Annual Disability Khutba Campaign

For Immediate Release Muslims with Disabilities International Khutba Campaign 2020 to take place on December 4. November 11, 2020 - Mississauga... Proclaimed in 1992, the United Nations International Day of Persons with Disabilities is annually observed on December 3rd. Each year, a theme is identified to provide focus on the removal of physical, technological, and attitudinal barriers. The UN theme for this year is Building Back Better: toward a disability-inclusive, accessible and sustainable post COVID-19 World. Since 2009, the founders of Muslims with Disabilities International, MDI, have promoted a call to action for Imams and Khatibs to dedicate their Friday sermons to raise awareness about disability and Islam. The 2020 campaign is once again coordinated by DEEN Support Services and endorsed by the Canadian Council of Imams (CCI). It is also supported by the National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM, Federation of Muslim Women (FMW), Muslim Association of Canada (MAC), ICNA Canada, ISNA Canada, Islamic Social Services Association (ISSA), Sound Vision Canada, Justice for All, Islamic Institute of Toronto, TARIC Centre and SMILE Canada. This list is growing. Each year we ask Imams and Khatibs to address the topic of disability to promote accessibility and inclusion, hoping to shift attitudes toward persons with disabilities through our faith-based beliefs. As a disability rights activist, I hope that the principle of ‘nothing about us without us’ gains traction through our religious institutions, states Rabia Khedr, CEO of DEEN Support Services, a direct service agency running the campaign. CCI is pleased to work with DEEN to engage more and more Imams and Khatibs this year. Due to COVID-19, Friday prayers are live streamed reaching more households than ever before with limited congregations in mosques and Islamic centres around the world. This is an excellent opportunity to get an attentive audience to raise awareness, states Imam Refaat Mohamed. Imams and Khatibs wishing to take part are asked to register using this link https://tinyurl.com/disabilitykhutbah or email [email protected] for talking points and more information. Contact: Rabia Khedr Cell: 905-270-9679 Office: 905-593-3461 Canadian Council of Imams Muslim Association of Canada - Calgary ISNA Canada FMW - Federation of Muslim Women ICNA Islamic Social Services Association Inc SoundVision Smile Canada Justice for All Canada TARIC Islamic Centre- Toronto and Region Islamic Congregation Islamic Institute of Toronto (IIT)

Imams and Khatib’s please talk about disability in Islamic tradition in your khutba on Friday, December 6. Please share widely and sign up here https://docs.google.com//1Fweh09kpXIvfuVMV_qtj0wCQQA/edit DEEN Support Services

Tomorrow Khateeb Abdulrahman Masri is dedicating his Khutba to raising awareness on disability, accessibility, and inclusion at the Rogers Campus in Brampton

Tomorrow Shaykh Yehya Soliman is dedicating his Khutba to raising awareness on disability, accessibility, and inclusion at Muslims Of DufferinMasjid at 1:45 pm

Tomorrow Imam Irshad Osman is dedicating his Khutba to raising awareness on disability, accessibility, and inclusion at Danforth Islamic Centre at 12:30 pm

Tomorrow Shaykh Imran Ally is dedicating his Khutba to raising awareness on disability, accessibility, and inclusion at TARIC Islamic Centre at 12:30 pm