Launching National Khutbah Day: Rohingya Genocide Remembrance
August 22, 2024
Toronto, Canada – Justice For All Canada announces the launch of a National Khutbah Day* on August 23, 2024, to commemorate the seventh anniversary of the Rohingya Genocide. This initiative has garnered widespread support, with Imams across Canada pledging their commitment to participate. The day of reflection seeks to raise awareness and foster solidarity within the Canadian Muslim community regarding the ongoing persecution of the Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar (Burma).
The situation for the Rohingya remains dire and critical, with recent reports confirming renewed violence in Maungdaw, a predominantly Muslim town in Burma. Over the past few weeks, over 200 Rohingya have been killed, including children and women (as well as pregnant women). The brutal attacks by the Arakan Army have forced thousands to flee their homes, only to face treacherous conditions that make escape nearly impossible. Over 1.5 million Rohingya have been forced from their homes, now displaced across South and Southeast Asia, as a result of systematic violence and persecution that has afflicted the community for decades.
This crisis is a continuation of the ongoing genocide against the Rohingya people.
“August 25 marks seven years since the Rohingya Genocide, a tragedy officially recognized by Parliament. Yet, despite sanctions and international condemnation, the atrocities against the Rohingya persist, with the global community failing to take decisive action,” said Taha Ghayyur, Executive Director. “Imams across the nation are taking a strong stance against this persistent injustice by participating in this National Khutbah Day. This initiative is a call to action for all Canadians to remember the victims and survivors, to participate in raising awareness, and to demand that the suffering of our Rohingya brothers and sisters is not ignored.”
The National Khutbah Day will focus on educating congregants about the ongoing genocide, the humanitarian crisis in Rohingya refugee camps, and the historical context behind the Rohingya’s plight. This day of reflection and prayer will also serve as a call to action, urging Muslims across Canada to advocate for the Rohingya by contacting their local MPs, raise awareness within their communities, and support the campaign for justice.
Justice For All Canada encourages all Canadian Muslims to join this important initiative. We trust that the participation of Canadian Muslim leaders in this National Khutbah Day will deliver a resounding message of solidarity with the Rohingya, while highlighting Canada’s responsibility in upholding its commitments to international humanitarian principles and accountability.
Imams and Khateebs willing to participate can sign-up here: https://tinyurl.com/Rohingya-Khutba-Campaign
Community members can invite their local Imam to join the campaign using a prepared email template: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1bG7H2HwirSjiL_PFS7TLhmn7WBvu77rhxI-FxVgVP4M/edit?usp=sharing
*Justice For All Canada's Khutbah Day initiatives focus on human rights issues as a means of putting Islamic principles of justice, peace, and compassion into action. The Khutbah, a sermon delivered during Friday prayers, provides a powerful platform to educate and mobilize the community in support of oppressed and marginalized groups.
About: Justice For All Canada is a human rights and advocacy organization focused on genocide prevention and challenging global Islamophobia.
Toronto, Canada – Justice For All Canada announces the launch of a National Khutbah Day* on August 23, 2024, to commemorate the seventh anniversary of the Rohingya Genocide. This initiative has garnered widespread support, with Imams across Canada pledging their commitment to participate. The day of reflection seeks to raise awareness and foster solidarity within the Canadian Muslim community regarding the ongoing persecution of the Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar (Burma).
The situation for the Rohingya remains dire and critical, with recent reports confirming renewed violence in Maungdaw, a predominantly Muslim town in Burma. Over the past few weeks, over 200 Rohingya have been killed, including children and women (as well as pregnant women). The brutal attacks by the Arakan Army have forced thousands to flee their homes, only to face treacherous conditions that make escape nearly impossible. Over 1.5 million Rohingya have been forced from their homes, now displaced across South and Southeast Asia, as a result of systematic violence and persecution that has afflicted the community for decades.
This crisis is a continuation of the ongoing genocide against the Rohingya people.
“August 25 marks seven years since the Rohingya Genocide, a tragedy officially recognized by Parliament. Yet, despite sanctions and international condemnation, the atrocities against the Rohingya persist, with the global community failing to take decisive action,” said Taha Ghayyur, Executive Director. “Imams across the nation are taking a strong stance against this persistent injustice by participating in this National Khutbah Day. This initiative is a call to action for all Canadians to remember the victims and survivors, to participate in raising awareness, and to demand that the suffering of our Rohingya brothers and sisters is not ignored.”
The National Khutbah Day will focus on educating congregants about the ongoing genocide, the humanitarian crisis in Rohingya refugee camps, and the historical context behind the Rohingya’s plight. This day of reflection and prayer will also serve as a call to action, urging Muslims across Canada to advocate for the Rohingya by contacting their local MPs, raise awareness within their communities, and support the campaign for justice.
Justice For All Canada encourages all Canadian Muslims to join this important initiative. We trust that the participation of Canadian Muslim leaders in this National Khutbah Day will deliver a resounding message of solidarity with the Rohingya, while highlighting Canada’s responsibility in upholding its commitments to international humanitarian principles and accountability.
Imams and Khateebs willing to participate can sign-up here: https://tinyurl.com/Rohingya-Khutba-Campaign
Community members can invite their local Imam to join the campaign using a prepared email template: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1bG7H2HwirSjiL_PFS7TLhmn7WBvu77rhxI-FxVgVP4M/edit?usp=sharing
*Justice For All Canada's Khutbah Day initiatives focus on human rights issues as a means of putting Islamic principles of justice, peace, and compassion into action. The Khutbah, a sermon delivered during Friday prayers, provides a powerful platform to educate and mobilize the community in support of oppressed and marginalized groups.
About: Justice For All Canada is a human rights and advocacy organization focused on genocide prevention and challenging global Islamophobia.