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Homa Arjomand Receives Toronto Humanist of the Year Award

[photo by David Kister]

At our January 13 monthly meeting, HAT Co-ordinator Bill Kennedy presented Homa Arjomand with the framed certificate honouring her as Toronto Humanist of the Year for 2005. This award is given by HAT each year to a resident of the GTA whose "actions and creative endeavours exemplify the principles of Humanism: a commitment to reason, compassion, ethics and human dignity."

Homa Arjomand, best known for leading the successful campaign against officially-recognized Sharia tribunals in Ontario, has been an activist for social justice since her teens. Born in Iran in 1952, she studied medical physics in England and subsequently taught at various universities in Iran. She fled Iran in 1989 with her two small children as her life was no longer safe under Iran's theocratic regime.

Homa arrived in Canada in 1990. Here, she has actively promoted the rights of women, children, gays, lesbians and seniors as a journalist, broadcaster, social counselor and in leadership roles in several organizations. She is Co-ordinator of the International Campaign Against Sharia Court in Canada, Co-ordinator of the Campaign in Defense of Women's Rights in Iran, Chairperson of Children First Now and a member of the Steering Committee of the Organization for Women's Liberation.

"I am very proud and honoured to be chosen as Toronto Humanist of the Year," she said when told about being selected for the award by the HAT Steering Committee. "HAT's compassionate support of the International Campaign Against Sharia Court in Canada contributed so much to our success. Today, the struggle to keep religion out of government and education has become one of humanity's main tasks. That's why we need to build a strong force to support and defend secularism globally. Our victory in Ontario showed that we can and must respond to and resist intransigent, discriminatory and degrading beliefs, customs and traditions. This award helps to provide me with the energy and strength needed to continue the fight for secularism. Thank you so much."

As part of the award, HAT has made a $100 donation to Ms. Arjomand's charity of choice, the French-based women's rights organization, Ni Putes Ni Soumes.

"Live well and help others live well." (Mario Bunge)