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.
Read More
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.
Read MoreOn 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.
Read MoreThose 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planning attorney, I can assure the reader that neither this mandate nor Islamic inheritance rules in general are outdated or unjust.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.
Read More
Many Western pundits would like you to believe that the movement behind the Arab Spring consists of nothing more than a few angry young revolutionaries and an army of bearded Islamists. This is, of course, far from the truth. Revolutionaries of all ages, and all walks of life, have risked their freedom and their lives to bring about change in Bahrain, Egypt, Libya, Syria, Tunisia, Yemen, and beyond. Yes, they are angry and many are supporters of Islamist policies, but their messages are diverse and their successes have been staggering.
Read MoreBuried in the “controversy” over Bradley Cooper’s selection as People magazine’s most recent Sexiest Man Alive is a little known fact: If you had polled American Muslim women the winner would have been — wait for it — Jon Stewart.
Read More
There is a frustration bubbling among the most active Muslims and, strangely enough, it stems more so from the inaction of the Muslim American community itself than from its marginalization by ignorant Americans. “There remains a disturbing amount of apathy when it comes to issues,” explains Imraan Siddiqqui, a journalist for the Voice of America.
Read More
As a frequent Jezebel reader and an editor for an e-zine that focuses on gender and sexuality in the Muslim world, AltMuslimah, I usually enjoy reading the witty banter on Jezebel. The Altmuslimah staff often shares the commentary offered on Jezebel with our Facebook and Twitter followers. It has become more apparent, however, that when it comes to discussing topics relating to Muslim women, Jezebel writers, disappointingly, do not have a real grasp of the issues, though they seem to think they do.
Read MoreDespite remaining defiant to the bitter end, Muammar Gaddafi’s 42-year regime came to an abrupt end when rebel forces killed the eccentric despot on October 20, 2011. As images of the cheering crowd parading the 69-year-old Gaddafi’s bloodied body through the streets of Sirte spread across the country, the world saw Libyan men and women wildly celebrating what they hoped was a new beginning for their country.
Read MoreA Pennsylvania school decided not to stage musical about a Muslim street poet after complaints from residents.
Read More