REAL WORDS AND FEELINGS

FROM MUSLIM WOMEN

AROUND THE WORLD

Britney Niese

CANADA: DEBRA SCHUBERT

“I have been a Muslim for ten years and for ten

years I have apologized for the way Muslims behave.

I have covered it up and bottled it in and I am

tired.”

Schubert, D. (n.d.). A Blossom Out of Muddy Waters. Retrieved from International Museum of Women Muslima:

http://muslima.imow.org/stories/blossom-out-muddy-waters#sthash.A5wSLZHe.dpuf

SAUDI ARABIA: SAFFAA

“Hierarchies of power in Saudi Arabia are

fundamentally based on sexual difference and the

female-male binary. The country‟s guardianship laws

explicitly discriminate against women on the basis of

their sex.” Saffaa. (n.d.). I Am My Own Guardian. Retrieved from International Museum of Women

Muslima: http://muslima.imow.org/stories/i-am-my-own-

guardian#sthash.RQZuQNfV.dpuf

UNITED STATES: AISHA TASVEER

“There's one thing I learnt through it all: don't let

anyone stop you if it's worth it.”

Tasveer, A. (n.d.). I Found the Path to Liberation. Retrieved from International Museum of

Women Muslima: http://muslima.imow.org/stories/i-found-path-

liberation#sthash.D9sCjVs4.dpuf

DENMARK: NADIA HELMY

AHMED

“I do no longer desire to be a victim of „the game of identity

and nationality, the game of residence permit and passport‟”

“The crucial issue for us has been to achieve a status in which

it is legitimate and acceptable to be both Muslim Women and

Danish at the same time.”

Ahmed, N. H. (n.d.). Redefine Limits and Courage to Strive for More. Retrieved from International

Museum for Women Muslima: http://muslima.imow.org/stories/redefine-limits-

and-courage-strive-more#sthash.bN997iwn.dpuf

INDIA: MARIAM KARIM-

AHLAWAT

“I want the world to appreciate the image of

strong, thinking Muslim women, not reinforce

stereotypes of Muslim women as victims.”

Ahlawat, M. K. (n.d.). Make Space in Your Thoughtspace. Retrieved from International Museum

for Women Muslima: http://muslima.imow.org/stories/make-space-your-

thoughtspace

PHILIPPINES: ALAMINAH

ABUSSALAM

“It is something that protects me from the evil eyes of people.

So like a veil, I personally show people that as a Muslim

woman, I need not to submit myself to the society's standard of

beauty because I have my own, I need not to forsake my religion

just to do things which I actually do not have to do (just to

please people).” Abussalam, A. (n.d.). A Life, Not Just a Coif. Retrieved from International Musuem

of Women Muslima: http://muslima.imow.org/stories/life-not-just-

coif#sthash.E1IROJtr.dpuf

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT

THESE WOMEN‟S

STORIES GO TO

MUSLIMA.IMOW.ORG