As a convert to Islam, I have had other Muslims ask me, particularly in settings where I have discussed Islamic feminism and LGBTQ2/S rights, whether or not I converted to be one of the “cool” Muslims that are often times presented in the media. By “cool,” people often mean not-orthodox. (I started preparing this post before the discussion in the comments of Nicole’s post last week, but those comments emphasise the privilege that comes alongside getting to choose to be... Read more
This post contains some spoilers. While I was visiting family and friends these past winter holidays, there was one sigh on everyone’s lips: Humsafar. Even as I write this, I’m taking a deep breath, feeling both exhilarated and wishful, thinking about Khirad and Asher, and their various relationship trials and tribulations. And if you’re already shaking your head in dismay, no, this is not another piece on South Asian dating traditions but rather a reference to the main protagonists of... Read more
Yesterday was International Women’s Day, and (almost) every media outlet covered “something” on women in the week leading up to it, as that is the “thing to do” on Women’s Day after all. Not all stories were very newsworthy, and many other topics I covered already recently. As such, I have left many of these articles out, but I might have missed an interesting item here or there, so feel free to add any in the comments! A controversial family law has passed in Iran; most temporary marriages... Read more
Last month, the Lahore High Court made an interesting decision: to hand over a Pakistani child, Amina Tarar, to her French mother. The case made headlines because the child’s mother, Ingrid Brandon Burger, is a non-Muslim. Amina’s father, Abdul Razzak Tarar, had taken the child from France to Pakistan in 2005, but the parties disagree on whether the mother had consented at the time. What is known is that French courts had given the mother custody shortly prior to Amina... Read more
Last month, Egyptian journalist Dalia Rabie had an enlightening experience when she was banned from joining her own birthday party at one of Cairo’s fancy restaurants, L’Aubergine. Rabie relates that the guy standing on the door who stopped her asked her if the fact that she is – unfortunately – wearing hijab was mentioned prior to the reservation. Her response to those who always use the “It is a place that serves alcohol” excuse: “Some claim that the mere sight... Read more
Last month marked a positive milestone in Pakistan’s civil rights legislations. Transgendered citizens, known as hijra or eunuchs, were allowed for the first time identify themselves as transgendered when registering to vote. The new legislation came after a much debated constitutional case in 2008 regarding the humiliation and ill treatment of transgendered persons in Pakistan. The case has proceeded over a span of 20 hearings. Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, in addition to creating a column on national registration cards... Read more
Have you ever dreamed of being a hijabi in couture, strutting the runway in the fashion metropolises of Milan, New York or Paris without having to unravel that scarf you hold dear? Well, maybe you haven’t, but if you have, you’re in luck: thanks to Muslim fashion designer, Nailah Lymus, your dream may be in reach. In November, Eren wrote a great piece on Muslim and Arab women breaking onto the fashion scene, and discussed Lymus’ commitment to changing the... Read more
Merve Kavakçı, the Turkish female lawmaker who was thrown out of parliament because of her hijab and later even stripped of her citizenship, will be restored in her rights, according to Turkish media outlets. The details of what this may include are yet unclear. The island nation of the Maldives is in turmoil, with ongoing protests in support of the ruling president Waheed and other protests in support of deposed president Nasheed. Last week Maldivian women organised their own rally,... Read more
With the recent high-profile acquittal (on charges of sodomy) of Malaysia’s former Deputy Prime Minister and current opposition leader, Anwar Ibrahim, there has been increased international interest in Malaysian politics. Along with Ibrahim, the spotlight has also fallen on his People’s Justice Party and one of its leading lights, Nurul Izzah Anwar, daughter of Ibrahim and party President Wan Azizah Wan Ismail. While her entrance into politics was triggered by her father’s legal issues and her involvement in campaigning for... Read more
In the past few days, the Spanish media has been reporting on the case of a Moroccan woman in Spain who was bitten by her husband for refusing to wear hijab. The case of the unnamed woman has surprisingly made it to the media, where the other 36% of the domestic violence cases involving immigrants are never reported. The partner, who has been detained, taken into custody, and condemned to two years in prison has been reported to be somehow... Read more
Muslimah Media Watch
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