Edinburgh’s Blackhall Mosque will add its name to a list of imams up and down the country who are changing their usual Friday religious speeches (khutbahs) tomorrow 29 November 2019 for a sermon on gender justice, in a bid to lead the fight against gender-based violence and mobilise the British Muslim community to put an end to violence against women and girls.
The sermons form part of Islamic Relief UK’s 16 Days of Activism campaign, #ThroughHerEyes, which falls between 25 November and 10 December.
Attending the mosque on a Friday and listening to the sermon given by the Imam is a key part of the Muslim faith. Through these sermons, Imams will address hundreds of Muslims in their local congregations.
As part of the sermon, Imams will quote sections of the Quran dispelling stereotypes, and making it clear that violence and abuse against women in all forms is not tolerated.
The UN initiated the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence campaign in 1991, and since then the movement has grown across the world.
Violence against women and girls is a fundamental human rights violation, affecting around one in three women and girls worldwide. In the UK alone, two women a week are killed by a current or former male partner.
As the UK’s largest Muslim charity, Islamic Relief UK is using the campaign to take a proactive stance against all forms of VAWG, including domestic abuse, sexual violence, human trafficking, forced and early child marriage, female genital mutilation (FGM), and so-called “honour” killings.
Maria Zafar, Campaigns and Mobilisation Co-ordinator at Islamic Relief UK, said: ‘As the UK’s largest Muslim charity it is vital that we use our voice to try and challenge negative stereotypes about gender roles and teach people that any form of abuse against women and girls is wrong.
‘Islamic Relief supports women in some of the world’s poorest countries, from empowering communities in Ethiopia to end FGM, to ending early forced marriage in Niger, to providing safe spaces for female refugees. It is crucial that in the UK, we take inspiration from this incredible work and speak to our own communities about what equality for women really looks like.’
Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.
