
Halima
Aden Stands by Burkini Sports Illustrated Cover through Criticism
Playing
Ball, Breaking Barriers: GTA Muslim Women's Softball League Growing In
Popularity
Muslim
Woman Beaten At Bronx Bus Stop Accuses Officials of Failing to Conduct Proper
Investigation
Muslim
Leaders Say Woman Who Burglarized Tempe Mosque in Hate Video Deserves Chance At
Redemption
Compiled
by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: http://newageislam.com/islam,-women-and-feminism/new-age-islam-news-bureau/why-are-there-no-women-at-saudi-arabia-wwe-super-showdown-event?/d/118830
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Why
Are There No Women At Saudi Arabia WWE Super Showdown Event?
By
KONSTANTINOS LIANOS
PUBLISHED:
17:55, Fri, Jun 7, 2019
WWE
are set to stage WWE Super ShowDown tonight at the King Abdullah International
Stadium in Saudi Arabia without any matches from the women’s division.
Vince
McMahon’s promotion struck a controversial multi-million 10-year deal with the
Saudi General Sports Authority last year that will see the wrestling giants
putting together a series of Pay-Per-View shows.
However,
that partnership has faced intense backlash and one of the reasons is that the
kingdom of Saudi Arabia aren’t allowing women to compete despite WWE’s ongoing
Women’s Evolution that sees female wrestlers getting equal billing to their
male counterparts.
Women
in Saudi Arabia are still facing legal restrictions even though Crown Prince
Mohammed bin Salman has made a lot of changes, some of which allow them to
drive and join the military.
https://www.express.co.uk/sport/wwe/1137727/WWE-Super-Showdown-Saudi-Arabia-Alexa-Bliss-Natalya-Daniel-Bryan-Vince-McMahon
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Halima
Aden Stands by Burkini Sports Illustrated Cover Through Criticism
Jun
7, 2019
Halima
Aden Stands by Burkini Sports Illustrated Cover Through Criticism
Rabat
– Halima Aden is the first Muslim model to wear a hijab and Burkini on the
cover of Sports Illustrated magazine’s swimsuit edition.
For
the 2019 issue, which was released this month, Aden modeled a number of
Burkinis, including a custom-designed, colour-blocked Burkini by American
designer Cynthia Rowley.
The
shoot took place in Kenya, which holds significance to Aden’s story. The
Somali-American model was born in Kenya at the Kakuma Refugee Camp. At the time
her family was living in a tent as they were fleeing the horrors of the Somali
civil war.
In
each camp her family was transported to, hunger and malaria were common. During
this period, her family made the best of life, making furniture from mud. It
wasn’t until she was 7 that her family finally moved to the US.
“I
keep thinking [back] to six-year-old me who, in this same country, was in a
refugee camp,” Halima said during her photoshoot. “So to grow up to live the
American dream [and] to come back to Kenya and shoot for SI in the most
beautiful parts of Kenya–I don’t think that’s a story that anybody could make
up.”
At
the age of 19, Halima became the first woman to wear a hijab in the Miss
Minnesota USA pageant, where she was a semi-finalist. She later became the
first hijabi model signed with IMG models, which manages Gigi and Bella Hadid.
Aden gained international success, landing on the cover of British Vogue,
appearing in Carine Roitfeld’s CR Fashion Book, and walking on New York Fashion
Week runways.
“It’s
so overwhelming, but in the most beautiful way,” Aden said. “Just three years
ago, there was not a single [signed] hijab-wearing model.”
According
to Sports Illustrated editor MJ Day, there was a message behind having Aden in
the shoot: “We bonded immediately over the idea of her participating in this
year’s issue. We both believe the ideal of beauty is so vast and subjective. We
both know that women are so often perceived to be one way or one thing based on
how they look or what they wear. Whether you feel you’re most beautiful and
confident in a Burkini or a bikini, YOU ARE WORTHY.”
Backlash
Despite
the positive motives that made the ground-breaking fashion statement a reality,
many people are put off by the new issue, including women from the Muslim
community.
“While
all representation is (generally speaking) good, not all representation is
equal,” writes Sarah Shaffi for London’s Stylist magazine. “A quick glance
through the brand’s Twitter feed shows image after image of women with perfect
bodies in small swimsuits. Where is this purported ‘vast’ ideal of beauty?”
Shaffi
congratulated Aden but also recalled the controversy around the Burkini, “The
Burkini has, unfortunately, gone from a personal sartorial choice to a
politicized item of clothing in recent years.”
