About CMP

Canadian Muslims for Palestine (CMP) is a national education and grassroots-based organization, dedicated to educating the Canadian public about Palestine and its rich cultural, historical and religious heritage. The organization was founded by Canadians in 2003 in Montreal Quebec.

CMP is a nonprofit national organization. CMP launched in the winter of 2003 in Montreal, Quebec in response to the unjust siege waged against the innocent civilians of Jenin and the simultaneous uprooting of the remaining regions of Palestine.

CMP is a Canadian Islamic organization with a focus on Palestine’s struggle for freedom, peace, justice and dignity.

As an organization with an Islamic mandate, all other countries and ethnicities requiring assistance, in Canada and overseas, must and will earn our time, dedication and prayers, based on our current resources, God-willing.

Objectives

Canadian Muslims for Palestine is a Canada-based nonprofit established in 2003 by Canadian citizens. Our mission centers on informing the Canadian public and media about the realities in Palestine, including its deep-rooted cultural and historical legacy.

We strive to humanize Palestinians, helping Canadians see them not as distant figures in a conflict, but as individuals who share universal values—freedom, dignity, and justice. Through education and outreach, we aim to raise awareness about the ongoing Israeli occupation of Palestinian land, which remains one of the longest-standing occupations in modern history.

Our work also highlights the struggles of over seven million Palestinian refugees, a population that has endured displacement longer than any other. We bring attention to systemic human rights violations, including the expansion of settlements, the construction of separation barriers, and the imposition of hundreds of checkpoints that restrict movement and daily life.

We shed light on discriminatory policies affecting Palestinian citizens of Israel, such as unequal access to education, public services, and professional opportunities—especially in communities labeled as “unrecognized.” These issues are rarely covered in mainstream discourse, and we believe that informed Canadians will demand a fairer U.S. approach to Middle East policy.

I. Education and Training

CMP hosts events as well as produces Information Briefs via our email list in order to engage and educate the Canadian community of all races, religions, ages, and ethnicities.

II. Advocacy for a Balanced Canadian Policy

CMP aims to raise the awareness of Canadian society and works for a just and comprehensive solution to the issue of Palestine. This will be conducted by mobilizing the Canadian community to support legislations promoting issues such as peacekeeping forces to protect Palestinians and an immediate freeze on all settlement activity. CMP envisions a solution to Palestine that ensures:

1. Religious freedom for people of all faiths in Palestine with specific emphasis on freedom to worship
2. Self-determination for Palestine’s native population and its right to live in and develop the city social and economically
3. Respect for human rights as well as the implementation of international law and UN Resolutions

III. Social Services and Support

CMP aims to safeguard and protect the Palestinian Canadian community and other ethnicities by providing them with the necessary resources and means to live a life of peace and security in Canada, welcoming them, and supporting their efforts.

CMP wants to ensure that the concerns of the Palestinian Canadian community and other ethnicities are understood and respected in the formulation of Canadian policy. Wherein these rights are not dutifully adhered to by Canadian policies, CMP wishes to be notified in order to challenge these policies when resources permit.

IV. Networking

CMP plans to work in conjunction and in cooperation with other Palestinian and human rights organizations with similar mandates and objectives. CMP hopes to continue to network with Islamic organizations across Canada in order to receive their support for the Palestinian Canadian community.

Palestine 101

One of many educational videos about the history of Palestine and the region:

Historical Significance

Palestine, and particularly Jerusalem, holds profound spiritual and historical importance for Muslims around the world. At the heart of Jerusalem lies Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa, the third holiest site in Islam after Mecca and Medina. It was the first qiblah (direction of prayer) for Muslims and the site of the miraculous night journey (Isra and Mi’raj) of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), where he ascended to the heavens. This sacred connection makes Jerusalem not only a place of worship but a symbol of divine presence and unity in the Islamic faith.

Beyond its religious significance, Palestine is deeply woven into the legacy of many prophets revered in Islam, including Ibrahim (Abraham), Musa (Moses), Dawud (David), Sulayman (Solomon), and Isa (Jesus), peace be upon them all. The land is a living testament to Islamic history and heritage. For Muslims, the preservation and protection of these sacred sites is a collective responsibility, transcending borders and cultures. The ongoing struggles faced by Palestinians also evoke a strong sense of solidarity, compassion, and duty among Muslims, who view the cause of Palestine not just as a political issue, but as a moral and spiritual obligation.

Muslim pilgrims seek spiritual renewal in the three cities Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) told us to visit: Mecca, Medina and Jerusalem.