolute, theoretical and unrestricted sense as this could lead to the promotion of unlawful and destructive behaviour for society such as anarchy, racism and incitement to hatred against various communities. In principle, this is no different to how some aspects of freedom of speech are implemented in Western secular states. There are many limits; for example there are hate speech laws, defamation laws, libel laws etc. In reality people can express themselves within the context of the law as opposed to with total abandon.

Furthermore, when Islam and Muslims are attacked under the banner of freedom of speech, a contradiction is highlighted. There are laws in place to prevent offending religious minorities such as the Jewish community but not for Muslims. Taking the Danish cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon Him) as an example, if the cartoons depicted and promoted holocaust denial it would be against the law, or viewed as incisive. Muslims were afforded no such consideration when it came to the insulting depiction of their kind and gentle role-model (may peace and blessings be upon Him).

Even if one were to ignore the apparent contradictions, it can be argued that civilised society cannot engage with one another constructively if one can say whatever they want. Initiating dialogue by abusing one another will not produce the desired results for a cohesive and peaceful society.

The Qur’an, the divinely revealed book of the Muslims, encourages thinking and debate. This is reflected in our history and scholarship. However, abuse and unrestricted forms of expression creates animosity and discourage true dialogue.

This is aptly put by the Quran itself in its 16th chapter:

‘Invite to the Way of your Lord with wisdom and beautiful speech; and argue with them in ways that are best and most gracious. For your Lord knows best who have strayed from His Path and who receive guidance.’

In Chapter 6;

‘And insult not those whom they (disbelievers) worship besides Allah, lest they insult Allah wrongfully without knowledge. Thus We have made fair-seeming to each people its own doings; then to their Lord is their return and He shall then inform them of all that they used to do.’

7. Abdurraheem Green, Homophobia and Misogyny

Mr. Abdurraheem Green has been accused of homophobia despite the fact that he has a track record of engaging with members of the LGBT community in social and philosophical dialogue for a number of years.

The offending quote is mentioned here in a discussion of the deterring punishments in Islamic Law:

‘The “harm” of the punishment for adultery is offset by the need of the “benefit” and protects the wider society. All of this also goes some way to help understand way (sic) acts of homosexuality are similarly treated so harshly’.

One has to understand the context of Islamic criminal code to appreciate that any act of sexual penetration in public , heterosexual or homosexual is punishable in an Islamic state. This is far-removed from anything that can be seen as inciting hatred or discrimination against the LGBT community.

With regards the charge of misogyny, Mr. Green has clearly stated ,in no uncertain terms ,that the prophet Muhammad (may peace and blessings be upon Him) said “The best of you are those who are best to their wives.” Mr. Green. has stated with regards to striking one’s wife: “”this is not an excuse for a man to beat his wife…it is not allowed just for any reason, cos you’re angry or you’re upset because the dinner is not ready”

8. Notes to Editors:

iERA stands for the Islamic Education and Research Academy
iERA is committed to presenting Islam to the wider society, see www.iera.org
To contact our media team please email media@iera.ca or call +16479658412
Click here for our previous Press Releases – Here and Here.
iERA is a registered charity in the United Kingdom – #1134566
iERA is a registered Non Profit Organisation in Canada under the name: iERA Islamic Education Canada.
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