About us


The Muslim Legal Support Centre is a non-profit organization that defends the rights of Muslims in Ontario.

Mission

To promote fair treatment and access to justice for Muslims of limited means in Ontario through legal services, education, and advocacy.

Aims

The Muslim Legal Support Centre (MLSC) aims to address the harms Muslims experience from Islamophobia, discrimination, and poverty by providing comprehensive legal services that meet their specific needs and concerns. We work to dismantle barriers Muslims encounter within the legal system and advocate against injustices related to Muslim and perceived Muslim identities. Our efforts include equipping Muslims with a deeper understanding of their legal rights and the legal system, while also advancing systemic change through partnerships with community organizations.

History

The Muslim Legal Support Centre (MLSC) was launched in 2018 as an innovative pilot project by the Canadian Muslim Lawyers Association (CMLA). This initiative began with extensive consultations with service providers and community organizations, aimed at identifying and addressing the unique challenges Muslims face within Ontario’s legal system. It became evident that there was a critical need for an organization committed to providing culturally sensitive, multilingual, and accessible legal services.

Bolstered by long-term funding from the Law Foundation of Ontario in 2020, the pilot phase successfully concluded. In 2021, MLSC transitioned into an independent non-profit organization. We have since expanded our reach, offering both virtual and in-person legal services to the Muslim community across Ontario, covering a broad range of legal matters. This evolution marks our commitment to breaking down barriers in legal access and empowering our community through dedicated support and advocacy.

The staff at the Muslim Legal Support Centre (MLSC) are a dedicated group of activists, lawyers, community legal workers, and support staff. They bring extensive experience from various parts of the Muslim diaspora and are passionate advocates for the issues faced by our low-income Muslim constituency.

Meet the Team

  • Iman Mohamed

    EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

  • Mustafa Khan

    SENIOR STAFF LAWYER

  • Halime Turkmen

    STAFF LAWYER

  • Idman Waberi

    PROGRAM COORDINATOR

  • Shaimaa Kabli

    OUTREACH COORDINATOR

Meet Our Board Members

  • Fatema Dada

    Fatema is a lawyer with over 15 years of experience in litigation and human rights. Alongside her legal work, she is heavily involved in community projects. She sits on the boards of Smile Canada and Hijabi Ballers and is an active member of the Canadian Muslim Lawyers Association. Prior to her work with the Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC), Fatema served as a Senior Policy Advisor at the Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General and as counsel with the Ministry’s Crown Law Office Civil Division. Fatema received her LLB from the University of Windsor’s Faculty of Law and her LLM from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy.

  • Saquiba Rahman

    Saquiba is currently an Associate at PooranLaw Professional Corporation, a multi-disciplinary law firm in Toronto, Windsor and London, Ontario that works primarily in the disability and developmental services sector. Saquiba’s practice areas include: wills & estates planning; disability law; and corporate law for not-for-profit and charitable organizations. Saquiba has always been active in the Muslim community in both Toronto and her hometown of Ottawa, having previously volunteered with the Canada Bangladesh Muslim Community (CBMC) and the Canadian Association of Muslims with Disabilities (CAM-D). She also served as President of the Muslim Law Students’ Association at Osgoode Hall Law School. Prior to law school, Saquiba worked as a Policy Advisor to a Senator in the Parliament of Canada. She completed her J.D. at Osgoode Hall Law School and her MSc. in Politics and Markets at the London School of Economics.

  • Zoya Alam

    Zoya practices in the areas of Employment and Labour Law and received her J.D. at University of Windsor. Zoya has appeared as counsel before various courts and administrative tribunals and complements her litigation practice through her experience working in full-service civil litigation firms. She also has previous experience working at a legal clinic where she established an employment and administrative law practice. In her personal time, Zoya is actively involved in various community initiatives and serves as Chair of the Nominating Committee of the Girl Guides of Canada and a Director on the Board of the Canadian Muslim Lawyers Association.

Our Funders

We wouldn't be able to do this without our funders.

We are immensely grateful to The Law Foundation of Ontario (LFO), our principal supporter, for their relentless dedication and enthusiasm in advancing our initiatives.

Our appreciation also extends to the Department of Justice Canada for their support, which has been crucial in enhancing MLSC’s direct legal services.

Our mission to advocate for and assist the Muslim community could not be achieved without the generous support of our funders and partners, including our devoted volunteer lawyers who selflessly contribute their time and skills to those in need.

The Law Foundation of Ontario

Department of Justice Canada

Government of Canada