Stepping up: young Muslim women in Britain

Siobhan O'Connell, 4 March 2009

Subjects:

50.50

From reforming mosques to challenging perceptions of their communities, young Muslim women in Britain are stepping up to make their voices heard. Siobhan O' Connell went to meet them. Listen Now.

From reforming mosques to challenging perceptions of their communities, young Muslim women in Britain are stepping up to make their voices heard. In Birmingham they have launched a website called Hear My Voice which supports young Muslim women who are tackling issues such as isolation, access to education and the "out of touch" mosque authorities.

Tasneem Mahmood, the project director of 'Hear my Voice', told Siobhan O'Connell ‘the only way to change or challenge perceptions of the Muslim community is if you are out there in the public arena."

Audio file:

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Comments

stostosto (not verified)

6 March 2009 - 11:09am

I am extremely sympathetic to the idea of young Muslim women speaking up - and young Muslim men as well for that matter (and also older people). I went to the site (http://hmyv.org.uk), had a look around and made two observations:

1. The level of activity was very low. OK, it's a fairly new place perhaps, but it doesn't seem like there is anyone very active in providing content there. All of five articles have been posted starting September 2008, one of them a piece by Robert Fisk from the Independent.

2. By far the hottest topic in the discussion forum is a debate on whether music is haraam or halal for Muslims. Music! The "moderate" view seemed to be that it is OK to engage in acapella singing, but not to use musical instruments. And certainly not to have boys and girls performing on the same stage, to say nothing of hip-hop sexual suggestiveness.

What to say? Personally, I don't find that unambiguously encouraging.