A 16-year-old girl is in critical condition after being choked by a man believed to be her father, apparently after a dispute with her family over her refusal to wear the hijab, the Islamic headscarf worn by some Muslim women. (Posted Toronto h/t lgf )

If this is true there are just no words.

::

CTV confirms: Murdered Ontario teen's father, brother charged :

Aqsa Parvez, 16, succumbed to her injuries late Monday.

The girl's friends told CTV News that she comes from a very religious family and has had some trouble at home, which caused her to run away recently.

Her schoolmates at Applewood Heights Secondary School, where Parvez was a Grade 11 student, said the teen often complained of her situation at home.

Some of her friends told The Toronto Star Parvez no longer wanted to wear a hijab, a shoulder-length head scarf worn by religious Muslim women. Her friends said she would often change into more fashionable clothes once she got to school and then would change back before going home.

They also said she had recently been staying with a friend because of tension at home.

"She said she was always scared of her dad, she was always scared of her brother ... and she's not scared of nobody," Ashley Garbutt, Parvez's 16-year-old classmate told The Star.

"She didn't want to go home ... to the point where she actually wanted to go to shelters."

Muhammad Parvez, 57, is scheduled to appear in a Brampton court on Tuesday where he will face a murder charge.

Waqas Parvez, 26, was also charged in the investigation with obstructing police.

:: 

National Post : 

"She got threatened by her father and her brother," said Dominiquia Holmes-Thompson, who had known Aqsa since they both started high school together.

"He said that if she leaves, he would kill her."

Ebonie Mitchell, 16, another friend of the victim, said the conflict with her father over wearing Islamic dress came to a head at the beginning of this school year. "She just wanted to dress like we do," she said.

"Last year, she wore like the Islamic stuff and everything, the hijab, and this year she's all Western. She just wanted to look like everyone else. And I guess her dad had a problem with that."

:: 

More: Small Dead Animals - Should be prosecuted as a hate crime | Joanne's Journey - I wonder how many other Canadian girls are out there in similar circumstances?

::

The Toronto Star tries to cool the crisis - Hijab can divide families:

The suggestion of violent disputes between a 16-year-old girl in Mississauga and her father over her desire to show her hair and live a "normal" lifestyle raises questions about tensions between parents and children in the Muslim community.

But members of the community – particularly young Muslim women – say the tension can exist both ways.

Ausma Khan, the editor-in-chief of Toronto-based Muslim Girl magazine, said research into the readership of her publication shows that the decision to wear the hijab – the traditional Muslim headscarf – is almost always a choice the girl makes on her own.

"We have also heard from other girls saying that they don't know if they want to wear it and that they're unsure and that there is community or family pressure to wear it," she said, but stressed that type of response was in the minority.

Maryam Rana, 20, a student at the University of Toronto's Mississauga campus, said she has been wearing the hijab since she was in Grade 3 and was not very receptive to it at first.

"I remember when I was little, I found it weird because I was the only one who wore it so sometimes I would `forget' it at home," she said laughing. "Not really `forget,' but leave it at home."

When she grew older she wore it of her own accord and recently chose to begin covering her face as well. She said that in her experience the tension more often exists the other way around – when girls who want to wear the hijab are discouraged by their families because they fear it will make them the targets of racism.

::

CAIR-CAN : Muslim Groups Urge 'Zero Tolerance' for Domestic Violence

The Canadian Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-CAN), the Islamic Social Services Association (ISSA) and the Islamic Society of Toronto today urged "zero tolerance" for violence against women and domestic abuse. The Muslim groups are calling on Canadians of all faiths to address the realities of domestic violence. [...]

"There should be zero tolerance for violence of any kind against women or girls," said ISSA President Shahina Siddiqui. "The strangulation death of Ms. Parvez was the result of domestic violence, a problem that cuts across Canadian society and is blind to color or creed."

