TORONTO – Coming to Toronto for the eighth year, thousands of Muslim women gathered for a day-long conference on Saturday, March 23, to talk about their identity and challenges in the wake of New Zealand terrorist attacks, City News Toronto reported.
“People can come in and talk about the events and kind of heal and grow together. We have created shirts that will be sold in the gift shop where they will be donating the proceeds to the victims’ families,” Naila Kibria, one of the organizers, said.
“Also, they will be recording and making messages to be sent back to the families in support.”
Over 5,000 women attended the eighth annual “Being Me” conference Saturday at the Metro Toronto Convention Center.
With the theme of the conference, “Breaking Dawn, The Change is Within You”, there were also presentations addressing, “the most pressing issues facing Canadian Muslim women today,” providing an outlet to discuss ways of combating Islamophobia and other forms of racism and hatred.
Coming one week after the terrorist attack in Christchurch, New Zealand, which killed 50 Muslim worshippers, the organizers therefore included in their program for the attendees to share their thoughts, fears, and emotions regarding the attacks.
They also made sure there was increased security presence at the event.
Being ME is organized by Mercy Mission, a Muslim organization that seeks to bring a world where every Muslim can live faithfully to their belief, building an exemplary Islamic community that benefits humanity.
The group is established in 8 countries and active in building schools and promoting Islamic knowledge according to the authentic teachings of the Qur’an and Hadith.
Being ME Toronto runs conferences and events to give all Muslim women a voice or an outlet to express the reality of their lifestyles, share accomplishments that benefit humanity and inspire others to do the same.
They also provide the opportunity for all Muslim women to connect with each other so that we become pillars that support each other and the Deen.
The fifth annual Being Me Calgary conference is planned later on April 7.