The Biden administration’s 2023 judicial appointments were some of the most diverse in a presidential history, marking a historic win for representation in the courts.
The momentum continues in 2024.
Muslim Women and Islam
Islam is a major religion practiced by 2 billion people around the world, centered around the Qu’ran. Islam is often demonized based on false racist and xenophobic assumptions in the Western world.
Political Violence Threatens Our Democracy. How Do We Keep Candidates Safe?
The threats women candidates face on the campaign trail are intentional, especially towards women of color and those serving at the state and local level who rarely receive media attention.
Attacks on women candidates and elected officials are attacks on democracy. Full stop.
Why I Want to Build a Better Democracy
As a young girl in Bangladesh, Pakistan and Iran, I never expected to be fighting for democracy in the United States.
We are linguistic and ethnic strangers, yet we are family and are at home in the United States. And we are one among many here. That spirit of welcome is the spirit that should propel us toward the new democracy we want—and need. It’s what should animate us as we build a new democracy that we can all call home.
Dear Men of the West, Look to the Middle East for Lessons in Feminism
Look to the Middle East for your lessons in feminism, and take notes. There are countless examples of men in the Middle East standing up for women’s rights.
Transnational Solidarity With #WomanLifeFreedom: ‘I Stand in Awe of Iranian Women’
We reached out to four Muslim women activists and academics from Turkey, India and Afghanistan, to explore their perspectives on the #WomanLifeFreedom movement in a showing of transnational solidarity and friendship. Here are their voices.
Two Years After the Taliban Takeover, an Afghan Girl Is Holding On to Hope: ‘I Am Young, But I Am Everything for My Family’
Last summer, almost one year after the Taliban takeover, I spoke to 17-year-old Farzana about her life in Kabul. Now, two years since the U.S. withdrew their troops, Farzana, 18, feels she has very little to live for.
“It has been two years and the future looks dark. It’s not being alive, and not being dead. We have permission for neither. … I had the hope to be a great athlete and leader in the world—a leader for Afghan women. These are still my hopes and my goals, and even in this hard situation, I am doing my best to get an opportunity to find a university outside of Afghanistan.”
‘Between Two Moons’: A Love Letter to Arab and Muslim Communities, by Aisha Abdel Gawad
Aisha Abdel Gawad calls her first novel, Between Two Moons, “a love letter to Arab and Muslim communities.” The story centers around the Brooklyn, New York-based Emam family, American-born twins Amira and Lina, their older brother Sami, and their parents, Mariam and Kareem.
It’s an emotionally rich and revelatory portrait, set in a post 9-11 world that is still feeling the aftershocks of that unprecedented attack. But despite this grim overlay, humor and joy exist in the struggles Gawad documents.
The Rainbow Manifesto: Towards an Iranian Renaissance
We have entered the year 1402 in the Iranian calendar. And the writing is on the wall. The Islamic Republic’s time is up.
“Woman, Life, Freedom” is not three words. It is one breath—a revolt against all death. The face of a new Iran is breaking out of Khomeini’s tomb.
‘I Oppose the Mandatory Hijab’ Button Campaign Puts Iranian Women’s Rights Front and Center
Wearing the hijab didn’t bother me—I had the sanctuary of my home and progressive parents, and I was privileged enough to immigrate to America. I had a choice. The “I oppose the mandatory hijab” buttons are for the Iranian women who don’t have choices.
Anyone who can name one or two of their fundamental rights under threat should wear a button, take a picture and post it on social media. To request a button, or for more information, email: freedombutton2023@gmail.com.
The Taliban’s War on Women Demands Global Attention and Action
The Taliban’s oppression and violence against women in Afghanistan are undeniable atrocities that demand the world’s attention and immediate action.
To achieve meaningful progress towards gender equality in Afghanistan, a comprehensive approach is necessary that addresses not only the specific needs of Afghan women, but also the political and economic factors that contribute to their oppression.