Comments (161)

Elane said:

	... Some folks will say, "what's all the fuss? this is anti-islamic propaganda, non-muslims kill their kids too" .. yes but generally not over a head scarf and rarely, if ever, in the name of Honour nor of "religion". However, this is the islamic way.
	report abuse vote down vote up

Dec 11, 2007 16:43:20
Votes: +0

Jim Harder said:

	... Should he be found guilty, they should put him in the same cell as Pickton. He can learn about pig farming.
	report abuse vote down vote up

Dec 11, 2007 16:55:20
Votes: +0

terrence said:

... Will there be any Islamic "outrage" over a man named "Muhammad" killing someone? Of course not: he is murdering to ?protect? Islam. 1) Muhammad the murderer is OKAY; it does not "insult" Islam. 2) Muhammad the teddy bear is NOT OKAY; it does "insult" Islam. Either of these things make Islam and Muslims look psychotic; together they make Islam look psychotic-squared, which is pretty much the case.

report abuse vote down vote up

Dec 11, 2007 16:57:07
Votes: +0

Elane said:

	... This is a vivid example for the students of Aqsa's school of "what is islam". Well done. For yet one more example of the islamist way read "Burned Alive: A Victim of the Law of Men" - a true story about a young girl called Souad who lived in spite of her family's best efforts to kill her.
	report abuse vote down vote up

Dec 11, 2007 17:01:11
Votes: -1

Elane said:

	... Our judiciary are just about as scary as the mullahs
	report abuse vote down vote up

Dec 11, 2007 17:19:50
Votes: +0

WL Mackenzie Redux said:

	... They charged the brother and father? with what?...exercizing the right to cultural diversity? This is Onterrible...Bailiff bring in the accused...sharia killing of daughter/sibling eh?...justifiable homicide in defense of multicultural mythology...20 bucks and time served...next case!
	report abuse vote down vote up

Dec 11, 2007 17:26:41
Votes: +0

sarah said:

... This man is a murderer and should burn in hell for what he has done. His insanity has nothing to do with Islam. He is just a crazy religious person. Just like ANY and ALL religions have whackos who kill for no reason whatsoever. Whoever said other religions "rarely" have people who kill, is just plain ignorant. Killers come from all walks of life. Take this man for what he is - a cold hearted killer. Don't use this as a way to insult an entire religion. Again, that is just plain ignorance.

report abuse vote down vote up

Dec 11, 2007 17:45:17
Votes: +0

Elane said:

	... No sarah, actually that IS islam. Please take the time to read Islamic laws. What Brother Parvez did is actually sanctioned by Islam. In fact, Brother Parvez will be rewarded by Allah. As long as people insist on promoing tolerance of the intolerable (because it makes them feel nicer), then the intolerable will continue to thrive.
	report abuse vote down vote up

Dec 11, 2007 17:50:42
Votes: -1

Shakir Ally said:

... As someone who came from a Muslim background, all I can say is that this is extremely shameful, horrible human right violation. Not discusing what is in religion and what is not, all I can say is that in the name of cultural diversity and multiculturalism, we observe many primitive madrassas cropping up all over Ontario. I know that many if not all, teach a lot of primitive, feudal, inhuman and intolerant ideas that do not fit into the general good of a healthy Canadian society. I have to say that the Ontario Government is duty bound to carry out a very close scrutiny of the events in the madrassas, Mosques and Islamic Cultural Centres. The best course of action would be to watch all activities discreetly. If possible, informants should be recruited to do this. You will find hundreds of people from the Muslim backround, who will happily do this. If there is a slightest indication of a wrongdoing, the Centres should be immediately be brought into court of law to face a lawsuit. Long live my lovely country Canada. Shakir Ally

report abuse vote down vote up

Dec 11, 2007 17:55:29
Votes: +0

sarah said:

... By the way Elaine ... know your facts: women and men in North America have killed their children for NO REASON .. just like Aqsa's father ... like Andrea Yates, Deanna Laney, Gilberta Estrada, Rajinder Atwal, Robert Latimer .. and the list goes on and on and on .... so when you say non-muslims generally do not kill over a headscarf ... well compare that to parents who kill their children because they don't want them .. or because they are depressed ... is that a part of North American culture? No, it is not!! Just the same way that this senseless killing is not Islamic culture! Again, just a crazy, insane person who killed for no reason!