In
response to MJ’s exclamation that women who choose to wear the Burkini are
“worthy,” Shaffi said, “The sentiment is nice, but underlying it is the idea
that Muslim women need to be told they’re worthy by non-Muslims. Why are people
not willing to accept the word of the Muslim women who choose to wear the
Burkini instead?”
Shaffi
writes that the “congratulatory tone over [Aden’s] Sports Illustrated cover
makes me uncomfortable…It’s annoying, to put it simply, that it’s taken a
magazine that largely caters to Western, white audiences to show the world that
the Burkini is acceptable.”
Muslim
reformer Shireen Qudositweeted a reply to Sports Illustrated: “Good for Halima.
More nonsense for the larger debate. If you’re going to wear the hijab and
cover your skin —whether you think our religion calls for it or you want
modesty — it is completely counterintuitive to strike a sexy pose in a magazine
known for objectifying women.”
While
neither Qudosi orShaffi targeted Aden in their remarks, some are indeed
attacking the model for her cutting-edge spread. Regarding those individuals,
“There are people that think I shouldn’t be [in the magazine] and there are
people that think I’m not representing [Islam] in the right way,” Aden said.
“So I’m getting it from both sides.”
Western
men have also had plenty to say about the issue. One man tweeted, “Those
garments are not trendy fashion statements. They are actual tools of
patriarchal oppression and in many countries women can be stoned to death for
refusing to wear them. But yeah that Sports Illustrated Burkini is so wonderful
and fun!”
Aaron
David Lewis, a comics scholar focusing on literary theory and religious
studies, said, “…the awful mag Sports Illustrated is trying to up its
feminist/cultural cred by featuring a model in a Burkini and hijab for the
first time. Does this call for a #NancyPelosi style clapback?”
The
writer David Hansard tweeted, “Women, celebrate your oppression.”
Aden
appears unbothered by the backlash from men. “My choice, my decision to do the
things that I’ve done has nothing to do with you boys and everything to do with
us,” Aden said.
“You
don’t know what it’s like to experience being kicked out of a pool or banned
from a beach for wearing a Burkini. I want girls to see, no matter what
sometimes you are going to get backlash from your own community. But you shouldn’t
let that bother you. And really, the fact that in 2019 a swimsuit creates this
much attention…I mean, why are women still being judged for what they wear?”
Aden
mentioned that, due to the controversy surrounding the Burkini, many Muslim
women often struggle with maintaining their virtue of modesty at the beach and
therefore choose not to swim at all. She had a more personal message for these
women: “Girls—join swimming!” Aden said.
“You
don’t have to wear a bikini if you don’t want to wear a bikini. Wear a Burkini
if you want to be a part of it. I wanted to show girls that they had an option.
A lot of girls opt out of swimming because they don’t think they have one.”
https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2019/06/275336/halima-aden-Burkini-sports-illustrated-criticism/
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Playing
Ball, Breaking Barriers: GTA Muslim Women's Softball League Growing In
Popularity
Ramna
Shahzad · CBC News · Posted: Jun 08, 2019
Muslim
women in the GTA have created a league of their own called Sisterhood Softball
League. (CBC News/ Grant Linton)
"One,
two three, Bismillah (In the name of God)!"
With
a quick team huddle and a chant, they're off.
Every
Sunday, dozens of women gather at a Mississauga softball diamond. With lots of
practise swings and plenty of pep talk, the scene looks like it could be from
any other recreational league.
But
this one is a little different.
The
Sisterhood Softball League is made up of Muslim women from the GTA who play and
grow the game with other Muslim women.
It's
co-founders say the league is the first of its kind in Canada and it's quickly
growing in popularity.
"It's
kind of similar to a concept of a church league so it's heavily faith
based," Maryam Dadabhoy told CBC's Our Toronto.
"We
have a lot of women playing sports who wouldn't otherwise be comfortable
playing sports in front of men and that's something that you kind of have to
deal with when you play in normal league, because there are spectators."
Dadabhoy
and her best friend Hina Mirza started the league in 2016 after borrowing some
basic equipment from a men's league. Around 20 to 25 women showed up for the
first game and from then on, the league took off.
Today,
they have 100 players and eight teams and hope to become even bigger.
Sisterhood
Softball meets on Sundays at River Grove Park in the Britannia Road and Queen
Street South area. Muslim women of all skill levels are encouraged to join the
league.
Milton
mom given 25 handmade hijabi dolls by mystery donor
"Coming
from the Muslim faith we have some preferences of modesty ... You'll see it in
the way that we dress," says Mirza.
"So
to be able to translate a Muslim woman's dream into reality meant playing with
that accommodation.
