REFLECTIONS OF A MUSLIM LAW STUDENT

BALOLJEES MIHIRIG (3L)

There has been no shortage of interesting
people that I have met at law school. Most have
been a pleasure to work with. However, there
certainly have been some who have elicited a
raised eyebrow or two. Recently, I sat in a class
where a colleague declared Canada to be a u-
den-Christian civilization" that is incompatible
with ?goat-herder cultures." The comment was
made in the context of the constitutional rights
of immigrants and cultural accommodation.
In particular, he was directing his comments
at Muslims.

As a fellow law student and a Muslim, I was
stunned. Fortunately, this is a more extreme law
school example. Yet, given the current political
climate and the abundance of negative media
coverage, misconceptions about Muslims and
Islam are widespread. As law students, we
should be aware of the dangers of stereotypes
and discrimination. But law students are only
human, and prejudice is no stranger to the
legal profession.

Given changing demographics, it is highly
probable that many of us will have a Muslim
client at some point in our careers. Therefore,
it is our responsibility as legal professionals to
educate ourselves. But even if our knowledge
about Islam and Muslims is limited, the simple
concept of treating others as you would like

to be treated goes a long way. At a firm event,
one lawyer said to me, ?so you?re Muslim? Isn?t
Islam against democracy?? Imagine walking
up to someone wearing a cruci?x around their
neck and making the same comment. It would
be unprofessional and irrelevant. Of course,
most Muslims would probably not mind an-
swering genuine questions about their beliefs.
The problem arises when negative stereotypes
are assumed and guide how an individual is
subsequently treated.

Unfortunately, media reports often portray
complex social, political, and economic issues
as stemming from Islam's alleged incompatibil-
ity with \Vestern values. Islam is a religion. Like
most other religions, it preaches moral values
like kindness, charity, and peace. Those who use
it as a rallying cry for violence form a minority,
no different from extremists of other creeds.
Throw in decades of colonialism, poverty,
war, illiteracy, unemployment, brutal dictatorial
regimes, and it?s surprising that things are not
in worse shape.

As future lawyers, it is imperative that we
actively avoid perpetuating stereotypes. Mus-
lims are not here to establish an Islamic state or
threaten the social or political fabric of Canada.
Islam is not a religion that condones oppression
of women, dictatorships, and violence. For
example, while European women were still con-

sidered the property
of their husbands,
Muslim women
owned businesses,
inherited money, and
bequeathed property.
In fact, the Prophet
Mohamed?s employ-
er, who would later
become his wife, was a wealthy business woman
who was married twice before.

Examples like this are often left out of media
reports. Instead, mention of the word ?lslamic'
can prompt disproportionate reactions. The
Ontario ?Shari?a courts? controversy is one ex-
ample. A proposal fora community-based fam-
ily arbitration process was portrayed as Muslims
trying to implement Islamic law. In reality, it was
an extension of existing processes available to
Christian andjewish communities. Consent of
both parties was required, and any resolutions
were legally scrutable. However, the result-
ing uproar sent a clear message to Canadian
Muslimszjews and Christians can resolve their
marital disputes, but not Muslims.

It is impossible to recount and deconstruct
every stereotype out there in a short Canons
article. Instead, my wish is to hopefully raise
awareness about the issue and of fer an alterna-
tive perspective.