When I arrived for Eid-ul-Adha prayers at Noor Cultural Center in Toronto, my hopes were not high. I have been, over the years, to dozens of mosques, in half a dozen countries, on four continents. Sometimes, I’ve been looking for a mosque to call home, a source of intellectual and spiritual…
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With young women more likely to be unemployed than young men, women more likely to experience the most severe forms of spousal violence than men and the likelihood of women being more food insecure than men increasing, according to the United Nations, it’s no secret that females everywhere require some…
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If there is a silver lining to the Trump era, it is the call to arms of Americans from all walks of life to stand up and run for office, at all levels of government. Zahra Suratwala is one of the many women who have answered that call. Zahra announced…
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From the notorious Pepsi commercial and H&M’s video promoting their recycling project, to the cover of Vogue Arabia and CR Fashion Book, women donning the hijab are acquiring greater media visibility than ever before. On the face of it, this is a welcome development. For decades, feminist scholars and activists…
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I am a bit disappointed by the current media fixation on Vice President Mike Pence’s personal policy of social restraint. I am speaking of course of the recent controversy surrounding Pence’s pronouncement that he never dines alone with a woman who is not his wife. The media has roundly criticized…
Read MoreThe Institute for Social Policy and Understanding (ISPU) recently released “Muslims at the Crossroads,” the report on its 2017 American Muslim Poll. Many of us have found ourselves increasingly worried about sending our children to school, wearing hijab in public, travelling across borders, and generally, being Muslim in America since…
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With all the stories on the Internet it can be difficult to always stay in the know. To help, we’ve searched the web for interesting pieces of news, videos and tips to help you start off your week on the right foot. 1. 8 Diverse Children’s Books for a Feminism-Focused…
Read MoreMy artwork is guided by the principal that the right painting can transcend boundaries of culture, language, location and even time to touch hearts and transform communities. I believe that art not only brings us joy, but the very best art challenges us to reconsider our most deeply held convictions….
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Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s troops swept into eastern Aleppo on Monday, recapturing nearly all of the rebel held areas. With the help of Russian forces and Shiite militias under Iranian command, the regime launched a relentless assault has resulted in wanton slaughter. As the 100,000 people packed into roughly five square…
Read MoreI am an only child, but grew up surrounded by aunts, uncles, and multitudes of cousins in an extremely diverse East Bay suburb, where we celebrated Chinese New Year, attended Catholic communions, and danced at Filipino debuts. Who Are You? I was born in Oakland, CA in 1974….
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