Other
accommodations include encouraging only female spectators to come out and
support the league so the women can feel comfortable while playing.
How
Mani Jassal draws inspiration from her South Asian roots to redefine Canadian
fashion
"We
ask that all male family and friends not come to the games just to provide that
safe environment for women to play who otherwise would not be comfortable
wearing this clothing," says Dadabhoy.
"Some
of them wear longer robes, longer scarves and they modify their wardrobe to
play sports comfortably because you don't want it in your face and you want to
be able to run comfortably."
The
support extends beyond the softball diamond. The league has raised funds for
women's shelters and served meals at local banks in the hopes of giving back to
their community while shifting perceptions about religion.
American
college golfer in hijab out to blaze trail for Muslim women
"There
is a stigma around Muslim women, that we are either oppressed or we don't
venture out," says Aisha Qureshi, a pitcher for the league.
"I
really, really hope that people looking at us see that we're just like anybody
else out there ... We love sports. For me it really is about breaking
barriers."
The
league's umpire, Janice Colachee, says in her 20 years of calling balls and
strikes, she has never seen a league quite like this.
"It's
just the camaraderie they have. They cheer for each other ... You don't find
that usually," she says. "They just care about each other they get
along. It's really nice to see."
At
the end of the day, the league says their main focus isn't the sport – it's
their sisterhood.
"I
love the fact that we have members from opposing teams cheering on somebody when
they first come to bat," says Mirza.
"It
makes me feel so proud ... to be able to give opportunities to all these women
to step up to the plate — pun intended — and try something different knowing
that everybody, not just their team but the entire league, has their
back."
cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/sisterhood-softball-league-1.5167469
---
Muslim
Woman Beaten At Bronx Bus Stop Accuses Officials Of Failing To Conduct Proper
Investigation
June
7, 2019 at 6:04 pmFiledUnder:Bronx News, Christina Fan, Local TV, New York, The
Bronx
NEW
YORK (CBSNewYork) — A Muslim woman brutally beaten at a Bronx bus stop says she
wasn’t only robbed of her possessions, but also of justice.
She’s
accusing the District Attorney’s office of refusing to prosecute her attackers.
FatoumataCamara
was getting off the Bx35 bus last month when a mob of teenagers started
throwing punches at her face.
“They
just started attacking me. They started calling me names,” she told CBS2’s
Christina Fan. “With my stupid hair wrap, which is a hijab.”
Camara
says she was the victim of a hate crime so brutal, she suffered a broken nose
and head injury.
FatoumataCamara
was getting off the Bx35 bus in May 2019 when a mob of teenagers started
throwing punches at her face. (Credit FatoumataCamara)
She
said wasn’t able to pick the suspects out from a photo lineup. That’s when the
DA told her they’d be dropping the charges.
“It
was very, very upsetting and traumatizing because besides the mental and
physical pain that I went through, for them not to do anything about my case
and just leave it as my life didn’t matter,” Camara said.
The
victim says the police never conducted a proper investigation. She was the one
who eventually hunted down the surveillance video. She came to the DA’s office
Friday demanding answers.
“If
I didn’t do the fight myself, I knew they were just gonna let it go, and I know
I was going to be another story of a black Muslim African out there,” Camara
said.
CBS2
tried catching up with Camara, who looked visibly drained after her meeting.
Her attorney said after an hour-long talk, the DA’s office made a commitment to
start taking this case seriously.
“We
stress to them that they have that they have to investigate the process. What
happened? How was she allowed to be attacked in this manner, and four weeks
later, they cannot identify a single person that attacked her,” Ahmed Mohamed,
with the Council on American Islamic Relations, said.
The
DA’s office sent CBS2 a statement Friday saying they “never dismissed the
case.” They say it was the police who were “not able to ID the suspects and
closed the case.”
https://newyork.cbslocal.com/2019/06/07/muslim-woman-attacked-bronx-bus-stop/
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Muslim
leaders say woman who burglarized Tempe mosque in hate video deserves chance at
redemption
BrieAnna
J Frank
June
7, 2019
Members
of the Phoenix-area Muslim community were forgiving of the woman who sentenced
Tuesday for her role in a Facebook lives-stream that depicted she and a friend
burglarizing a Tempe mosque in front of her children in March 2018.
Tahnee
Gonzales was sentenced to 225 hours of community service and two years of
supervised probation during proceedings before Judge Mark Brain in Maricopa
County Superior Court.
Gonzales,
who in the live-stream made anti-Muslim remarks, also was ordered to write a
letter of apology to the Islamic Community Center of Tempe.
