Editor’s Note: This week’s Time magazine featured an 18-year-old Afghan girl named Aisha on the cover. Aisha’s face is framed with dark hair and a loose scarf; it looks like any other portrait Time might publish. Except there is something missing: Aisha’s nose. Her nose and ears were cut off as punishment for running away from abusive in-laws—members of the Taliban handed down this punishment. Her portrait appears next to the words "What happens if we leave Afghanistan."MMW has de … [Read more...]
Friday Links — July 30, 2010
July 30, 2010 by
In Pakistan, a court has freed a mentally ill woman who has been held without trial for 14 years on allegations of desecrating the Qur'an.Muslim Voices reports that a Saudi sheikh has called for only Muslim women to work as maids in Saudi Arabia. More from the Los Angeles Times.Muslim women in the U.K. attend armed forces memorial. More here.On polygyny in Bahrain.The memorial to Marwa el-Sherbini in Dresden, Germany was desecrated last week.The Wall Street Journal talks … [Read more...]
An Interview with Yasmeen Maxamuud
July 29, 2010 by
Raaz for MMW: I found Nomad Diaries a wonderful introduction to the lives of Somali women living in the United States. There were times where I was reminded of my own immigrant grandmother and mother as I read about Nadifo’s life. As I mentioned in my review of Nomad Diaries, I am not familiar with stories that portray an African refugee woman’s journey to the United States presented in literature. What inspired you to write your novel?Yasmeen Maxamuud: Nomad Diaries came out of my desire to … [Read more...]
Muslim Girls: the New Tokens of The Real World
July 28, 2010 by
“This is the true story of seven strangers, picked to live in a house, work together and have their lives taped, to find out what happens when people stop being polite and start getting real.” Those words have forever ushered in MTV’s “real” drama-filled saga, The Real World. The Real World has long been known for its token cast members: in an all-white, heterosexual cast, MTV would often cast one or two people of color and/or from the LGBTQ community, ostensibly to heighten tensions and increas … [Read more...]
Playing the Victim: Media Coverage of Marwa el-Sherbini
July 27, 2010 by
This was written by Beverly M. Weber for Muslimah Media Watch.“She became a victim of Islamophobia and xenophobia. She responded with dignity and exemplary civil courage.” - Plaque in memorial to Marwa el-Sherbini, located in the foyer of the Saxony Provincial Court The murder of Marwa el-Sherbini in July 2009 sparked an intense, long-overdue discussion about Islamophobia and racism in Germany. These discussions have often included critical attention to the media’s role in creating negative … [Read more...]
Smells Like Teen Muslims: The War Within Our Hearts
July 26, 2010 by
My parents sent me to an Islamic school from the age of five to thirteen; it was their effort to keep me safe from the dangers of succumbing to the evils of “Western decadence.” During that time, we were a captive audience for many kinds of experimental lectures meant to keep us on a clearly-defined righteous path. The most refreshing lectures were those from younger figures in the community, who had a better grasp of our hardships. While such conversations were still guarded, they made me feel l … [Read more...]
Friday Links — July 23, 2010
July 23, 2010 by
Muslim girls at the London School of Fashion examine faith and fashion. More on "Islamic fashion" here.Spain's parliament rejected a proposal to ban the niqab, while Syria has banned the niqab from educational facilities. Sumbul Ali-Karamali explores the burqa ban from an American perspective. More on the Syrian ban here.On how garment factories in Bangladesh have changed women's outlooks on their futures.In north Afghanistan, women are facing a Taliban revival. More from The New … [Read more...]
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