American Muslims Call to Action to End Domestic Violence

On Thursday February 12, 2009 - Aasiya Zubair Hassan, a 37 year old mother of four, was found decapitated in Buffalo, New York by her husband. Read on it here.
Today is the national event: American Muslims Call to Action to End Domestic Violence.
American Muslims are making a coordinated, unified, national effort to have all imams and religious leaders finally discuss this tragedy, as well as domestic violence and battery of women, for today, February 20, 2009 during the Friday's Khutbah [Religious Sermon].
2-20-09. Imams Speak Out: Domestic Violence Will Not Be Tolerated in Our Communities.
The murder of Aasiya Zubair represents the most vile and barbaric example of its kind.
It is now a nationwide, unified, official event with support from a diverse INTERNATIONAL community: religious imams, mainstream organizations, community leaders, grassroots activists, and American and international citizens of all colors and religions are behind this.
There are amazing grassroots activists who pushed for this in 3 days. One notable activist behind this effort is Wajahat Ali, who even started a couple of facebook groups for this effort as well as wrote an article on several blogs and the guardian titled: A wake-up call for the community.
Ali admits that, "a lot must still be done to combat DV and abuse that exists in our communities, but this is an auspicious and symbolic first step commenced with a noble intention to honor the memory of Aasiya Zubair and help others like her who have suffered and continue to suffer silently.
We pray that those given a platform on Friday to address American Muslims, do so with a passion that speaks up for the countless mothers, daughters and wives suffering silently and very visibly from domestic abuse and violence.
Let this khutba [Friday sermon] be for all of us that we may be healed and our families, communities, societies and countries be made whole."
Media contact: Wajahat Ali, 510-909-7506, wajahatmali@hotmail.com
See also press release.
Locally, Zafar Siddiqui will be joining this effort.
WHEN: 1:30 PM
WHERE ICM Abukhadra Masjid
4056 7th St NE , Columbia Heights
Telephone: (763) 571-5604
Join us on Facebook:
Imams Speak Out: Domestic Violence Will Not Be Tolerated in Our Communities
In Memory of Aasiya Zubair: A Pledge to End Domestic Violence
Islamic Society of North America Response: AN OPEN LETTER TO THE LEADERS OF AMERICAN MUSLIM COMMUNITIES.

"Domestic violence is a behavior that knows no boundaries of religion, race, ethnicity, or social status. Domestic violence occurs in every community. The Muslim community is not exempt from this issue. We, the Muslim community, need to take a strong stand against domestic violence. Unfortunately, some of us ignore such problems in our community, wanting to think that it does not occur among Muslims or we downgrade its seriousness. I call upon my fellow imams and community leaders to never second-guess a woman who comes to us indicating that she feels her life to be in danger. We should provide support and help to protect the victims of domestic violence by providing for them a safe place and inform them of their rights as well as refer them to social service providers in our areas."