report abuse vote down vote up

Dec 11, 2007 18:03:28
Votes: +1

Elane said:

	... The reason is this Sarah, the child, daughter, female did not comply to the father, man's demands (including her brother). This is haram, forbidden in islam and the female was, in their eyes, infidel. Now, please calm down, you sound a bit hysterical and you need to look at this calmly or you will become part of the problem too.
	report abuse vote down vote up

Dec 11, 2007 18:09:13
Votes: +0

Chris S. said:

	... My question is about the culpability of the other inhabitants of the house. It is reported that 11 people lived in the house, and that several were at the house at the time of the murder. Where were they, why didn't they help the girl?
	report abuse vote down vote up

Dec 11, 2007 18:21:45
Votes: +0

Elane said:

	... baaaaa, sheeeep, obey obey submit, that's the way it is.
	report abuse vote down vote up

Dec 11, 2007 18:25:26
Votes: +0

Anne Fraser said:

... I will be waiting to see what the courts do to this pitiful excuse for a human. If there is not the maximum sentence for murder handed down (what a sorry excuse for a sentence that is BTW) then Pickton should walk too. I hope that, if that happens, then vigilante law should prevail because our judicial system is as crazy as the Muslim faith. THIS IS CANADA LIVE BY OUR RULES OR GET THE HELL OUT !!!!!!

report abuse vote down vote up

Dec 11, 2007 18:44:27
Votes: +0

Montreal Muslim News said:

	... http://www.montrealmuslimnews.net/voice.htm
	report abuse vote down vote up

Dec 11, 2007 18:51:15
Votes: +0

Darcey said:

	... Chris asks a good question, it is being reported that there were other people in the house at the time this happened. Like what the hell? I guess we'll hear more when it comes.
	report abuse vote down vote up

Dec 11, 2007 18:51:16
Votes: +0

terrence said:

	... Have a boo at what Montreal Muslim said at the link. Nice to see this kind of reaction from a Muslim, a very human reaction to this confessed murdering monster.
	report abuse vote down vote up

Dec 11, 2007 19:01:06
Votes: +0

terrence said:

	... Darcy, they should be charged as ?accessories to a crime?, if they were aware of it. But they may not have heard anything ? she may not have been able to speak or scream, and they may have been in other parts of the house.
	report abuse vote down vote up

Dec 11, 2007 19:04:27
Votes: +0

Abid said:

	... This man can burn in hell.
	report abuse vote down vote up

Dec 11, 2007 19:17:17
Votes: +0

M1 Garand said:

	... I'd bring back the garrote as a punishment for murdering someone by strangling them.
	report abuse vote down vote up

Dec 11, 2007 19:18:51
Votes: +0

philanthropist said:

	... Everything is in order. The Toronto Star links hijab problems to a racist Canadian society. Liberals couldn't let an opportunity to blame ordinary Canadians slip away.
	report abuse vote down vote up

Dec 11, 2007 19:25:08
Votes: +0

OMMAG said:

... For those moral relativists who commented about this murder: There is a very significant difference between individuals who murder because of mental imbalance and desperation or shear depravity and those who do it to impose their twisted sense of morality and enforcement of religious/cultural doctrine. One thing is NOT the equivalent of the other! In fact one of these things is much more evil and insidious and there is no doubt about which it is. Hint..... It's the one that is indoctrinated and inculcated by third world barbarians seeking to propagate these beliefs. As for the "Slandering" of an entire religion when significant numbers of Muslims publicly denounce the totalitarian chauvinism of the faith as it exists today ..... well then just maybe the civilized world will believe it. Until them those few critical voices in the wilderness are just whistling in the wind. Now as for these shitbags in Toronto .... let's just see how the justice system handles them. I'm betting they get bail and sent home to live with the 10 remaining members of the household.

report abuse vote down vote up

Dec 11, 2007 19:31:22 | url
Votes: +0

OMMAG said:

	... Them =then ... Darcey can you install a preview before post?
	report abuse vote down vote up

Dec 11, 2007 19:33:45 | url
Votes: +0

Elane said:

