Friday Links — May 23, 2008

Last updated on: January 21, 2012 at 2:31 pm By fatemeh

Ha Ana Za! looks at the survival and growth of Islamic feminism. South Africa’s The Times speaks with Fatima Hassam, who is fighting for inheritance rights for multiple wives. The U.S.’s Condoleezza Rice initiates the “One Woman Initiative,” which is a fund that aims to empower Muslim women around the world through funding education and business developments. The Independent’s Deborah Orr talks about life for women in Kabul, Afghanistan. None of the 27 women who ran in the Kuwaiti parliamentary... Read more

BBC’s Slideshow Misses the Bigger Picture

Last updated on: December 8, 2011 at 11:35 pm By Muslimah Media Watch

The BBC has a slide show that examines the Western Saharah independence on its 35th anniversary. The slide show is an interesting one, but troublesomely without context: we have no idea when these pictures are taken or by whom. Anyway, the real point of this post. The picture below (like all the others) appeared with a caption that has nothing to do with it (them): The caption reads: “Since then there has been a ceasefire in the mineral-rich former Spanish... Read more

Get Smart: IQ2US Includes Women’s Voices in Debate about Islam

Last updated on: December 8, 2011 at 11:35 pm By Muslimah Media Watch

A few days ago, I caught an Intelligence Squared U.S. debate on the radio. The series evaluates a claim through Oxford-style debate. The resolution was “Islam is dominated by radicals.” The wording of the issue is flawed, as participant Reza Aslan (against) pointed out in his opening speech, and the supporting team’s attempts to clarify the intent of the resolution led to inconsistent interpretation on both sides of the debate. Nevertheless, the debate was commendable in its choice of participants.... Read more

Leading Saudi Woman Blogger Alhodaif Passes Away at 25

Last updated on: January 21, 2012 at 2:31 pm By Guest Contributor

Written by Ebtihal Mubarak, originally published on Arab News. JEDDAH, 19 May 2008 — For 25 days supporters and friends of Saudi blogger Hadeel Alhodaif have waited anxiously, hoping that she would emerge from the coma she fell into unexpectedly. But on Friday these hopes died as the 25-year-old writer and social critic — known for fearlessly using her real name in her criticisms — passed away. Alhodaif (pictured here in the center at a seminar in Muscat, Oman), who... Read more

The Not-So-Funnies: Using Niqab in Comics to Otherize Iranian Women

Last updated on: December 8, 2011 at 11:35 pm By Muslimah Media Watch

A few weeks ago, Slate highlighted Iran as a topic for cartoonists. I didn’t look at all 290 cartoons (I got to 203, though!), which lampooned several years of Iran’s place in the headlines. The general consensus among cartoonists is that there are four topics which make up Iran: Ahmedinejad, nuclear issues, angry-looking mullahs, and ladies in burqas. (sigh) How many times do I need to go over this?! Women in Iran do not wear niqabs. Show me a woman... Read more

Sisters in Music: Female Muslim Rappers Collaborate

Last updated on: December 8, 2011 at 11:35 pm By Muslimah Media Watch

Hip hop was created in the ’70s as a means for disillusioned Black and Latino youth to express their grievances and anger at the racism and neglect of the system. Today, although not always used for those political purposes, there does remain a strong segment of the hip hop population which uses this form of expression in political ways to bring to light their struggles and experiences with the system, whatever that system that may be. Muslimah Media Watch has... Read more

Let’s Talk about Love — Saudi Style

Last updated on: December 8, 2011 at 11:35 pm By Muslimah Media Watch

Yesterday’s issue of the New York Times featured a look at romance among the youth of Saudi Arabia. It’s not the first time the Times has addressed this topic. The Western media has an intense fascination when it comes to Saudi Arabia and romance, if Valentine’s Day coverage is any clue. Yesterday’s coverage includes separate articles for the female and male perspectives, along with a slideshow of “youth in the kingdom” — all of whom are men. Good job making... Read more

Manga Mania: Muslim Manga’s Reach

Last updated on: December 8, 2011 at 11:35 pm By Muslimah Media Watch

Muslimah Media Watch thanks Safiya for the tip. Asia Alfasi is a talented manga artist in the U.K. The BBC covered a talent competition she’d won (barikallah!), but managed to irritate me through mislabeling Ms. Alfasi’s drawings and misuse of the word “Arabian.” Ms. Alfasi won a competition given by the International Manga and Anime Festival for her character “Monir,” who, according to the BBC, is a “feisty young Arabian from the Muslim Abyssinian times who draws strength from his... Read more

She’s Funny That Way: Interviews With Muslim Comedians Tissa Hami & Maysoon Zayid

Last updated on: December 8, 2011 at 11:35 pm By Muslimah Media Watch

Yesterday, PBS aired a special called Stand Up: Muslim American Comics Come of Age. Maysoon Zayid and Tissa Hami are two Muslim women comics profiled in the documentary, and Muslimah Media Watch was lucky enough to get interviews via email with them both. Muslimah Media Watch: Salaam waleykum. I want to say first that it’s a great opportunity to interview you, even via email. You do incredible work in your personal lives and through your comedy. May God reward you... Read more

Friday Links — May 9, 2008

Last updated on: January 21, 2012 at 2:36 pm By fatemeh

In an effort to curb Malaysian women used in drug trafficking, the Malaysian Foreign Ministry has proposed that all women traveling out of the country alone have a letter from parents or employers. And, unsurprisingly, this pisses off women. Via Feministing. The National Newspaper looks at the evolution of abaya styles. A Tunisian family sues a man who they claim raped their daughter over the phone. Iraq’s Hero Ibrahim Ahmed (Jalal Talabani’s wife) escapes a roadside bomb attack. Egypt’s National... Read more