Articles filed under Women's Rights

A Young Woman’s Hair

Each strand glistened in sheer beauty Each lock and curl bounced as she walked down the street This was her mare, embodiment of her lioness femininity A cry to the world that she could and Did, work on something, protect it And see it live, breathe and grow She lived in the 1800s, amidst the Industrial Revolution- Bathed in the Ganges with hopes of ablution- She cried for her son’s blood, wet in The snow of that... Read More →

The F-Word

    Say the F-word in a circle of Muslim men or women you’re on your way to being an outcast. Say the F-word while donning a hijab and you will confuse most non-Muslims. The muffled mockery, accompanied by quizzical looks and condescension, goes something like this: “as though you, with your outdated religious beliefs, would have any idea what rights or freedom even are.” But maybe I misheard –... Read More →

Her Story

Zareena* was the motherly figure in the class that summer. Her presence gave off a nurturing, warm feeling in the class of around twenty girls that I taught English to in Karachi that summer in a school near my grandparents’ home. These women’s attitudes towards education (a departure from the boredom displayed by my then high school peers) inspired me – they liked to learn, they were attentive, and... Read More →

A gruesome murder, a cry of violence against Women.

In light of the recent brutal murder of Aasiya Hassan by her husband Muzzammil Hassan, founder of BridgesTV, Muslimah Source voices its condemnation against violence inflicted on Muslim women. Our sympathy and prayers go out to her family and children. Fueled by the negative portrayal of the incident by the media, this vicious and most vile act has undoubtedly sparked a great debate amongst the public. Unlike the claim... Read More →

By Silence Betrayed

“It was dark. Perhaps sometime past midnight. I remember a hand approaching me. It was almost like a customary ritual. Just with the most sickest twist. Flashbacks right now are so hazy, yet the pain is so incredibly harrowing, even now after nearly 14 years. I was forced into silence with a weapon (a gun he used to carry). For the first few months I fought him. But as time went by, I lost the will, the energy to... Read More →

Beaten in The Name of God

Fictional Piece I want to blame my mother, but nothing she would have said would have prepared me for the next three years of my life. He promised her that he would protect, love and cherish me. We were so perfect. Our union was for the sake of God alone. We pledged to build our new home on the teachings of Islam. We had dreams; we made promises. Happiness was in the air. Ten hours post the marriage vows exchanged in... Read More →

An Eid gone awry

I’d ironed my abaya and scarf the night before, and set multiple wake-up alarms on my cell phone. About half an hour after fajr ended, I headed out of the apartment to the cozy mosque up the street where I often pray on weekends. I was extra excited because although I’d been living in İstanbul for over a year, I had been out of the country for the last few Eids, meaning it would be my first Eid prayer in Turkey. As... Read More →