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Alameen Post one to one with Farheen Khan
5-19-2015
The orange scarves revolution is here..
While the vast majority of Muslims in Canada talk about politics while sitting on sidelines, there are few daring Muslims who take the leap of faith by venturing into messy and often controversial world of politics. They are engaged and proactive. They are playing a significant role. Farheen Khan is among a hand full of Muslims who has decided to run for a political office.
In forthcoming federal elections the New Democratic Party (NDP) slate will have at least 20 Muslims candidates, among them there are four Muslim women and Farheen Khan will be the only Hijabi sister running as an NDP candidate for Mississauga Centre for the upcoming federal elections.
Our conversation started with why as a Hijabi, and she was adamant that it is time now for Muslims women to stand up for their own rights.
She is of the view that the challenges faced by Muslim women at this time in Canada are unprecedented. Never before has Canadian government politicians have spoken out so strongly against Hijab and Muslims then during the current era. Muslims issues has been highlighted as political wedge issues to court for votes. The Quebec provincial elections is one example and the Harper government is doing everything insanely possible to attract and divide Canada over hijab issues.
At this juncture it is Muslim women who are stepping up to the plate take back their rights. Rania El-Alloul who was denied access to court just for wearing hijab and Zunera Ishaq, the Mississauga, Ont. mother who has brought the first challenge against the ban on wearing Niqabs during citizenship oaths.
While individually they might be taking a fight with the establishment it will pave the way for all Muslim sisters for future. But the voice in the political spectrum for Muslim sisters is missing. And this is where Farheen would like to step in. She believes Muslim women are stepping up for their rights because they rights are much easier to take away and they are much more susceptible to be political scapegoats for vote hungry politicians whose aim is only to divide Canadians along religious and ethnic lines.
Her candid conversations about how Muslim community views about voting or the decision not to vote as a religious issue may not be well taken about some members in the community who feel voting is not allowed.
She is clear about her Islamic roots and how the current political system is very close to Islamic values.
“In the past changes in government was a brutal effort. Taking arms and fights and many lives lost. The voting system delivers the voices of the people without any lives lost” so she asks how can this be not Islamic.
The nay Sayers are just creating vacuum where they are isolating themselves from the Canadian mainstream. Their non-participation is making it possible for politicians to be part of the islamophobia problem in Canada. She asks, “How can Muslims keep themselves absent from the decision making process.”
And for Muslim sisters hijab has being the tip of the ice berg. It was seen as easy ride to take on the Muslim women playing the oppressed card for politicians but now Muslim hijabi sisters are taking the battle head on. They are taking the bull by the horn. They no longer wish to be silent, nor should they be. Carrying the legacy of our prophetic traditions, that is our strength.
She reflects on Islamic History, it was the Muslim women who played pivotal roles during the times of the prophet at crucial moments. For example Khadija Rad, when the prophet came shaken up when he revelation came. She consoled him and guided him to take the noble effort. Or Salma rad. During the signing of the treaty that was so much against the Muslims that the Sahabah (Companions) did not want to give an inch and were amused by the decision of the prophet to give all away in order to have a peace treaty. She feels that the time is right for Muslim sisters to take a major role in Canadian politics.
She find her visits to the masjid on Fridays during Juma Salat are raising eyebrows. Firstly masjids are just opening up to the idea of politicians speaking at Friday prayers, secondly she as a woman standing in the main prayer hall in front of the main congregation delivering a speech and the eyes are all over her. “I think in my mind what are they thinking, when she is getting of the microphone, what is the need of her to speak about, politics during Jumuah and so I try my best to wrap up my speech within 5 minutes.”
But the good thing is that mosques are now opening up to the idea of political participation. Just recently in Toronto about 20 Imams organized a Jumuah khutbah on political participation.
The Muslim community reacts differently – when everything is good no one participates unless there is a looming danger. Now with the rise of islamophobia and politicians hell bent on courting or dividing Muslim vote the Muslim community is waking up to the idea of active participation.
Farheen says choosing to join the NDP party was clear. Her convictions about the party policies and the impression she got after meeting Thomas Mulcair made it clear NDP is the party for her and the Muslim community especially in light Bill C-51.
Although she is single she finds her father a retired Toronto police employee her mentor and her best assistant and aid. He accompanies her and guides her in gaining grounds in the Muslim community.
She is not at all worried about running against another well-seasoned Muslim politician Omar Alghabra. She feels brother Omar is doing what is good but her campaign is advocating for her community. She has a strong record in advocating for causes related to women & girls issues, health & nutrition, fitness & wellness, poverty, food security, homelessness, youth leadership & development, the arts, international development & relief aid, and against gendered-base violence. Farheen feels she is the best Candidate suited for the job and we at Alameen wish her all the best in her campaign.
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