... I watched some females depart the site of the crime(s) via video. They were a sorry looking lot. So sad. I hope they were saddened by the events that took place in that home. I read the (apologist and self serving) "voice" at the muslim montreal news. It's all so familiar. Of course, non-muslims will be to blame for it all. And maybe we are to blame for allowing these dogs (dogs are haram in Islam) to maintain their status quo in spite of the laws of this country. Home-made shariah. Brother Daddy is an islamic hero. Braise pee to Allah (taking into consideration the transposition of the B and the P sounds in arabic). They gotta make a bear for this guy and his son and what the hell, the whole damn harem.

report abuse vote down vote up

Dec 11, 2007 19:55:42
Votes: +0

sarah said:

... To those that are slamming Islam: Please understand what the religion is about. It is a religion of peace. First of all - Sharia law is NOT Islam. A small minority of Muslims believe in Sharia law, but the majority do not. Sharia law in fact is not in the Quran at all. It is dissppointing to see so many negative comments without people knowing the facts. In fact, Islam is about submission to God, not to men, not to fathers and not to husbands - only submission to God. In fact the Quran is very clear that women and men are equal. Islam is very clear that women should be respected by men. This man had a skewed insane view of his culture (and by the way, the hijab is a cultural garb, NOT a religious requirement). This man who killed his daughter is a spineless disgusting creature who happened to be muslim and could not stand that he had no control over his daughter. Again, it has nothing to do with culture or religion. It was about the fact that he wanted control and did not have it. Don't be fooled and think that there are no other murderers out there who have killed because of religious disagreements. There most certainly are. Does that mean all religions in the world support violence? Of course not! To those who think otherwise - that is the equivalent of saying what Pickton did is a part of Canadian culture - or that every man who kills his wife for cheating on his is a part of Canadian culture - or that every woman who kills their children because of "postpartum depression" is a part of our culture - or that every child who picks up a gun and shoots other children in a school is a part of our culture - or that every Priest who sexually assaults another is a part of our culture. None of this is right. This man who killed IS mentally imbalanced. He is not sane. Whatever beliefs he held that may justify his actions are wrong - they are flawed and he is insane. Anyone who is capable of killing or harming another human being is insane. Realize this crime is as bad as every other crime committed by every other criminal in this society. Those of you who use this as an excuse to bash a religion - you are generalizing and stereotyping without knowing all the facts.

report abuse vote down vote up

Dec 11, 2007 20:00:17
Votes: +0

Elane said:

... Sarah, don't tell me that you have read the Qur'an, it is obvious that you have not. I suggest you read it. Starting right from the first Surah and moving on to the second Surah where it clearly tells the believer to kill the infidel. Now, enough of your whitewashed shiite. Get the behind a curtain quickly. Furthermore Sarah, you really need to hone up on the legal definitions of sanity and insanity. I suggest you do that before you read the Qur'an.

report abuse vote down vote up

Dec 11, 2007 20:13:48
Votes: +0

sarah said:

... Elane, where you are you getting your facts from? Dogs are not haram in Islam. Its hilarious how un-informed you are! Dogs are fine - the only restrictions are that if you have a dog, for cleanliness reasons the dog should not sleep with you or eat from your plate. Those Muslims who don't have dogs as pets don't because of culture, more than a matter of religion. I know a ton of muslims who have dogs! Again, another mistake by you - you are mixing up certain cultures with a religion!

report abuse vote down vote up

Dec 11, 2007 20:19:04
Votes: +0

P said:

... they should give him a minimum of 5000 paper cuts all over his body and let him rot in a vat of lime juice. Or does that seem too sick and juvenile? I don't believe this has to do specifically with religion, although I think must mean something about the nature of religion in itself. Some would say (myself included) that religion divides us. though what then can we make of a situation where religion divides even those within the same religion. Clearly this father is just sick, and has grown up with such rigid values that the sad part is he probably feels justified in his actions. What is one to think when the people who are supposed to protect us (our father, parents, siblings extended family etc) bring us harm. Even in the animal kingdom, most species, regardless of how barbaric or mindless they may be, still have the innate desire to protect their young. Having said that. Maybe he should be tried as a dog. Certainly a dog who killed a girl would be put down. i feel sick, and my heart goes out to those who knew her.

