A help line for Muslim teens is set to launch in Mississauga, aimed at helping youth deal with social, religious or family issues following the death of a young woman last year. After a successful trial run in January, the help line, called Naseeha, will formally launch its telephone counselling service next week. The project is partly a response to the death of Aqsa Parvez, a Mississauga teen who, it is alleged, was fatally strangled by her…

A new help line for Muslim teens in Mississauga is intended to support youth who are dealing with social, religious or family issues. The confidential phone line (1-866-NASEEHA) is geared towards helping students deal with some of the social and cultural issues they experience in Canada, said Yaseen Ponnah, director of media relations for Nasseha. "During a successful trial run in January, we found most of the calls we received had to do with cultural…

Today’s Globe and Mail (G&M) reports on a story about a young Christian woman who converted to Islam as a teen, without her parent’s knowledge. She empathizes with Aqsa Parvez and other teens who are not in step with their parents beliefs. She wishes she had someone to talk to when she was navigating/negotiating her beliefs with her parents. The story tells us that such help is available: a help line, calledNaseeha, or “advice” in…

In the Name of the Family explores the sometimes dangerous intersection between first-generation Muslim immigrants’ desire to preserve traditional family power structures and their children’s desire to adapt to North American customs. The film focuses on three young Canadian women who survived attacks and three “honor killings” in 2007. Aqsa Parvez, a Canadian teenager of Pakistani descent was strangled by her father and brother; Amina and…

After three months of exhaustive cross-examinations, interviews and exhibits, the high profile trial for the Shafia murders has finally come to an end. Mohammad Shafia, his son Hamed, and second wife Tooba Yayha were found guilty of committing an honor killing. They carried out the murder of the three Shafia daughters; Zainab, Sahar, Geeti and Shafia's first wife, Rona Amir Mohammad. The trial which gained an international following has captivated…