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HURMA PROJECT HISTORY

June 2018
Project Launch, Online training

The Hurma Project launched with a convening of experts, leaders and activists who have demonstrated a commitment to safeguarding Muslim community members.

June 2018
Early conversations and Faith Trust Institute Online Training

From June - July 2018 project contributors attended a four-week online training by FaithTrust Institute, to explore theological and ethical issues related to power and vulnerability, focusing on the distinctive roles that pastoral caregivers fulfill within a spiritual community.

July 2018
El-Hibri Foundation Convening on Healthy Boundaries

25 project contributors convened at the El-Hibri Foundation in Washington, DC to engage in deeper discussions on the topic of healthy boundaries for religious authorities. 

Jan 2020
Research Conference (Chicago)

24 project contributors assembled in Chicago for the Hurma Project’s first research conference. Participants attended six panels, consisting of a total of 15 presentations, in addition to opening and closing talks by the project’s co-founders. Presentation topics included healthy boundaries for Imams and chaplains, the gendered dimensions of abuse and recovery, Islamic law and ethics, and community education, advocacy, and accountability.

March 2021
Podcast Season 1

Season 1 of the Hurma Project Podcast is launched, delivering eight episodes.  

Feb 2022
Podcast Season 2

Hurma Project Podcast Season 2 delivers nine episodes, consisting of interviews by the co-founders with Muslim academics, educators, chaplains, mental health experts, and community leaders on a wide variety of topics related to violations of trust, abuse, professional ethics, and healthy communities.

March 2022
Research Conference (Chicago)

We held a research conference in Chicago, hosted by Bayan Islamic Graduate School and the Chicago Theological Seminary. The conference began with a public talk, entitled, Closing the Gap between Our Islamic Values & Our Muslim Community Realities. The following two days of the conference brought Muslim academics and chaplains into generative conversation together. The first day consisted of four panels, where eight scholars presented their research on topics including sexual misconduct, evidentiary standards for sexual assault, the misuse of zakat funds, and the concealment of sins. The second day consisted of a workshop on the Association of Muslim Chaplains’ Code of Conduct.

2023 - Present
Research

We’ve benefitted from the research of academics, independent researchers, and practitioners to author academic journal articles and research papers. 

January 2024
Research Translation & Handbook Development

Using insights from our research and podcast episodes we have begun developing a practitioner handbook and translating inights for the general Muslim community on our social media channels. 

Key Project Questions

  1. What are the best practices and procedures adopted by faith communities to prevent spiritual harm?
  2. As faith communities become more aware of their legal obligations (as non-profits and/or in accordance with labor, criminal, civil and human rights laws/for mandated reporting, etc.) are violations more preventable?
  3. How can we use existing psychological and spiritual assessments employed in other faith communities to prevent these problems and screen for those unsuited for religious leadership and/or contact with children?
  4. What are the areas of consensus and what are the main disagreements among Muslims on issues such as power dynamics, impaired consent, and accountability?
  5. What religious beliefs, language, customs and forms of communication facilitate and allow scholars, teachers and leaders to engage in or deny abusive behavior? How can these be changed?
  6.  What kind of education about health and sexuality empowers children with the knowledge and skills they need to recognize, resist and report abuse?
  7. What would an effective accreditation system for communities and organizations look like and what are the obstacles in creating such a system?
  8. What would an effective and fair complaints and accountability process look like in Muslim institutions and communities? What are the obstacles to creating such a process for communities in North America?
  9. How can we prevent violators from simply leaving one community and quietly moving to another community, assuming religious leadership once again? What are the barriers to reporting harm and how can they be addressed and dismantled? Are certain communities more vulnerable to abuse?
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What is hurma?

Hurma (حرمة) is an Islamic legal term signifying the divinely-granted right of protection of the human person from abuse, assault, and exploitation.

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Henna Khawja

Mental Health Advisor

Henna Khawja is a Registered Social Worker with a special focus on the spectrum of gender based violence in Muslim communities. With over twelve years in the field, Henna currently works in sexual violence prevention and education with the University of Toronto, and is a Psychotherapist in private practice. Henna has worked with children, youth and adults in community, legal, child protection, corporate and university settings. Henna has also acted as the first Clinical Director for the Islamic Family and Social Services Association (IFSSA) in Edmonton, Alberta. Over the years, she has focused her work on supporting Survivors of trauma and violence along their healing journeys (including but not limited to gender based, spiritual, domestic, intimate partner, sexual, family, intergenerational, community violence). Henna has extensive experience working with Muslim & racialized communities in both Canada and the USA, as well as Pakistan and Zanzibar.

If you would like to connect with Henna for support and/or questions, please click here.