Muslim campaign against domestic violence kicks off

A new campaign against violence against women kicks off at the end of the month .

Ahmed Azzam is with the Muslim Association of Canada-Windsor. He is behind the local effort of the "Muslims for White Ribbon" campaign .

"Every mosque, Islamic centre, school and even the MSA on [the University of Windsor] campus will be utilizing lectures, Friday sermons, classes, anything they can do to speak, to tackle this issue," Azzam said . 

Two years ago, Azzam committed his life to one woman. Now he's taken yet another pledge to never commit, condone or be silent about violence against violence women .

The campaign originally started in Toronto in 2011in reaction to the Shafia case, in which three sisters and their father's first wife were killed in Kingston by family members .

"Personally, I'm a husband. I'm hoping soon to be a father to a daughter. I have sisters. I have lots of friends and I wouldn't want what's happened to happen to these women or girls in my life," Azzam said .

Domestic violence organizations say this is an issue that impacts everyone. Here in the Windsor-Essex region, one in four women are victims of abuse .

"It is a societal issue and it doesn't just impact one ethnic group. It crosses all socio-economic lines," said Genevieve Isshak, clinical director residential and outreach services at the Hiatus House. "So the fact that the Muslim community is doing this I think is great .".

Long before she met her husband Remy Boulbol was a victim of domestic violence. She carried the scars from that past relationship into her marriage and they surfaced during an argument with husband .

"I thought, 'Oh god, he's going to hit me now.' He stopped and he turned around and looked at me and he saw the look of shear terror on my face and he nearly - this 6-foot-2, 220-pound man - nearly crumpled at the look on my face and the idea that I thought that might happen ."

Boulbol said her husband and those with "Muslims for White Ribbon" can make a difference

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She said she hopes the campaign will grow to include a white ribbon March sometime in the future. Ahmed Azzam says he too hopes that will happen .