Will the Real ‘Carrie Bradshaw of the Middle East’ Please Come Forward?

Last updated on: August 24, 2010 at 12:00 am By Guest Contributor

This post was written by M. Lynx Qualey and originally appeared on her blog Arab Literature (in English). Last Friday, the Independent reported that poet Joumana Haddad has been called the “Carrie Bradshaw of Beirut.” Yesterday, National Public Radio said that Ghada Abdel-Aal, blogger and author of Ayza Atgowaz (now a Ramadan TV series), is “Carrie Bradshaw in a headscarf.” I certainly don’t object to analogy: It’s how we humans structure knowledge. And, while Haddad found the characterization of her... Read more

A Woman Without Hijab is Like a Chair with Three Legs

Last updated on: August 23, 2010 at 12:00 am By nicole

If you still haven’t figured out that wearing black chadors will save your worldly soul and that wearing lipstick and heels will get you sent to the hellfire, Iran’s “Cyber Group for Promoting Chastity and the Veil [Ifaf]” is here to clear that up for you. They are sponsored by the Iranian government and have a sleek website where you can view their posters, buy t-shirts, and brush up on hijab laws in Iran! They have a new ad campaign... Read more

Friday Links — August 20, 2010

Last updated on: August 20, 2010 at 12:00 am By fatemeh

On the barriers that female Shariah judges face in Malaysia. More from 50.50. Women in Kashmir are becoming a larger part of local protests against authorities. The Independent profiles Gaza’s only fisherwoman. Sakineh Ashtiani’s former lawyer speaks about her case after gaining asylum in Sweden. A Muslim woman who works at a Disneyland restaurant alleged that the theme park would not allow her to appear in front of customers while wearing her head scarf. Miss USA Rima Fakih speaks with... Read more

State of the (Superhero) Nation: Faiza Hussein in British Comics

Last updated on: August 19, 2010 at 12:00 am By ayaan

Faiza Hussain is a British Muslim super heroine of Pakistani descent, introduced in the 2008-2009 comic series, Captain Britain and MI:13. For people who are unfamiliar with the shared universe of Marvel Comics: in 2008, there was a large scale alien invasion in the Marvel universe, and in order to reflect the international nature of this crisis, the new title, Captain Britain and MI:13, was brought out, bringing back some older Marvel UK characters in a new team. This being... Read more

Between Satire and Stereotype: Gina Dirawi

Last updated on: August 18, 2010 at 12:00 am By tasnim

Khadidje, Fadumah, Ruqaya, Fippan and Bettan are all characters created by blogger Gina Dirawi, a Palestinian Swede whose comic videos mocking racial and other stereotypes have become something of a sensation on the Swedish blogosphere. The following her blog has generated is large enough that she is currently blogging in affiliation with Swedish national television to encourage more young people to vote in September. Some of Gina’s characters can be seen here, in an old ‘Halal Hills’ parody. Through her characters,... Read more

The Wardrobe Wars: Bikinis and Garbage Bags

Last updated on: August 17, 2010 at 12:00 am By sana

About a week ago, a British woman in a Dubai shopping mall, allegedly wearing a shirt which seemed to reveal too much in relation to boobage and leggage, was scolded by a passing Emirati woman who felt the Brit's clothing violated the modesty dress code put up by mall authorities in respect of the country's Islamic identity and ethos (which, fortunately, do not effect the emirate's use of slave labour for its self-glorification). Read more

Nothing is worse for a Saudi man than imagining himself a woman

Last updated on: August 16, 2010 at 12:00 am By Guest Contributor

This post was written by Eman Al Nafjan and originally appeared at her blog Saudiwoman’s Weblog. Every Ramadan for the past sixteen years a show called Tash Ma Tash, which means something in the literal lines of “splash what may,” is closely watched by almost every Saudi household. The show is a satire of Saudi society and it’s funny, to say the least. It’s also been prohibited by several sheikhs as un-Islamic, especially due to the actors’ portrayal of those... Read more

Friday Links — August 13, 2010

Last updated on: August 13, 2010 at 1:42 pm By fatemeh

A new study says that pregnant women shouldn’t fast. More from The Huffington Post. Yasmin Sajid Sheikh of India aspires to be a policewoman and a role model for “progressive Muslim women.” Campaigning against stoning is still necessary. This is a much better way to address matches with the Iranian women’s soccer team. Take note, Daily Mail! Al-Ahram Weekly asks whether the ban on the wearing of the face veil in Syrian schools and universities is motivated by support for... Read more

Ramadan Mobarak!

Last updated on: August 11, 2010 at 12:00 am By fatemeh

Salam alaikum, readers! We’d like to wish all of you a blessed and peaceful Ramadan! Image by El Agizy In Design, via SOME Contrast. Read more

FGM in Kristof and WuDunn’s Half the Sky

Last updated on: August 10, 2010 at 12:00 am By Azra

After watching Moolaadé, I recalled that I had come across a story several months ago of how FGM is combated in Senegal in Kristof and WuDunn’s Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide, released in 2009. Kristof and WuDunn devote the thirteenth chapter of the book (chapter: “Grassroots vs. Treetops”) to looking at an organization, Tostan, that works to “empower African communities to bring about sustainable development and positive social transformation” that has contributed to a reduction... Read more