Email: nawidalami@gmail.com

In preparation for the elections, we will be having constitutional reform meetings on Sunday March 21, 2010 and Sunday March 28, 2010 at 2pm in the Student Groups Lounge.

And then to vote on the election day, you must register via the online form at http://www.tfaforms.com/148201

The deadline for registering yourself as a voter is Monday Mar. 29, 2010. Please bring your valid University of Alberta OneCard with you to the MSA elections. You MUST present it to the election officer upon casting your vote. Even if you don’t have anyone to vote for or nominate, please come to the election, and bring your friends to enjoy a wonderful evening!

To summarize:

1) Send your nominations to msauofaelections@gmail.com
(Deadline is Monday March 29, 2010; please include the nominee’s full name and email address or phone number)

2) Register yourself for voting via the online form at http://www.tfaforms.com/148201 (Deadline is Monday March 29, 2010)

3) Bring your friends!

Should you have any questions, please contact msauofaelections@gmail.com.

The Swiss news agency ATS and other media said about 57.5 percent of voters and all but four of the 26 cantons approved the proposal in the nationwide referendum, which was backed by the right-wing Swiss People’s Party (SVP).

The government and parliament had rejected the initiative as violating the Swiss constitution, freedom of religion and the country’s cherished tradition of tolerance. The government had said a ban could “serve the interests of extremist circles”.

But the government said it would respect the people’s decision and building new minarets would no longer be allowed.

“Muslims in Switzerland are able to practice their religion alone or in community with others and live according to their beliefs just as before,” it said in a statement.

German daily Sueddeutsche Zeitung called the result a “disaster”, noting Switzerland was the only country in Europe to have such a building ban and that it violated the Swiss constitution and the European Human Rights convention.

“It won’t take long before those affected will take this to the Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, where an embarrassing condemnation looms,” the paper said in an editorial to appear on Monday.

Justice Minister Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf said the outcome of the vote reflected a fear of Islamic fundamentalism, but the ban was “not a feasible means of countering extremist tendencies”.

“I am assuming our trade relations with other countries will become more difficult,” she told a news conference in Berne.

“We’ll see the consequences in the export sector and possibly in the area of tourism. In recent years we’ve seen particular growth (in tourism) from Gulf states, it helped us a lot, and how that develops we’ll have to see,” she added.

The Alpine country of nearly 7 million is home to more than 300,000 Muslims, mainly from Bosnia, Kosovo and Turkey.

[Link to full article]

Edmonton – Concerned youth from several Edmonton communities and organizations together with special guest speakers will join to voice their concerns for a Canadian citizen and former child soldier, Omar Khadr, in Sir Winston Churchill Square on November 15 at 1:00 p.m.

Join these concerned citizens speak about Omar Khadr’s capture, imprisonment in Guantanamo, and current condition, and about our government’s continued refusal to repatriate this Canadian citizen despite Federal Court ruling, upheld by the Federal Court of Appeal, stating that the Canadian Government had failed to abide by its obligations under both the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and international human rights law including the Convention Against Torture and the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Amnesty International welcomes members of the media to report on the rally to bring Omar Khadr home to justice and welcomes the general public to join us in this event.

What: Rally for Repatriation of Omar Khadr
Where: Sir Winston Churchill Square
When: Sunday, November 15, 2009 at 1:00 p.m.
Contact: Charlene Scharf, Coordinator, Amnesty International Edmonton section

780-270-9730, scharf.c@hotmail.com

When: November 8th, 2009
Time: 1:30PM
Where: Muticultural Womens and Seniors Services Association, 329 Woodville Road NW, T6L 3Z7 (map below)

All are cordially invited to attend.

For more information you can contact:
Arif Ali: 780-440-4420
Shaukat Ali: 780-436-0466
Centre: 780-465-2992

“The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) commanded that mosques should be built among the houses, and that they should be cleaned and perfumed.” (Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 594)

This message is just a reminder, inshallah, that the cleaning day will be every Sunday @ 2:00PM.

Brothers and sisters are to meet in their respective Prayer Areas.

WHO: YOU!
WHAT: Cleaning of MCE Mosque
WHEN: Every Sunday @ 2:00PM
WHERE: MCE Mosque (10721 86 Avenue)
WHY: We all need those good deeds…

We ask Allah ta’la to accept all of our deeds and make them sincere for His sake. For all those unable to attend due to their circumstances, please remember us in your prayers and always make a sincere intention to help. May Allah grant you and your families the best of this life and the hereafter.

Please contact volunteers@mcemosque.com if you have any questions/concerns/suggestions.

This is the launch of a powerful new tool for the community, an online resource enabling Edmonton Muslims to find out what they, when they need it.

Some of the features include:

• Daily and Jumaah Prayer times.
• Information on Islamic services (i.e. social services, funeral services, etc.)
• Free Muslim business directory
• Premiu advertising options for businesses!
• Free online classified ads

There’s also plenty of ways to connect and keep in touch. Check back often for the latest news and events going on in the city.

emuslims.ca is powered by you! If you know of an event or any news other Muslims would want to know about get in touch with us. If there’s some feature you’d like to see, or have any feedback, make sure you send us an email!

We’ve got some more ideas and plans for the future, so be sure to check back with us often!

-The emuslims.ca Team