Things to Know About!
Yasmine Youssef oversees the running of Nisa Homes in the GTA (Canada)- Via The Star.
- Nisa Homes has opened its first transitional shelter for Muslim women in Toronto and the GTA. Other locations exist in Surrey (BC) and more will be opening in Windsor (Ontario). The shelter opens its doors to any woman in need, but the majority of its residents identify as Muslim.
- Saudi Arabia has appointed its first female head of sports (for all programming, not only women) in an attempt to engage more women in both sports and fitness activities.
- Esma Voloder, current Miss Australia and competitor in Miss World, has faced gendered Islamophobia from those who believe she should not represent Australia in beauty pageants. Voloder recently also expressed her support of same-sex marriage, which triggered criticisms from some members of Muslim communities.
- Dalhousie University (Canada) issued a complaint and started an investigation against Masuma Khan, a Dalhousie University student and member of the student council, after she criticized “white fragility” on Facebook in relation to Canada 150 celebrations. Although the university later withdrew the complaint, the issue reached the media fairly quickly and further entailed threats against Khan. Hence, Khan is exploring her options in terms of holding the university accountable for violations of freedom of speech, as well as concerns overall her safety on campus.
Must See!
Sakdiyah Ma’ruf- Via The New Arab.
- Sakdiyah Ma’ruf is an Indonesia and Muslim comic who challenges Islamophobia and religious conservativism in her comedy routines. While she has been critiqued by conservative Muslims and other communities, she sees her comedy as a way to connect with diverse groups of people and promote respect and understanding.
- Saira Peter is a British singer of Pakistani origin who sings Sufi opera and has opened a music academy for women in Karachi. Peter is said to be the only Sufi opera singer in the world.
The Wall of Shame…
My Week as a Muslim’s Katie Freeman- Via Digital Spy.
- French author Henda Ayari recently disclosed experiencing sexual violence from Tariq Ramadan. Ayari explains that she kept silent for years due to fear of retaliation.
- Quebec has adopted Bill 62, which will effectively require women who wear niqab to uncover their faces in order to receive public services. The controversial bill has been critiqued by a number of political leaders across Canada. However, Prime Minister Trudeau has declined to get involved.
- My Week as a Muslim has sparked controversy after the Muslim Council of Britain accused the Channel 4 documentary of racism. The documentary features Katie Freeman going “undercover” as a Muslim for which she was given a darker skin and a prosthetic nose, along with “traditional Muslim clothing” including a hijab. Radhika Sanghani further argues the show is an instance of “brownface”.
- Austrian police raided a Lego store in Vienna after getting a complaint against a woman wearing a red Lego Ninja. The complaint cited a violation of the new ban on face coverings.
Great Pieces by Muslim Women
