This post was written by guest contributor Rana Nazzal. I had the honour of speaking with three local Ottawa artists about their identity as Muslim women in relation to performance arts. A few years ago, I noticed a dramatic increase in the presence of Muslim women on stages in Ottawa, particularly in the fields of spoken word and slam poetry. I found their presence both welcoming and encouraging in a scene that may have otherwise been uncomfortable for myself and... Read more
On December 30 of last year, someone wearing a niqab threw acid in the face of 20 year old Victoria’s Secret shop assistant, Naomi Oni as she returned home after a late shift work one night. As Naomi Oni approached the flat she shared with her mother in Dagenham, East London, she caught a glimpse of the attacker before the acid was thrown at her. Naomi Oni was almost blinded in the terrible, apparently random attack, although the Daily Mail... Read more
Al Jazeera reports that in Syria, women are increasingly becoming weapons of war between the government forces and the opposition. Em Joseph is a 40-year-old female rebel from Syria’s Idlib province and considered a rarity in these parts, but is accepted as a sister in arms by her comrades. There have been reports about a female batallion of Kurdish women in Syria, but there are no real confirmations on that. Despite the rise of stories of Syrian women in combat, many (displaced)... Read more
This post was written by guest contributor Nur Laura Caskey. Once upon a time, back in the 90’s (so long ago for some, I know), there was a band called Salt ‘N Peppa that performed the song “Whatta Man.” The opening lyrics started with “I wanna take a minute or two/ and give much respect to/ the man who’s made a difference in my world.” Now, I want to bring this concept back, and not just for the sake of... Read more
Celebrity marriages always come with a lot of public anticipation, and this was the case with the wedding of Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor, who after five years of a very public courtship, married on Oct 2012. However, the speculation surrounding the relationship didn’t end post-marriage. Apart from being India’s heartthrob, Saif Ali Khan was crowned the Nawab of Pataudi in 2011, after his father’s death. The Nawab of Pataudi is considered to be the Islamic religious head in... Read more
This post was written by guest contributor Ossob. Looking back at recent media attention on Muslim women, the story of Malala Yousafzai stands out because it simultaneously inspired and frustrated me. A young Muslim woman had captured the attention of the global media for, it would appear, all the right reasons. Malala Yousafzai, the bright 14-year-old activist brutally attacked by the Taliban, has not fit neatly into the dominant narrative of Muslim women as oppressed, feeble, and silent. Her triumphs... Read more
What do you think when you hear the word Latin? Or Latina, to be more exact? Spicy? Or perhaps “loud,” “flamboyant” and “sexy”? Maybe the word just inspires images of women like Salma Hayek and J-Lo. Many of us are, sadly, very familiar with the image of what “Latinas” are supposed to look like. Just think of bombshell Gloria from Modern Family, hyper-sexual Gabrielle Solis from Desperate Housewives or Michelle Rodríguez, the sexy tomboy, from Fast and Furious. As a... Read more
Editor’s Note: This post was written by Yasmin Ali. I apologise for not including her name when this was originally posted. – Krista I recently attended a symposium on Islamophobia at American Islamic College titled “Facing Religious Intolerance: Islamophobia in the 21st Century .” Panel members included Nathan Lean as well as Ahmed Rehab and Dr. Farid Hafez. The panel was moderated by Laith Al-Saud, who is a professor of Islamic World Studies at DePaul University. Nathan Lean is a scholar... Read more
This post was written by guest contributor Emaan Majed. The scene opens on a bustling Peshawar market. The street vendors peddle ripe oranges and bananas. Decorated rickshaws bustle through busy streets as Maya, the determined female protagonist of Zero Dark Thirty, makes her way to her destination. But in contrast to actual Peshawar markets, the only Muslim women on the movie screen are two briefly seen, unnamed extras wearing sky blue Afghan chadris. The central narrative of Zero Dark Thirty... Read more
An attack in Quetta, Pakistan on February 16 in a predominantly Shi’a Hazara neighborhood has killed at least 91 people. Women in Quetta, and in other cities as well, staged protests and said they would refuse to bury their dead until authorities would take action bringing those responsible to justice. After several days of protests, last Wednesday the majority of the victims were buried, but a group of around 100 women still want to delay the burial, claiming that the government... Read more
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