Gonzales
later made a statement denouncing her actions as "reprehensible'' and
apologizing, saying she was wrongly influenced by fringe voices. Her attorney
said Gonzales, as part of her community service, would work to help
facilitate positive interaction between
Non-Muslim and Muslim voices in the community.
Omar
Tawil, an assistant imam at the mosque, said he forgives Gonzales for the
"wildly ignorant" stereotypes she promoted in the video but that he
mostly blames the sources that gave her those ideas.
"The
people who definitely know better, who still willingly spew false information
and rhetoric that just encourages hate, that encourages and promotes fear are
definitely far more responsible than people who are on the receiving end of
that," he said.
"It's
not people like Tahnee Gonzales I need to be worrying about - it's people who
have the microphone or people who have the keyboard they can type on or people
who have the TV screen that they get their airtime on."
For
more stories that matter, subscribe to azcentral.com.
Tawil
said the mosque has not dealt with anything as serious as Gonzales' case since
she recorded the video, but that there have been numerous incidents of groups
and individuals harassing mosque members using racial or religious slurs.
One
Christian group stands on the sidewalk directly outside of the mosque each
Friday to preach to members and attempt to convert them, Tawil said.
He
added that he hopes having more interactions with Muslims will help Gonzales
permanently change her previous views on their religion.
A
woman in her 60s who held views similar to those espoused by Gonzales in the
video recently apologized to members of the mosque for her "bigoted"
perception of Muslims, Tawil said.
"If
someone in their 60s can change their life around completely just by talking to
people and getting to know them, why not someone who's in their 30, 40s or even
their 50s?" he said.
Mosque
member NazeefEbrahim also said he forgave Gonzales and that the incident
doesn't negatively impact his perception of Christians or Americans.
“Although
you have your bad apples I do believe America and the society we belong to are
good people as a whole.”
NazeefEbrahim,
member of the Islamic Community Center of Tempe
"We
firmly believe in the goodness of the American people," he said.
"Although you have your bad apples I do believe America and the society we
belong to are good people as a whole."
He
said that for every negative comment or attack on Islam he's seen over the
years, he's received several dozen more messages of support - including the
days immediately following the 9/11 attacks.
Oftentimes,
Ebrahim said non-Muslims reach out to him or other members of Islam after
Islamic extremist attacks to ask questions about their faith. He said that
gives Muslims a chance to educate the public about their religion and
facilitate interfaith dialogue that he believes is crucial in creating peace.
Imraan
Siddiqi, executive director of the Arizona chapter of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations, said that Gonzales' sentence will serve as a
"test case" in which her actions after she completes her sentence
will prove her sincerity.
"Being
a voice for getting away from this type of mentality is going to be key in our
state," he said. "Start small and give people an understanding of how
corrosive this is for your own well-being and mental health as well as the
people you're accosting."
He
also urged Gonzales to denounce far-right groups such as the Patriot Movement,
which, he said, espouses views that are anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim and with
whom she was associated prior to the March 2018 incident.
“In
this situation, thankfully nobody got hurt so I view it as a chance for the
individual to redeem themselves and hopefully denounce the hatred and vitriol
that led up to this.”
Imraan
Siddiqi, executive director of the Arizona chapter of the Council on
American-Islamic Relations
In
the meantime, though, Siddiqi said he chooses to take Gonzales at her word and
hopes that she'll eventually consider herself an ally for the Muslim community.
"In
this situation, thankfully nobody got hurt so I view it as a chance for the
individual to redeem themselves and hopefully denounce the hatred and vitriol
that led up to this."
He
hopes that people who still associate with far-right groups will see the
repercussions Gonzales faced and will stop "spreading hatred for some
online clout."
Siddiqi
said the threats are not new but have been more brazen since the election of
President Donald Trump in 2016.
A
representative of the Patriot Movement told The Republic that Gonzales was
removed from the group months before she made the Facebook video and that she
currently has "no affiliation in any way, shape or form."
Gonzales,
33, pleaded guilty in May to aggravated criminal damage, according to court
records.
Elizabeth
Dauenhauer, Gonzales' accomplice in the video, was sentenced in November to 18
months of supervised probation and 200 hours of community service for
aggravated criminal damage.
https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/tempe/2019/06/07/local-muslim-community-reacts-sentencing-woman-who-livestreamed-tempe-mosque-burglary/1356321001/
URL: http://newageislam.com/islam,-women-and-feminism/new-age-islam-news-bureau/why-are-there-no-women-at-saudi-arabia-wwe-super-showdown-event?/d/118830