2011’s Amazing Women of the Year
SHELINA ZAHRA JANMOHAMMED: How could I possibly include all the women who filled our headlines over the past 12 months, for bravery and impact?
All American Muslim: An Alternative ‘Reality’
SHELINA ZAHRA JANMOHAMED: The problem right-wingers have with ‘All American Muslim’ is that it doesn’t play to the usual stereotypes.
Home of the Brave? Branding to America’s Seven Million ‘Thriving’ Muslims
SHELINA ZAHRA JANMOHAMED: The lesson from these examples is courage pays off. Muslims show loyalty to brands supporting them in the public space.
Multiculturalism: A Practical Approach
SHELINA ZAHRA JANMOHAMED: Western leaders have recently branded ‘multiculturalism’ a ‘failure’. To succeed practical programmes need to nurture it.
Overwhelmed: When A Friend Dies Young
SHELINA ZAHRA JANMOHAMED: I attended the funeral of a friend. She was a young mother, not yet 40. The scale of my grief surprised me.
Women and Marriage: What’s in it For Us?
SHELINA ZAHRA JANMOHAMED: Why should women get married? The lived reality for women that is wildly different from the theory of matrimonial bliss.
The Nobel Women: Changing the World Masterclass
SHELINA ZAHRA JANMOHAMED: I am sure her award will have detractors who claim that it is a conspiracy to “westernise” Muslim women…
Dedicated – and Faithful – Followers of Fashion
SHELINA ZAHRA JANMOHAMED: Bloomberg has estimated the global Muslim fashion market could be worth $96bn. For comparisons, the entire UK fashion industry is valued at £21bn.
There’s Something About The Mary Initiative
SHELINA ZAHRA JANMOHAMED: It’s one of those ideas that is so good and so simple you marvel at why no-one has thought of it before. All hail The Mary Initiative!
People, Not Technology, are Agents for Change
SHELINA ZAHRA JANMOHAMED: Let’s not diminish the creativity and courage of the Arab Spring by attributing great sacrifice to amorphous, faceless technology.
“Mirror, Mirror, Who’s The Fairest of Them All?”
SHELINA ZAHRA JANMOHAMED: Any culture that automatically brands ‘darkness’ as ‘ugly’ makes me angry. Unfortunately that culture is all too prevalent among the Asian community.
The Return to the ‘Normal’ Life, and The First, Joyful Cappuccino of Eid
SHELINA ZAHRA JANMOHAMED: Eid marks a transition from spirituality to every day life. One Eid tradition, though, holds a special place in my heart.
Tariq Jahan: Dignity & Respect Teaching Us All A Lesson
SHELINA ZAHRA JANMOHAMED: These events must make us think differently about our approach to Muslims. They are not demons of our society.
Gallup: Muslims Loyal, Non-Violent, Tolerant – Shock!
SHELINA ZAHRA JANMOHAMED: These same results keep being found, keep being published – and keep being greeted with surprise…
Norway Killings A Challenge To Anti-Muslim Sentiment
SHELINA ZAHRA JANMOHAMED: Last week’s horror has the potential to change the discourse again, away from anti-Muslim sentiment.
‘Ramadan Kareem’: In Praise of the Pious Text Message
SHELINA ZAHRA JANMOHAMED: As Ramadan approaches the volume of pious text messages is set for an exponential increase.
Salwa al Mutairi: A Gift to Muslim-Haters
SHELINA ZAHRA JANMOHAMED: She’s certainly made an impression but unfortunately it’s a damaging one for Muslims
A Modest Proposal: Let’s Ban Male Drivers
SHELINA ZAHRA JANMOHAMED: Speeding, tailgating, road rage – yes, the ingredients of the male driver. Let’s stop this testosterone-fuelled menace.
Edgware Road: Less “Little Beirut”, More Global Icon
SHELINA ZAHRA JANMOHAMED: Its every paving stone seemingly filled with shisha smokers, Edgware Road runs between Marble Arch and the Marylebone flyover. Some call it Little Beirut or Little Cairo.
What Kind of Leader Do Young Arabs Want?
SHELINA ZAHRA JANMOHAMED: Whether it’s Mubarak, ben Ali or bin Laden it’s clear what sort of leadership Arabs don’t want. It’s far less clear however what they are looking for in their leaders.
