As a practising Muslim, I often come up against misconceptions about my religion, community and way of life. Many words like “oppressed”, “inferior”, and “unequal” are the first words that come to mind when thinking about women in Islam. There is a widely held misconception that Muslims place little value on the education of women …
In late 2021, I attended Who Is Hussain London’s inaugural She Inspires Me conference in London. The event focused on the impact of women in the fight for social justice, including the crucial work that women are doing in the humanitarian space. Here are my key takeaways, including some thoughts on how the key messages …
She Inspires Me: A Spotlight on the Women Powering the Fight for Social Justice Read More »
In the Autumn of 2008, I heard the opening verses of the Quran known as the fatiha which literally means “the opening” being recited by a woman in a retreat setting, her voice angelic, her figure and appearance Marian[efn_note]By this I mean, like Mary, the mother of Jesus, who is revered by both Muslims and …
RAY Festival: Celebrating the Feminine Wisdom of our Sisters Read More »
Ramadan in lockdown has been interesting and it has created new and exciting opportunities for learning, for connecting, for developing. I have connected with the Qur’an and its teachings in different ways to how I have before. As I get older and as I learn more, I have an interest in looking beyond the common …
“Those who are silent when others are oppressed are guilty of oppression themselves.” IMAM HUSSAIN (AS) Last week, the BBC released a documentary called “Undercover with the Clerics – Iraq’s Secret Sex Trade”. The documentary highlighted that some clerics in Iraq are selling young girls for mutah, or temporary marriage, or as the documentary refers …
The BBC’s “Iraq’s Secret Sex Trade” doc Reveals Some Ugly Truths Read More »
We are extremely fortunate to platform a three part series focusing on ‘Women in the Refugee Crisis’ by Tazeen Ahmad the founder of Humanity’s Heart , an organisation that was born following a volunteering trip by a small group of people to Calais (The Jungle) in June 2016. Travelling through Calais, Lebanon and Greece, Humanity’s Heart witnesses and …
When South Asian communities discuss sexual violence it is more often than not discussed behind closed doors in hushed voices. I have often taken part in these conversations, as the overwhelming fear of someone hearing you is enough to make you feel like you have committed a major sin. The sin in this instance is …
Bol: South Asian survivors of sexual abuse speak up Read More »
Islamic feminism is a term that for some may seem like an oxymoron. Isn’t feminism a secular movement? Aren’t feminists often fighting religious orthodoxy? Well the truth is that feminism is about women’s choice, women’s empowerment and women’s equality – for women of all faiths and none. For women like myself who identity with a …
We are extremeley fortunate to platform a three part series focussing on ‘Women in the Refugee Crisis’ by Tazeen Ahmad the founder of Humanity’s Heart , an organisation that was born following a volunteering trip by a small group of people to Calais (The Jungle) in June 2016. Travelling through Calais, Lebanon and Greece, Humanity’s Heart …
Women in the Refugee Crisis series – Why do women turn up to volunteer? Read More »
The power of going beyond our limited thinking to ‘be the change we want to see in the world’.Mehatma Gandhi At this time of uncertainty it’s easy to take our fearful thinking seriously and not question it. We can either retreat into ourselves and/or become more fearful of others. We may not realise it but …