The eighth annual Interfaith Symposium will be tackling the role of women in building healthy societies.
This year's symposium will feature Muslim, Hindu, Sikh, Christian and aboriginal speakers addressing the common issue of women's role in society.
"When it comes to women and religion, it is sometimes felt that we are confining women in the corner," Muhammad Afzal Mirza said. "Religion, in fact, keeps women on a very high pedestal."
Mirza will be representing Islam at the symposium, which takes place on Sept. 11 at UNBC.
He has been an Islamic missionary since 1976 and has represented the faith in Pakistan, the United States and Canada. He currently heads the Islamic mission in Mississauga, Ont. and hosts a radio talk show in Toronto.
It's important to separate religion from cultural practices, Mirza said.
In his home country of Pakistan, he said, women can be subject to a wide variety of abuses and oppression including karo-kari - honour killing of women who are perceived to have dishonoured their family.
In Canadian and Western culture, Mirza said, women have a great deal of freedom and protection under the law. However, he added, that may come at the expense of women's traditional role at the heart of the family structure.
"To me, religion teaches us what is healthy for us. What happened to our family values?" Mirza said. "When a mother was there to teach the children... we were all much better off. Children are growing up with a totally different perspective on society."
Bringing the Hindu perspective to the discussion will be UNBC statistics professor Pranesh Kumar.
Avtar Singh Grewal, a Prince George resident and authority on the Sikh holy text Guru Granth
Sahib, will speak about the Sikh perspective.
Gateway Christian Ministries family pastor Rev. Jordan Gadsby will address the topic of women's role in society from a Christian perspective.
And Wet'suwet'en hereditary chief and UNBC instructor Gloria George will talk about First Nations spirituality and the role of women.
The Interfaith Symposium runs from 2:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Sept. 11 at UNBC's Canfor Theater.
