Muslims for Progressive Values

• Learn about progressive interpretations of Islamic law and how they positively affect GLBITQ rights.
• Discuss love’s centrality to a Muslim’s spiritual life.
• Get involved by submitting your questions and comments live!
• Read and reflect on the talk on our online community at ProgressiveIslam.org

El-Farouk Khaki (born October 26, 1963) is a Canadian refugee and immigration lawyer and human rights activist on issues including gender equality, sexual orientation, and progressive Islam. He is the New Democratic Party’s candidate for the House of Commons in the riding of Toronto Centre in a by-election being held on March 17, 2008.

In 1993, he founded Salaam, the first queer Muslim group in Canada and second in the world. In 2003, he organized the first female-led, mixed-gender Muslim congregational prayers in Canada for the Salaam/Al-Fateha International Conference, and in 2005, organized the first such prayers anywhere to be held in a mosque, and he has been involved in every such public event in Canada since. Among other involvements, he has served on the Toronto Mayor’s Committee on Community & Race Relations, on the board of The 519 Community Centre, and is now elected chair of Africans in Partnership Against AIDS.

Khaki regularly speaks publicly at events and in news media on issues ranging from refugee protection, to the global AIDS crisis, Canadian multiculturalism, racism, persecution of sexual minorities around the world, and religious and racial profiling in the war on terror, among other topics. His appearances include CTV’s morning television program Canada AM, CBC Radio One’s The Current, and others.

In spring 2007, Khaki received the prestigious Steinert and Ferreiro Award from the Lesbian and Gay Community Appeal Foundation for his “major role in paving the way in Canada for refugee protection on the grounds of sexual orientation and gender”, and ground-breaking work on gender equality in the Muslim community. The previous summer, Pride Toronto, one of the world’s largest gay-pride festivals, recognized his work building tolerance and inclusiveness in the Muslim community with the 2006 Pride Award for Excellence in Spirituality. El-Farouk Khaki is the NDP candidate for Parliament from Toronto Centre.

Visit El-Farouk’s website for further details.

Access the seminar LIVE at 5pm Eastern Standard Time on Sunday, February 24th.

It will be streamed live, and you can watch it on “Values Live!“, MPV’s multimedia service, which supports events related to the values we stand for.

http://www.mpvusa.org/live.htm

The talk will be followed by a question and answer session and commentary by Sharon Groves, Deputy Director, Religion and Faith Program for the Human Rights Campaign.

The talk will also be available for future download.

Muslims for Progressive Values (MPV) seeks to bring together progressive Muslims and friends who share their values to work for a more humane world. We welcome all who are interested in discussing, promoting and working for the implementation of progressive values — social justice, human rights, economic opportunity, separation of church and state — as well as tolerant and inclusive understandings of Islam.