report abuse vote down vote up

Dec 11, 2007 20:27:03
Votes: +0

Farah said:

	... aqsa parvez, she died for no reason,her father is a crazy man. if he choses to live in canada, he should be more open minded or theres no place for sick people like him ,but hell. I dont see in islam, there are such things to force your daughters ,mothers ,or wifes to wear hijab, it is a choice they have to make themselves. My condolence to the mother. may her soul be at peace.
	report abuse vote down vote up

Dec 11, 2007 20:48:18
Votes: +0

sarah said:

... Elane, how can you say that this man is sane? That is incomprehensible! This man is clearly a lunatic for what he did! Why do you continue to stereotype - you have concluded that I am white and that I have not read the Quran! Why do you call me white washed? Why do you assume I have not read the Quran? Your assumptions are all wrong!! If you have read the Quran, you have obviously read it too literally. Just like the Bible, you cannot read the Quran literally. Stop generalizing and realize that this man was a sick, insane person who obviously had no control over his temper! First of all, it is Surah 9:5 that talks about killing the infidels. Not one and two. Second, understanding the verses' historical context is crucial, not to confine them to their context, but for a proper comprehension of their implications. The verse must be interpreted along with all the other verses explicating how a Muslim should deal with others, Muslim or non-Muslim, including verse (8:61), "And if they incline to peace, then incline to it and trust in God; surely He is the Hearing, the Knowing." The worst thing to do with the Quran (like you have) is to approach it seeking confirmation for what one already believes in and turning a blind eye to any evidence that is inconsistent with one's pre-conceived attitudes and biases. Anyone can find in the Quran whatever they want to prove. Anyone can do the same thing with the Bible. The challenge, however, is to make a judgment only after a thorough and exhaustive investigation of all available Quranic evidence. Remember - all religious books talk of violence and killings. They were written in a different time and a different place. You cannot read that literally and apply it to today's world. That is the mistake that people have made - just like those who read violence into the Bible. Both books are of peace, you have to read and understand its wider message.

report abuse vote down vote up

Dec 11, 2007 21:08:59
Votes: +0

Elane said:

... we are only discussing Islam here, not comparative religion, sarah. Please try to comprehend what you read. As to dogs you need to do the research. Clearly hadith (now you can say that there is no hadith but the qur'an and that would be correct but tell that to the vast majority of muslims and they will scorn you) ... but this is not about dogs. This running commentary is about a man who (it is alleged) killed his daughter because she did not conform to his particular beliefs as a muslim father. You need to do some research on Honour Killing (or in the alternative, Honor Killing). Tons of material on the Interet about the murder of women (primarly but not solely) by muslim men (brothers, uncles, grandpas, dads, cousins, sons .. yah, sons) in the name of islam. Now, sarah, you don't seem to want to read very much except what you write. I invite you to study the morass of the world called Islam and don't you ever take a dog into a mosque. Pity the young woman, who is merely one of many, whose family have murdered her because she brought shame to their islamist beliefs. More the pity that it was done in Canada. Sarah, you should also look into what Immigration Canada has to say about Female Genital Mutilation while you are at it. Get busy girl.

report abuse vote down vote up

Dec 11, 2007 21:20:28
Votes: +0

Elane said:

... to sarah Please read ayat 1 and 2 of surah 2 .. and I quote: 2.191. Kill them whenever you confront them and drive them out from where they drove you out. (For though killing is sinful) wrongful persecution is even worse than killing. Do not fight against them near the Holy Mosque unless they fight against you; but if they fight against you kill them, for that is the reward of such unbelievers.

report abuse vote down vote up

Dec 11, 2007 21:23:09
Votes: +0

Elane said:

	... and that's that. I have no desire to continue to engage with you, Sarah. You have proven repeatedly that you are ignorant of the very thing you defend. I call that stupidity.
	report abuse vote down vote up

Dec 11, 2007 21:23:58
Votes: +0

Flea said:

