Home > News > ISNA President and Peaceful Families Project Travel to Darfur for Trainings to Build Healthy Families
ISNA President and Peaceful Families Project Travel to Darfur for Trainings to Build Healthy Families
ISNA President delivering a training to
community leaders in Nyala
(Feb 9, 2012) As a
part of ISNA’s ongoing effort to support healthy families rooted in the
Islamic principles of respect and dignity, Imam Magid traveled to Darfur
in late January at the request of the Humanity Organization, a human
rights organization based in Nyala, Darfur, to provide trainings in
building and supporting peaceful families rooted in Islamic principles.
Just three years ago, it was a crime to even discuss domestic violence in Nyala, Darfur. However, due to the hard work of the Humanity Organization and the support of families and community leaders in Nyala, an open dialogue has been developed. This dialogue laid the foundation for ISNA President Imam Mohamed Magid’s visit late last month to Darfur to provide trainings in preventing domestic violence and building healthy families.
The trip was sponsored by the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC) and trainings were delivered by Imam Magid and representatives from the Peaceful Families Project (PFP), Salma Abugideiri and Maha Alkhateeb. Imam Magid sits on the advisory board of PFP and is one of their primary trainers.
READ: Help us end Domestic Violence Today
rights, suggests strategies for tackling gender-based
violence during one of the two-day trainings.
“We met so many very bright and smart young women and men who are deeply concerned about their people in Darfur. We heard stories of hardship that made your heart ache, but were also deeply inspired and left hopeful by the dedication of many in the community to create a safe and respectful environment for all, especially women,” stated Imam Magid.
Among the challenges identified by the community are issues related to a clear understanding of the rights of women in marriage, upholding the marriage contract, gender roles, and appropriate conflict resolution.
Imam
Magid, Abugideiri, and Alkhateeb delivered two trainings, both lasting
two days in length, on conflict resolution and Islamic education on
marriage and the prevention of domestic violence. The first workshop
focused on resources for imams and female religious leaders with the
second workshop focusing exclusively on Muslim women leaders in Nyala,
including attorneys, social workers, and teachers.
Imam Mohamed Zakaria is well respected in Nyala for
his Islamic knowledge and emphasis on advocating for
women's rights. Here, he joins Peaceful Families Project
co-directors, for dinner on their last evening in Darfur.
“These dedicated individuals have worked hard despite legal constraints and limited resources and have already made such a difference in the attitudes surrounding what is deemed as acceptable relationships,” stated Abugideir.
a difficult and exhausting task, then carry the heavy
containers extended distances to their temporary homes.
Following the trainings, participants expressed appreciation for the Islamic perspective and stated they felt better prepared to continue their activism to promote healthy families now that they had more Islamic knowledge. Committees were developed following the trainings to ensure follow-up and help support continuity of the messages delivered in the trainings.
Not only were trainings possible, but Imam Magid and the other trainers were able to reach millions of people in Sudan through interviews on radio and television where they continued to discuss the importance in Islam to build healthy relationships and prevent domestic violence.
a temporary settlement of 80,000 residents
on the outskirts of Nyala
Imam Magid and the trainers closed their trip with a visit to a camp in Darfur for refugees of war and conflict. This camp housed 84,000 people, living in harsh conditions that often plague refugee camps, such as insufficient housing and access to privacy. “It is important that we remember our own blessings when faced with the hardships that so many others endure across the world and in thanks to those blessings, pray for and support the sustainability of those around us in need,” stated Imam Magid.
SEE: Photo Album of Imam Magid’s Trip to Darfur
READ: Open Letter from Imam Magid on Tragic Killing of Aasiya Hassan
******All photos courtesy of Maha Alkhateeb/Peaceful Families Project******