A Muslim mother in Canada was forced to resign from her job after she attended the same-sex wedding of her son.
Her son, Ali Reza [surname withheld], married his long-time partner Paul [surname withheld] earlier this month.
Although Ali Reza’s family gave their full support for the union, it attracted the attention of leaders of their Shia Ithna-Asheri sect.
An online petition circulated calling for Ali Reza’s mother, Siddika, to resign from her position as secretary general of NASIMCO (the Organization of North American Shia Ithna-Asheri Muslim Communities).
It said: ‘Traditionally, a wedding is a public demonstration of a relationship. This sin was not done in private, but rather was publicly celebrated and promoted. It goes against the legitimate majoritarian interpretations of Jaffari fiqh, which NASIMCO must uphold.
‘While we believe it is not necessary to extensively or deeply examine the personal lives of the members of NASIMCO, this incident cannot be dismissed as “the personal lives of [the] family,”‘ it said.
The petition gained almost 1,000 signatures since Thursday (13 July).
There was no other option but for Siddika to resign.
She wrote in a heartbreaking resignation letter: ‘Today, as a Muslim and a devoted mother who has had the privilege to serve our community institutions, I am being forced to resign by NASIMCO… for the sole reason that my son has married a man, which I would like to point out is legal in Canada.
‘My stance today is not just as a devoted mother but as a human being who has painfully observed how the community has usurped the rights of God’s creation in the name of Islam and passed judgement,’ she wrote.
The Muslim mother explains her heartbreak when her son first came out to her, but her acceptance over time.
She wrote: ‘The only person to judge my son would be God on the Day of Judgment.
‘I did this as a mother who carried Ali Reza in my womb for nine months and nurtured him.
‘How could I as a mother discriminate against my own son? And if my God is so just, then how could I not take on this value of justice and act on it?
‘My prayers are with you and our community and I wish you the best that Allah (s.w.t) can offer,’ the Muslim mother concluded.
First reported Muslim wedding in the UK
Just last week, the UK celebrated what is claimed to be its first Muslim wedding.
Jahed Choudhury, 24, and Sean Rogan, 19, tied the knot in Walsall while wearing traditional Islamic dress.
Choudhury said: ‘People would spit on me, empty the rubbish bins on me, call me pig and the Muslim people would shout “harum” – which is a very nasty insult in my language.’
The couple met after Choudhury attempted to take his own life and Rogan came to his aid.
‘I was crying on a bench and Sean came over and asked if I was okay,’ Choudhury said.
‘He gave me hope at one of my lowest points and he’s stood by me all the way,’ he continued.
NOTE: GSN has removed details which would identify Ali Reza’s family to protect their safety.
