Press release
The Canadian Muslim Women Committee CFMC / CMF

The refusal to allow Muslim arbitration is discriminatory,
propagandistic and Islamophobic


June 9, 2005

Montreal: The Canadian Muslim Women Committee denounces the
discriminatory spirit and propagandist Islamophobic elements of the
law introduced by the Quebec Liberal Party (PLQ) and recently passed
by the National Assembly which refused the presence of a platform of
Muslim arbitration to regulate matrimonial conflicts.

According to the CFMC, this law goes against the pluralistic values
within Quebec society and undermines the Charter of the Rights and
Freedoms of Canada and Quebec. Other religious communities currently
have the right to resort to religious courts in cases of disputes.

Mrs. Houda-Pépin, who proposed the motion in the national assembly,
assumes that such a court would hinder access of Muslims from Canadian
and Quebec laws. However, the characteristics of the proposed platform
were definetly not explained at the time of the acceptance of the
motion. In fact, this court would only solve cases of family
conflicts. The agreement of the two sides to attend the arbitration
would be necessary, the decision of the referee could always be over
turned higher court of Quebec and any decision taken by the referee
would have to conform to the Québécois and Canadian laws.

The Canadian Muslim Women Committee denounces the discriminatory and
the Islamophobic spirit of this motion and claims the right of fair
and equitable treatment as any other religious community in Quebec.

Media Contact:
Kathy Malas (514) 221-5926
kathy_malas33@hotmail.com
www.cfmc-fmc.org