Friday Links — February 12, 2010

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

In Iran, Deputy Culture Minister for Cinematic Affairs Javad Shamaqdari’s remarks on the hijab anger clerics. Muslim women in India look upon the Western Burqa Ban phenomenon with confusion. The Dawn asks us to remember the harsh restrictions upon Afghan women during the Taliban’s reign as Karzai prepares to make peace with the Taliban. The Star chimes in, too. More news about the conviction of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui. Egypt’s Divorce Radio gets more coverage. Sixteen Muslim women from Kurla, India,... Read more

A Look at Women in Ali Eteraz’s Children of Dust: Part II

Last updated on: February 10, 2010 at 11:05 pm By Azra

Part I of this review ran last week. You can read it here. Why do Muslim women merely serve a sexual purpose and a way to “feel power over another human being” in Eteraz’s relationships in Children of Dust? The answer to this question ultimately lies within the convoluted cultural-religious matrix Eteraz finds himself in as he attempts to form relationships with women. At a young age, he learns a cultural understanding of relationships with women when his mother admonishes... Read more

Divorce, Egyptian Style: Oprah’s Episode on Marriage Around the Globe

Last updated on: February 10, 2010 at 12:00 am By emanhashim

I was thrilled when I heard that Oprah Winfrey interviewed Egyptian women about marriage for an episode of her show about marriage around the globe. Oprah has always been such an inspiration for a lot of women, me included. I was so excited for her to highlight my world and how women like me get married and the challenges we face. Naturally, the episode has grabbed a lot of attention. The guest list included: Ms. Injy Elkashef, a 37-year-old journalist... Read more

The Headscarf as Cultural Barometer: Emma Tarlo’s Book on Hijab

Last updated on: February 8, 2010 at 12:00 am By Sara Yasin

In her new book, entitled Visibly Muslim: Fashion, Politics, Faith, Emma Tarlo captures the diversity in the way that Islam is practiced against the backdrop of multi-cultural Britain. Refreshingly, the book did not aim to answer whether or not covering was a part of Islam, and neither did it represent the views of Muslim women as a monolithic body. In her book, Tarlo shows a snapshot of the way in which the veil has manifested itself within the Muslim population... Read more

Friday Links — February 5, 2009

Last updated on: February 5, 2010 at 12:00 am By fatemeh

Girls in Sudan risk sexual exploitation. A Jordanian court sentenced a 19-year-old man to 10 years in jail for stabbing his sister to death. May Allah give her peace and justice. Hijab Style interviews the founders of Vela. Sheema Khan asks for a Canadian approach to the burqa. Speaking of burqas, a cleric in India says that it is permissible for women to have identification pictures taken without a face veil. Nadya Khalife writes about Dubai’s shameful record on rape.... Read more

Cold Comfort: Supporting Arguments don’t do Burqa Bans a Favor

Last updated on: February 4, 2010 at 12:00 am By Krista

The proposed French ban on facial coverings* worn by some Muslim women seems like it hasn’t left the news for weeks, with new developments popping up regularly and prompting, again, a wave of articles and editorials on the topic. One theme that I’ve noticed lately is the tendency for people opposed to the ban to contextualize their opposition with a comment along the lines of “I really don’t like the burqa/niqab/veil, but I don’t agree that it should be banned.” ... Read more

A Look at Women in Ali Eteraz’s Children of Dust: Part I

Last updated on: February 3, 2010 at 12:00 am By Azra

Children of Dust, prominent writer Ali Eteraz’s recently published memoir, provides an excellent example of a Pakistani-American Muslim in search of his own self-identity. Eteraz’s prose is a delight to read—I randomly started reading a segment from the middle of the book upon its arrival and proceeded to read a good chunk before realizing that I should start reading it from the beginning. I found his descriptions of cultural experiences as an immigrant growing up in the United States to... Read more

More Than Just a Game: The Right to Wear a Scarf and Play Sports

Last updated on: February 2, 2010 at 12:00 am By nicole

Yet another Muslim woman has been denied the right to play sports while wearing a headscarf. Last summer, a young Swiss Muslimah from Luzern, Surah al Shawk (pictured left), attracted the attention of the Northeastern Swtizerland Basketball Association, ProBasket, when she started playing in second division games in Luzern. Unfortunately, it wasn’t her amazing skills on the court that grabbed their attention–it was her headscarf. Her veil had never caused any problems at the community level, before her talent led... Read more

68 Percent of Saudi Girls Drop Last Name on Facebook

Last updated on: February 1, 2010 at 12:00 am By fatemeh

This was written by Iman al Khaddaf and originally appeared in Asharq Alawsat. Are you on Facebook under your real name? This is the question that continues to haunt a large number of Saudi Arabian women, despite the fact that internet social networking sites rely primarily on factual personal information. However, a recent study carried out in Saudi Arabia shows that 68% of Saudi girls prefer to withhold their family name due to the sensitivity of this information, in comparison... Read more

Introducing Nicole

Last updated on: January 29, 2010 at 12:00 am By nicole

Editor’s Note: Salam waleykum, readers! I’m traveling this week, and haven’t had much access to internet (you’ve probably noticed if you’ve tried to submit a comment…), so I haven’t been able to put together a Friday Links this week. But instead, I’ll leave you with a new face at MMW to get to know! Until next week, friends! – Fatemeh Raised outside of New Orleans, I started learning French at an early age and used my language skills as my... Read more