A Danish Scheherazade: Suzanne Brøgger’s The Veil

Last updated on: June 29, 2010 at 12:00 am By tasnim

The prolific and eclectic Danish writer Suzanne Brøgger has more than twenty works to her name, most of which have at one time or another been labeled as provocative. Brøgger became an overnight celebrity in Denmark back in 1973 with the publication of her acerbically-titled book of essays Fri os fra kærligheden (Deliver Us from Love), in which she presents elegantly formed arguments that conclude, in a manner both logical and tongue-in-cheek, that the family unit should be abolished and... Read more

When the Personal is Political: Dr. Samar Habib

Last updated on: June 28, 2010 at 12:00 am By sarahaji

Those of you who have been following debates surrounding academic freedom might remember the story of Dr. Samar Habib (pictured below right), whose “Women in Arabic and Islamic Literature” course was cut from the University of Western Sydney schedule largely due to complaints by Muslim organizations like the Australian National Imams Council and Muslims for Peace. Amidst complaints that the course promoted “an emphasis on sexuality and a sexually explicit content that is not reflective of normative Islam,” the organizations... Read more

Friday Links — June 25, 2010

Last updated on: June 25, 2010 at 12:00 am By fatemeh

GetReligion examines The New York Times’ article about Saudi women fighting for guardianship. A Somali woman resists community pressure to give up her daughter. World Cup fever extends to abayas! In Italy, a woman whose husband beat her has been hospitalized. May Allah keep her. The Contra Costa Times profiles Moina Shaiq, a tireless advocate for the local Muslim community in Fremont, California. An Australian Muslim woman has complained that she was told to remove her face veil during a... Read more

A Reporter’s Headscarf is Not An Insult

Last updated on: June 24, 2010 at 12:00 am By Krista

The father and brother of Aqsa Parvez, a Muslim Canadian teenager who was killed in December 2007, recently confessed to murdering her and were sentenced to life in prison. Canadian media outlets covered this news widely. At the Toronto Star, one of the reporters writing about the case was Noor Javed, who co-wrote one detailed overview of the case (trigger warning: this article includes detailed descriptions of violence and murder) and also authored another article about whether Parvez’s murder was an “honor... Read more

Al Jazeera’s Wardrobe Malfunction

Last updated on: June 23, 2010 at 12:00 am By emanhashim

The Short version: Time: A few months ago. Action: Eight female journalists working for Al Jazeera network signed an official complaint against Deputy Editor Ayman Jaballah, stating that they have been harassed by his comments on their appearance. Reaction: The network ordered an investigation. Then: Time: Last month. Action: The network reported it was within its legal rights to dictate the appearance of its on-air presenters. Reaction: Five of the eight presenters quit in protest. The Long version: In an... Read more

Make-up Shake Up: YouTube’s Muslim Make-up Sensation

Last updated on: June 22, 2010 at 12:00 am By Lara Alamad

The MMW Friday link lists often highlights the disparity between non-Muslim perception of Muslim women’s experiences and the lives Muslim women actually live. Hence the recent spate of incredulous articles about hijab fashion websites. For Muslim women, the concept of hijab fashion is nothing new, but for Western journalists, Muslim women having the inclination and freedom for frivolity is unexpected. So for me and I expect many readers of this site, a Muslimah giving make-up tutorials on YouTube is no... Read more

For Neda: HBO Documents the 2009 Iranian Elections

Last updated on: June 21, 2010 at 12:00 am By diana

As I snuggled on the couch to watch HBO’s documentary on Neda Agha-Soltan, I knew this wasn’t the time for popcorn. The first images that splashed across the screen were Agha-Soltan’s infamous last moments, which haunted viewers around the world exactly a year ago. The tone of onlookers and loved ones was agonizing, screaming as they crowded around her body, placing their hands over the bullet hole in her chest. As blood began to gush from her mouth and nose,... Read more

Friday Links – June 18, 2010

Last updated on: June 18, 2010 at 12:00 am By fatemeh

The Iranian government’s campaign against “bad hejab” is back on. Related: in recent months, 71 “improperly dressed” women have prevented from boarding Iranian planes. An American doctor discusses the idea of “honor” in Turkish society. Women in Bristol march against female genital cutting. Emirati women take to Twitter to change negative perceptions of their countrypeople. ILLUME reports that Human Rights Watch calls Iraqi Kurdistan to ban female genital cutting. More here. Al Masry Al Youm reports on sex-reassignment surgeries in... Read more

The New Music Makers: European Muslim Women

Last updated on: June 17, 2010 at 12:00 am By yusra

Europe’s controversial stance and inflammatory language surrounding the burqa puts Muslim women, veiled or not, in a tight spot. Instead of donning a low profile, some Muslim women are turning to music to speak their minds. European Muslimahs are defying stereotypes by promoting their art and pushing themselves front and center. Take Diam’s, a French recording artist who shot to fame with her 2006 album Dans Ma Bulle (In My Bubble). Born in Cyprus, Diam’s raps about discrimination, poverty, and... Read more

Rima Fakih and the Issue of Muslim Heritage

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

This post was written by Margari Aziza Hill and originally published at her website. It’s taken me a while to make a statement on the Rima Fakih’s win. Out of the many reasons why, the one that stands out the most is that American Muslims tend to condemn non-practicing Muslims. Although the numbers of practicing Muslims is lower than we’d like to admit, many American Muslims are not willing to admit that a woman without hijab also has a place... Read more