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Posted on 10/29/2003 9:59:38 PM PST by Ryle
Pay to pray irks Muslims
U of C students' union charges Ramadan rent
Robin Summerfield Calgary Herald
Wednesday, October 29, 2003
"We have to pay for prayer. I don't know the words to use to describe that," says Mubashir Iqbal, president of the Muslim Students' Association at the U of C. He's angry the university students' union is charging rent for Ramadan worshippers.
Muslim students observing Ramadan at the University of Calgary are upset they will have to pay $2,500 for a place to pray on campus.
The Muslim Students' Association, which represents 500 people on campus, is blaming the
University of Calgary Students' Union for charging the rental fee.
"We have to pay for prayer. I don't know the words to use to describe that," said Mubashir Iqbal, president of the campus association.
Gavin Preston, vice-president of operations and finance for the students' union, said all clubs on campus receive two free room bookings each week, but are subject to charges for each additional reservation. He said the club rate is 50 per cent of what it would cost outside groups to use the facilities.
"This is exactly how we would treat any of the clubs we have," said Preston. "We do it equally across the board. Any club gets charged."
The space dispute has been going on for years, but heated up last year when Muslim students, without a dedicated space, began conducting Ramadan prayers in hallways.
The students were asked to move on -- and that set off a storm of controversy. The group eventually paid $235 to rent a room for the month.
On Monday, the Muslim group was sent a bill for $2,455.65 to rent various rooms at MacEwan Hall, the students' union building, for the duration of Ramadan, which started Monday and ends Nov. 24.
That total, said Iqbal, will go up because there are eight days for which the group has not been able to secure prayer space on campus.
Iqbal said the group has tried to be reasonable in its demands for space and has worked out informal agreements with other students organizations, such as the Yemenese and Pakistani students' groups, who each offered their free space bookings during the holy month.
Between 50 and 100 students show up for morning and evening prayers. That number is expected to jump to about 350 people on Friday evenings.
Iqbal said a local lawyer is taking the case at no charge and a human-rights complaint will be filed against the university next week.
"We just have to face it and see what we can do," said Iqbal, adding the group may also look to the larger Muslim community in Calgary to help pay the bill.
Roman Cooney, the university's vice-president of external relations, wouldn't comment on the dispute and said it is an issue for the students' union and the group "to sort out."
Not so, said Stephen Jenuth, president of the Alberta Civil Liberties Association.
"Maybe the university should step up to the plate to provide an appropriate place for these students," said Jenuth.
He said the students' union should apply its rules with "a sense of compassion" and the university should think about paying the $2,500 bill.
Citing the Catholic school division as an example of religious inclusiveness, Jenuth said, "in Canada, religion is not a bad thing and we are willing to assist people in performing their religious obligations."
A new, multi-faith chapel on campus has been in the works since the summer of 2002. However, the 1,200-square-foot renovation has not been completed as planned.
The university gave $200,000 toward that project.
"It's been very frustrating because there are a number of groups that would like some space," said Pentecostal chaplain Kelly Johnson, describing the situation as a "road block" with the students' union. "What's being used right now is not suitable."
Inside the Chaplain's Centre, a small meditation area can be used for prayers or as a quiet space away from the bustle of campus life. Catholics on campus use it for mass. The space can comfortably hold about 15 people.
"It's not adequate for all the demands we have," Johnson said.
While the university provides for intellectual and physical pursuits, more needs to be done holistically, looking at the spiritual life of people on campus, he added.
During Ramadan, healthy Muslim adults are required to abstain from drinking, eating, smoking and sex during the day for the duration of the month. Pregnant, menstruating and lactating women are exempt. The elderly, children and ill people are also exempt.
A central tenet of the Muslim faith requires prayer five times a day.
rsummerfield@theherald.canwest.com
- - -
Today's Ramadan timetable
Day 4
Imsak 5:38 a.m.
Fajr 5:53 a.m.
Shuruq 7:24 a.m.
Dhuhr 12:20 p.m.
Asr 2:46 p.m.
Maghrib 5:15 p.m.
Isha 6:35 p.m.
© Copyright 2003 Calgary Herald
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I think your feeling would be right - the idea of the Civil Liberties Union going to bat for Christian groups would appear to be a rare one - though I'd love to be corrected on this!
They might ask, but they'd know that demanding wouldn't get them anywhere at all.
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