Moammar Gaddafi’s outlandish behavior has long been a gift to comedians. Making fun of the Colonel clearly does not require much effort: all the news channel Al Arabiya had to do for their segment Gharaib Al Gaddafi (Gaddafi’s Oddities) was put together a montage of clips of the Brother Leader and his fern fly-swatter. One of Gaddafi’s eccentricities in particular, his retinue of women bodyguards, has over the years come in for much speculation and endless ridicule. Recently on the... Read more
Salam alaikum, readers! We’re finally back up and running after an unplanned hiatus! We apologize for the lengthy delay—our server was having some major issues, and then I got really sick, and…well, when it rains, it pours! But we’re back and happy to report that you can look forward to regularly scheduled programming starting Monday! Thanks for bearing with us! Fatemeh Read more
Veils that cover the face will be officially illegal in France beginning next month. And just in time, France is rolling out a new anti-niqab campaign. On how sexual violence was used to suppress Safia Ishaq’s activism. Two prominent Malaysian women, Zainah Anwar and Marina Mahathir, were included on a New York-based global advocacy’s list of 100 most inspiring people around the world for their work in advocating the rights of women and girls. Women in Yemen are joining the... Read more
Pearls on the Ocean Floor, directed by Robert Adanto in 2010, profiles female artists who identify with an Iranian background to discuss their work. The 16 artists explore the fluid confluence of identity, religion, and political expression for Iranian women as they strive to present it in their art. The film is currently making its way in screenings across the world. Adanto features the artists’ works—who work in a variety of mediums—throughout the film, interspersing images of their art with... Read more
In the last few years, the international emphasis on locating social rights within the Qur’an has primarily been driven by and for women. NGOs in Morocco, Malaysia, Jordan, Afghanistan, Tunisia, and countless other Muslim countries have rallied communities, encouraging them to look critically at the patriarchal structures that have dictated Qur’anic interpretation to date. Through methods unlike those of western countries—methods that often include political embeddedness, the provision of social services, and ijtihad (the independent legal interpretation of the Qur’an... Read more
Dear Bill Maher, Hey there, Billy. I’m pretty sure I can call you that now, since you have taken a personal interest in saving my life. Recently, you made the statement that Muslim lands will not get democracy without a “sexual revolution.” Muslim men, in your opinion, are sexist demons, which are an extension of states that crush the rights of women. Let’s be clear: a lot of screwed up things happen “over there,” and some of those things are... Read more
After our review of Boy vs. Girl, a couple readers asked for MMW’s thoughts on The Girl in the Tangerine Scarf. Having really enjoyed the book when I read it last summer, I was happy to oblige! Beware: minor spoiler alerts! Written by Mohja Kahf, The Girl in the Tangerine Scarf tells the story of Khadra Shamy, a Syrian-American woman returning to her hometown of Indianapolis for the first time in several years. Most of the novel looks back to her... Read more
Muslimah Media Watch is proud to be among the sponsors to Banana 2: The Second Annual Gathering of Asian/Pacific Islander American Bloggers! The conference will take place in Los Angeles tomorrow, February 26, 2011. It’ll cover a wide range issues; you can check out all the panels at their website. If you’re in the area, check out the afternoon panel with MMW Editor Fatemeh, along with Jehanzeb Dar, Frances Kai-Hwa Wang, Marissa Lee, Cynthia Liu, and moderator Keith Kamisugi on... Read more
Tunisia might soon rescind its long-standing ban on the hijab in public institutions. On women’s rights in Brunei. The Australian government refused a council’s bid to help pay for curtains at a public pool so Muslim women can have privacy during female-only exercise classes. The British Muslim Women’s Sport Foundation has started an initiative to help Muslim women to exercise and socialize. Rochelle Terman reflects on how an Iranian feminist touched her life. Common Ground News gives a timeline of... Read more
The story of Colleen LaRose, an American citizen charged with terrorist-related crimes, made headlines last March as Americans were assured that yet another terrorist plot had been foiled. Colleen La Rose, infamously known as “Jihad Jane,” was pictured all over the news, described in most cases as a victim of brainwashing. Captivated by the fact that a woman, instead of a man, was behind a terrorist plot, the media zoomed in on the life of Colleen LaRose, delving into areas... Read more
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