Morning show host Maya Khan was severely criticized, and ultimately fired, for leading a “moral raid” on couples sitting in a public park in Karachi. While the Pakistani media’s reaction to this event is seen as a victory for Pakistani liberals, the attitude embodied by the vigilantes is something to remain wary of, for this is just one example of how cultural norms can use shaming to dictate ownership of women’s bodies and limit their agencies.
At a time when Islam is often equated with violence, attorney and author, Arsalan Iftikhar, is trying to shift the discourse with his new book, Islamic Pacifism: Global Muslims in the Post-Osama Era. Waving high the flag of non-violence, Iftikhar aims to equip a new generation of Muslims with the tools and ideas that promote pacifism within Islam. This is what Iftikhar had to say about the rich history and peacebuilding power of Islamic Pacifism. ()
AltCatholicah and AltMuslimah have recently formed AltVentures Media, a partnership which seeks to elevate the voices of women of faith in society, as well as to raise awareness across religions of the various commonalities and differences religions have with regards to gender issues. One such issue is modesty. Here is a Jewish perspective on a topic that is of great importance in both the Muslim and Catholic community. ()
<< From the AltMuslimah Archives >>
Writer Fatima Ayub examines perspectives on veiling in Muslim majority and minority contexts, both in the United States, where she grew up, and in Afghanistan, where she has lived and worked. She finds a surprising number wear it due to a combination of social expectation and cultural habit, rather than solely a religious act, illustrating the diversity of thought and behavior that surrounds the hijab. ()
No less than seven people told me that I had to watch the television show Humsafar. My Pakistani-American cousins and friends, who have so overlooked the cultural exports of their motherland in the past, seem to have attached themselves to this particular drama. Indeed, it has taken the Urdu-speaking world by storm. Not only are Pakistanis obsessed with it, but also with the help of YouTube, it has gained tremendous popularity in Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States. ()
Iran has a long-standing history of artistic expression, with its unparalleled contributions in a myriad of art forms: from calligraphy to architecture, music to literature and cinema to tile work. Within this context, it’s preposterous (almost blasphemous!) to even mention the uproar and applause that the nude posing of Iranian actress and pianist Golshifteh Farahani has brought about. ()
As the Republican presidential primary race heats up, more people seem interested in Ron Paul than ever before, and Muslims are no exception. Many Muslims find Paul’s foreign policy and civil liberty positions attractive—so much so that some analysts even believe he could carry the Muslim vote. But upon closer inspection, Paul’s agenda has far less in common with Muslim interests than most people realize. ()
After having written my undergraduate dissertation on depictions on Mexican First Ladies in political cartoons, I gained some insight into what it means to be a woman portrayed in editorial cartoons. Despite how funny political cartoons may be, they might also carry very strong messages, and these are often gendered. ()
<< From the AltMuslimah Archives >>
I always find it disturbing nowadays when I hear someone, female or male, say, “Be a man.” It is an expression that is not only commonly used in our language, but also rarely confronted.
“Women are dumb,” Bryan* said, “they already have a thousand things going on in their mind about you, so when you ask her out, set a specific date and time; don’t leave it open-ended.” I think I almost choked on my dinner as I heard him advise my friend, Dave.* ()
On 28 November 2011, the Dean of the Department of Letters, Arts and Humanities of Manouba University refused to give in to pressure from a group of protesters using violence to demand that classes be accessible to young women wearing the niqab, or face veil. Faced with this refusal the protestors erected barriers to block the professors and students from their classrooms and prevent classes from taking place. ()
Those who claim Islam is anti-female point to the alleged injustice of its rules of inheritance. The Qur’an commands parents to give their daughters half the amount of inheritance their sons receive (Qur’an 4:11). Does that not seem unfair in 21st century America, with all its notions of equality? As an American estate planning attorney, I can assure the reader that neither this mandate nor Islamic inheritance rules in general are outdated or unjust. Indeed, these rules are more relevant and fair than the system of inheritance that exists in America today. ()
NYPD: Spies, lies and propaganda films: New York City area community activists will be rallying this afternoon demanding the resignation of Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly and NYPD spokesperson, Paul Browne. They are also demanding independent community oversight of the NYPD as a series of Associated Press and New York Times reports have alleged that under Kelly the department not only overstepped legal and ethical boundaries by spying on its citizens, it may have done so without federal approval and its actions were based on institutionalized religious and racial discrimination. Amongst the evidence provided is Kelly’s participation in an anti-Muslim propaganda film The Third Jihad, a report that the film was used to train police officers and leaked documents indicating covert operations to spy on area Muslims. ()
- February 3, 2012
Asma Uddin and Ashley McGuire
Muslims and Catholics vs. Banzhaf: There are those who would learn that Catholic University of America, a private, Catholic institution, has doubled its Muslim student enrollment in just four years, and think happy thoughts about interfaith cooperation and growing religious harmony. Then there are those who see potential lawsuits, dollar signs, and fame. ()