	... I do not know if Yahya Abdul Rahman's views are representative of anybody but his own. We shall see. http://www.montrealmuslims.ca/module-pagesetter-viewpub-tid-7-pid-1962.html
	report abuse vote down vote up

Dec 11, 2007 21:29:22 | url
Votes: +0

Robert Marr said:

... Sarah, I have two comments. First of all, when in history has Islam ever been peaceful? In Israel, in Pakistan, in Afghanistan, in India, in the Sudan, in Bosnia, in Chechnya, in the Philippines, in Thailand, everywhere Islam comes in contact with the non-Islamic world, there is conflict. Muslims simply cannot tolerate infidels. Secondly, I am certainly no Quranic scholar, but I understand that the Quran is the last word of God. It is immutable, it is not open to interpretation. To deny any part of it is to deny the word of God. It must be taken literally to be a good Muslim.

report abuse vote down vote up

Dec 11, 2007 21:30:42
Votes: +0

sarah said:

... I feel sorry for you Elane. You should not read into everything so literally. The Bible also says to kill non-Christians. Again, these books were written in a completely different time period, and I can't understand why anyone would read it so literally. Of course you cannot take a dog into a Mosque! I would think you cannot take animals into a Church either - what does that have to do with anything? I'm not sure why you are getting so defensive, all I am trying to do is help you understand that what this crazy man did is not supported or representative of Islam. Take a deep breath and relax. Everyone does not have to agree with your beliefs.

report abuse vote down vote up

Dec 11, 2007 21:36:45
Votes: +0

Fatma said:

... I am disgusted...utterly disgusted. I am ashamed of the people who represent my religion and this man deserves everything (and more) that's coming to him I am a muslim woman I wear the hijab and people look at me wierd all the time. It's because of idiots like this that people give me such a hard time every where I go. By the way, I don't wear the hijab because the men in my life have oppressed me to do so. Oh, and Elane - I understand your anger - but get your facts straight.

report abuse vote down vote up

Dec 11, 2007 22:19:16
Votes: +0

yasser said:

... yes this is a very shameful act, but it is definately not the Islamic way, maybe some of you should read about Islam before labelling it certain things that aren't true. Islam means "peace" in arabic, and therefore only promotes peace. Therefore, it is not the religion that promotes these horrendous acts but certain people within it. You cannot label all members of a group for the actions of a few members. Would it be fair to judge all Christians, for example, for the acts of the Columbine shooters, or Robert Pickton, obviously not. May you all be guided. peace

report abuse vote down vote up

Dec 11, 2007 22:19:19
Votes: +0

Darcey said:

... Yahya Abdul Rahman left a link here earlier: The tragic news is that 16-year-old Aqsa Parvez is now dead. She was brutally murdered by her 57-year-old father, Muhammad Parvez, after she refused to wear the hijab. Once again, in the name of piety innocent blood has been spilled. Once again, the life of a woman has been snuffed out by a man who felt his children where his own personal property which he could treat as he so wished, even if it means physical abuse and murder. And once again, fellow Canadians will look upon Islam and Muslims as being barbaric and that Muslims lack any kind of sanctity for human life. Many Canadians will come to the conclusion that the name of Allah and the snuffing out of innocent lives go hand in hand. Yes, abuse against women cuts across all cultures and religious communities but that fact will be overlooked in this case. I am so angry that my heart is constricted with rage. This is not the peaceful religion I entered into 14 years ago, this is raw fanaticism and has nothing to do with the faith I embraced. To hell with cultural sensitivities, any kind of interpretation of Islam that would condone this hideous murder is worthy of our lowest contempt. Now, every time people see a hijab-wearing woman walking down the street they will wonder if these women are forced to wear it for fear of the dangerous consequences if they refuse. It doesn't make any difference whether most Muslim women in this country wear the hijab as a result of their own choice or not - the voice of Aqsa's blood cries from the ground and will drown out all other voices. Yahya Abdul Rahman is the editor of Montreal Muslim News.

report abuse vote down vote up

Dec 11, 2007 22:23:02
Votes: +0

OMMAG said: