An eager crowd of about 50 people gathered outside Saanich Municipal Hall on July 27 for the opening of an Islamic art exhibition.

Organized in partnership with Voices for Muslim Women B次元官网网址� an organization actively working to address racism and discrimination by creating opportunities for cultural education and expression B次元官网网址� Al-Fatiha has been over a year in the making and is aiming to increase Islamic representation and foster a greater sense of belonging for Muslims living around Greater Victoria.

B次元官网网址淭he exhibition is called Al-Fatiha which is the first chapter in the Quran, meaning the opening,B次元官网网址� organizer Asiyah Robinson said. B次元官网网址淲e take that two ways. ItB次元官网网址檚 opening the public to the contributions of Muslims to art, but we also hope this exhibition isnB次元官网网址檛 the last of its kind. We want to start a conversation thatB次元官网网址檚 open-minded and based in more than just negative stereotypes. I think thatB次元官网网址檚 really the intention.B次元官网网址�

ItB次元官网网址檚 just one part of a larger effort to create more welcoming and inclusive spaces for one of CanadaB次元官网网址檚 fastest-growing demographics. Robinson, along with Zaheera Jinnah and colleagues, called on the mayors of Saanich and Victoria to implement recommendations to help confront the growing issue of Islamophobia. These recommendations span several sectors, from suggestions concerning policing reform to more funding for the arts.

The exhibition is showcasing artwork created by Muslim women from around the province and explores key themes within Islamic traditions and Muslim practices like prayer, identity, belonging, resilience, spirituality and new beginnings.

But itB次元官网网址檚 not only for those who practice Islam or identify as Muslim, say Robinson and Jinnah, who invited members across different faith communities to participate. ItB次元官网网址檚 for the entire community, especially those who belong to other marginalized and underrepresented groups, they said.

B次元官网网址淲e want to make sure that itB次元官网网址檚 inclusive and itB次元官网网址檚 open to everybody. We want not just Muslims to see themselves in this but other people, other communities and other groups,B次元官网网址� Robinson said. B次元官网网址淲hatever you identify as we hope you can come here and say, B次元官网网址榯his is what I want to create for my community too.B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�

The exhibition runs until Sept. 5. For more information, visit .

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austin.westphal@saanichnews.com
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