I am pleased to be among you today....

As an activist for Women's equality in Iran; as a transitional counselor who works directly with abused women, particularly battered immigrant women; and as a founder of the Campaign against Sharia court in Canada, I have consistently opposed the involvement of religion in the justice system.

I would like to describe the situation of women and young girls living in the so called Islamic communities of Ontario. Girls are segregated from boys at a very young age in Islamic schools and are forced, at this tender age, to wear veils (Islamic Hijab) and are prohibited from participating in sports and games in playgrounds. Sexual assault is permitted by forcing girls as young as 13 into arranged marriages. Parents are given the right to deprive their daughters of education. Children are isolated from mainstream society. Polygamy (the practice of having more than one wife at the same time) is becoming the norm in these communities...
[here is her solution]
... we should not hesitate to call upon the authorities to empower battered immigrant women by removing family law from the Arbitration Act 1991.