Muhammad Izzul Haq, Head of the Social Welfare Studies Program at UIN Sunan Kalijaga, successfully defended his dissertation titled “Exploring A Muslim Congregation and Leadership in Refugee Resettlement: Case Study of Mosque Refugee Sponsorship in Montreal” on Monday, February 17, in a formal defense held at McGill University, Canada.

In his presentation, Izzul shared his findings on an integrative leadership model in refugee resettlement, focusing on the Dorval Mosque community located in suburban Montreal. The mosque has played a prominent role in sponsoring refugees to resettle in Canada since the 1990s.

The lack of scholarly literature specifically addressing the role of Muslim congregations in refugee resettlement in Canada became a critical gap in existing discourse, prompting Izzul to undertake this research using a mosque-based community setting in Montreal.

Throughout the study, he employed multiple leadership frameworks to analyze how mosque leadership functions in refugee sponsorship programs led by faith-based congregations. These theoretical lenses helped him explore how Dorval Mosque leadership facilitated social work practices through community intervention and engagement.

In conclusion, Izzul proposed the concept of a “Canadian Mosque Model”—a uniquely inclusive and community-driven type of mosque leadership that exemplifies openness, collectivism, and active civic engagement, even as part of a religious minority. This model highlights the dynamic role that such mosques play in supporting Canada’s social policy agenda.