The French film Cuties (Mignonnes) streaming on Netflix has been denounced for sexualising girls and making them vulnerable to paedophilia. Though rightly focusing on gender, these critiques have all been curiously mute on the film’s depiction of race. This silence is deafening for a film that features a Muslim girl as the lead character. Indeed,Continue reading “‘CUTIES’ Recycles the Same Damaging Stereotypes About Muslim Women. But Where was the Outrage?”
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Warping Faith: Big Brands and Government Are Refashioning Muslim Identity
The top American fashion label, Tommy Hilfiger, has recently launched its latest accessory – the hijab – complete with its iconic initials ‘TH’ branded into the fabric. The fashion hijab is the latest, but almost certainly not the final, co-option of Islamic dress by the hawkish fashion industry, joining a closet stocked with haute coutureContinue reading “Warping Faith: Big Brands and Government Are Refashioning Muslim Identity”
The Indirect Victims of the Christchurch Mosque Massacre
“God says in the Quran, whoever kills one innocent soul,” said a victim, emphatically punctuating the air with her index finger, “it is as if he has killed the entire mankind.” She continued in a quivering voice, pregnant with restrained grief: “You killed 51.” This woman was one of the 34 spouses, 92 children andContinue reading “The Indirect Victims of the Christchurch Mosque Massacre”
Johnson’s Crackdown on ‘Criminal Gangs’ Masks the UK’s Shameful Lack of Civilisation and Humanity
“We’ve got a problem,” Prime Minister Boris Johnson said in response to the recent arrival of displaced people in rubber dinghies crossing the English Channel. “This isn’t a good idea. This is a very, very bad and stupid and dangerous and criminal thing to do.” Johnson’s rhetoric has echoed – and been echoed by –Continue reading “Johnson’s Crackdown on ‘Criminal Gangs’ Masks the UK’s Shameful Lack of Civilisation and Humanity”
Muslims Are Being Treated Like a Virus
There are “sections of our community that are just not taking the pandemic seriously,” according to Craig Whittaker, Conservative MP for Calder Valley, West Yorkshire, since 2010. When pressed by his LBC interviewer to confirm whether by “sections of our community” he was referring to Muslims, Whittaker unabashedly affirmed, “of course”. But Whittaker is notContinue reading “Muslims Are Being Treated Like a Virus”
The Spectre of Shamima Begum Returns to Haunt Britain
The Court of Appeal has ruled Shamina Begum, who left her home in east London as a child in 2015 to join the Islamic State, should be allowed to return to the UK to challenge in person after the Home Office’s February revocation of her British citizenship. Even prior to her physical return here onContinue reading “The Spectre of Shamima Begum Returns to Haunt Britain”
OUR LIVES MATTER ‘I Can’t Breathe’ and the Syrian Living Dead
Syria speaks. It speaks to America through the street art of a now ubiquitous image – that of George Floyd and a now iconic hashtag “I can’t breathe”. But, more importantly, it speaks through the placement of this tribute: the remains of a wall once supporting perhaps a school, a nursery or a hospital, aContinue reading “OUR LIVES MATTER ‘I Can’t Breathe’ and the Syrian Living Dead”
Amina Shareef 