Friday Links | May 27, 2011

• Arab women’s participation in political resistance isn’t a new thing, mkay?

• Britain’s first female Muslim Lord Mayor has taken up the historic post in the city of Bradford. More here.  Middle East Online looks at other kick-ass British Muslim woman creating positive changes in their communities.

• Shaista Aziz asks whether “halal” speed-dating can work.

• Arab News reports on Manal al-Sharif’s imprisonment. More from Al Jazeera.

• Free Detroit Press examines the tragic death of Jessica Mokdad. May Allah give her peace and justice.

• IPS shares the story of Abeer Fakhry.

• What the Dominique Strauss-Kahn case has to do with Muslim women.

• Another “fashion and faith” article!

• Three students from South Africa are appealing to France to rescind the niqab ban.

• The Guardian reviews Leila Ahmed’s newest book.

• CNN covers the murder of Ayah Baradiyya. May Allah give her peace and justice. Meanwhile, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas signed a decree that will eliminate leniency those who perpetrate honor killings.

• Meanwhile, in India, the Supreme Court ruled that the perpetrators of honor killings should be given the death penalty, in an attempt to stamp out the practice.

• The National profiles female Muslim boxers.

• The Washington City Paper profiles artist Helen Zughaib.

• Female firefighters in Malaysia have their hair cut for training.

• On the “O” project, which aims for comprehensive sexual education for women in Indonesia.

• The Sydney Morning Herald profiles reporter Yalda Hakim.

• The Christian Science Monitor reports on one Saudi woman’s fight to choose her own husband.

• Our Sana Saeed is on Al Jazeera!

• Taliban gunmen have killed the headteacher of a girls’ school near the Afghan capital after he ignored warnings to stop teaching girls. May Allah give him peace and justice.

If you see any news stories about Muslim women from this week that we’ve missed, feel free to include links in the comments!