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In class on Wednesday, we had a heated discussion about Aliaa Elmahdy’s nude self-photography. What does it mean? What is she trying to portray? Does she accomplish anything? One point raised, which I took particular issue with, was the argument… Continue Reading →
#IslamophobiaIsRacism Syllabus Several scholars from various disciplines have recently published the Islamophobia is Racism Syllabus, following syllabi such as the Ferguson Syllabus and Black Islam Syllabus. The syllabus acts as an academic riposte to the anti-Muslim ban, but also countless… Continue Reading →
In Afghanistan, bacha bazi is a dancing boy, usually from a poor family, that is recruited by older, richer men to dress as a women. Typically, the boys would be sexually exploited and paid handsomely. My primary question in writing… Continue Reading →
A recent article by KQED — a newspaper from my hometown area back in the the San Francisco Bay — has determined that Muslim children living in the US are experiencing unusually prevalent symptoms of depression and anxiety. The supposed… Continue Reading →
Tamara Abdul Hadi is an Iraqi-Candian artist and photojournalist, whose recent photograph series entitled ‘Picture This’ is an attempt to deconstruct Western stereotypes of Arab men. Abdul Hadi highlights that a primary motivator for her work has been her own… Continue Reading →
“Say Bismillah and dive right in.” Ishqr.com, formerly known as HipsterShaadi.com, is a matchmaking website for ‘hipster Muslims’. Created by Muslim-Americans, the website aims to bridge the gap between dating cultures of Muslim parents and those of their Muslim-American children…. Continue Reading →
This week in class, we watched a video and did readings about the group of 60 or more Saudi women who “dared to drive” in 2013 — despite the kingdom-wide ban on female drivers. This was the story of the Women2Drive… Continue Reading →
Hizmet: the modern face of the Sufi Ottoman tradition Allegra Stratton discusses the role and impact of the first Islamic TV Evangelist Amr Khaled in “Muhajababes”, which strikes me as quite complex in historical depth and political significance and… Continue Reading →
A pop song that hilariously depicts the many ways women are oppressed in Saudi Arabia has racked up more than 2.5 million views on YouTube and angered hardliners in the kingdom. Hwages, created by producer Majed Al Esa of the… Continue Reading →
In the above clip from Song of Lahore, the performers bring the artistry of their Pakistani musical heritage to New York City, to perform in a jazz festival at the world-famed Lincoln Center. It looks like a beautiful film, very well… Continue Reading →