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Canada: French Islamic Scholar to join woman-led prayer in Toronto

Source: 
Muslim Canadian Congress
A leading Muslim scholar of France, the former Mufti of Marseilles, Soheib Bencheikh will be in Toronto on Sunday, 19 February 2006, where he will address a press conference on the issue of the Danish cartoons and the role of Muslims in Europe.
He will be hosted in Toronto by the Muslim Canadian Congress and Montreal-based Rights & Democracy. Mufti Soheib Bencheikh will also participate in the Zuhar prayers after the press conference which will be led by Pamela Taylor, Co-Chair of the Progressive Muslim Union.
Mufti Soheib Bencheikh has personally asked for Pamela Taylor to lead the prayers as a gesture to demonstrate his support for gender-equity in Islam and women-led prayer as a step in the empowering of Muslim women.

The French Muslim scholar is better known for his opposition to the introduction of sharia in Canada.

Because no mosque in Toronto was willing to host a prayer led by a woman, (even the so-called 'liberal' Noor Islamic Centre Mosque refused to host the Mufti and Pamela Taylor), the MCC has booked the downtown 'Host Restaurant' for this occasion between 11 am and 3 pm. Please join us for the press conference, the lunch and the prayer, which will led by Pamela Taylor.

Date: Sunday, February 19, 2006
Location: The Host Restaurant, 14 Prince Arthur Blvd
(North-West corner of Avenue and Bloor in Yorkville area of Toronto

11 am: Chat and mingle with the Mufti Soheib Bencheikh
12 Noon: Press Conference
1:00 PM: Prayer
1:30 PM Lunch

Looking forward to seeing all of you at this event.

The event is taking place with the help of the Montreal-based organization, "Rights & Democracy."
Submitted on Fri, 02/17/2006 - 01:00
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