2013-05-20T01:22:25-04:00 Shaista Gohir http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/author/index.php?author=shaista-gohir Copyright 2008, HuffingtonPost.com, Inc. HuffingtonPost Blogger Feed for Shaista Gohir Good old fashioned elbow grease. tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//3.1727046 2012-08-01T19:00:00-04:00 2012-10-01T05:12:03-04:00

Shaista Gohir http://www.huffingtonpost.com/shaista-gohir/ 26 countries did not send women and by the 2008 Beijing Games, only three countries (Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Brunei) did not have female Olympians. It is therefore a very important milestone that every Muslim majority country competing at the London 2012 Olympics will now have at least one woman in their team. Even if Muslim women don't win any medals they are guaranteed to be a source of inspiration for many young Muslim girls across the world wanting to take up sports.

As these Olympics will host the most Muslim women in the games history, I have decided to highlight my favourite Muslim female Olympians from past to present. My list mainly includes women who have made history by being pioneers or have had to overcome substantial obstacles just to compete. I am giving special attention to Muslim sportswomen because they are comparatively small in number. I consider them extraordinary because of the many challenges they have to overcome.

Their biggest hurdle preventing girls from taking up sports is religious extremism, particularly for those living in conservative Muslim countries. Although there is nothing in the Quran forbidding women and girls from exercising and playing sports, religious scholars are making Islam more restrictive than it should be through misinterpretations. They disregard the fact that Islam encourages health and fitness for both men and women.

Clerics also conveniently ignore Islamic history, which tells us that female warriors took part in battles. The likelihood is that these women were involved in very physical and demanding activities. Other barriers holding girls back from sports include: lack of funds and training facilities, family, and dress codes. However, girls are now starting to become aware that participating in sports is not against Islam and are slowly getting involved in sports. Some are even choosing to combine their faith with their chosen sport by competing in a headscarf and by wearing modest sportswear.

Before I highlight a few of my favourite Muslim female Olympians, one British Muslim woman not on my list deserves a special mention. Zaha Hadid has played an important role in London 2012. The globally renowned and award winning Iraqi born architect designed the iconic Aquatic Centre where the swimming events are taking place. It is also important to recognize that a Muslim woman has designed one of the Olympic landmark buildings.

Some of the Muslim female Olympians from past to present that I would like people to know about are:

Halet Cambel (Turkey)
1936 Berlin Games
First Muslim Woman to Compete in the Olympics
The first Muslim woman to compete in the Olympics was archeologist, Halet Cambel. When the founder of the Turkish republic, Kemal Ataturk promoted women's sports, she took up fencing and represented Turkey in the 1936 Berlin Games. She was even invited by a female German Official to meet Hitler, but refused on political grounds.

Nawal El Moutawakel (Morocco)
1984 Los Angeles Games
First Muslim to Woman Gold Medal
Nawal El Moutawakel made history at the 1984 Los Angeles Games. When she won the 400m hurdles race, she by became the first Muslim woman and first African female to win an Olympic gold medal. The victory was a breakthrough for sporting women in Morocco and other Muslim countries. Since her Olympic win, El Moutawakel has continued to be a role model and break new ground.

In the late 1990s El Moutawakel organised the first Moroccan women's 10 km race through the streets of Casablanca. It now attracts more than 27,000 participants annually. She was appointed inspector at the Ministry of Sport and Youth, as well as the national sprint and hurdle coach. She was named Minister of Sports in 2007. She became a pioneer again in 2008 when she became the first Muslim woman to be elected to the powerful executive board of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), who are responsible for setting the Olympic agenda. Her huge contribution towards women in sport was recognized when she received her Lifetime Achievement Award in 2010.

Hassiba Boulmerka (Algeria)
1992 Barcelona Games
First to win Olympic Gold for Algeria
Hassiba Boulmerka made history for Algeria. She won a gold medal in the 1500m race at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. It was Algeria's first gold medal at the Olympic Games. Although she was hailed as a national hero by some, Boulmerka was also condemned by extremist groups for showing too much of her body while competing. Death threats eventually forced her to move to Europe for training. Boulmerka went on to win medals at the World Championships - a bronze in 1993 and a gold in 1995. She retired from athletics in 1997 and is now a successful businesswoman.

Ruqaya Al Ghasara (Bahrain)
2004 Athens Games
First Muslim woman to wear hijab at Olympics
When Ruqaya Al Ghasara represented Bahrain in the 2004 Athens Games, she became the first female athlete to wear a full hijab (headscarf) at the Olympics. She was also one of the first women to represent her country at the games (although Bahraini women had participated in the 1984 Paralympics). To participate in the 100m sprint races she had to overcome a lot of objections from fundamentalists. Although Ghasra did not win a medal, she went on to win a gold at the Asian Games in the 200m race and also competed in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, where she was her country's flag bearer. She is not participating in the London 2012 Olympics as she retired in 2009.

Nurcan Taylan (Turkey)
2004 Athens Games
First female to win Olympic gold for her country
When Nurcan Taylan claimed gold at the 2004 Athens Games, she became Turkey's first female Olympic gold medalist. However, the 5ft tall reigning world champion and six times European champion is not participating in the London games after failing a drugs test. The 28-year-old now faces a four-year ban. Although Taylan has been involved in a doping scandal, I felt she deserved to be mentioned because she is a weight lifting legend in 48kg category - she holds six European and one world record with another two tied world records.

Nur Suryani Mohammed Taibi (Malaysia)
London 2012 Games
Most Pregnant Olympian
A few days after finding out she was selected for the Olympic team for London 2012, Taibi, found out she was pregnant. Only a few pregnant women have competed in the Olympics, but Taibi is certainly making history by being the most pregnant woman to participate in the games at eight months pregnant. These are Taibi's first Olympics, and the Games will be even more special because she is sharing the moment with the baby daughter inside of her. Taibi is ranked 47th in the world and won two gold medals at the Southeast Asian Games in 10 metre air rifle and 50 metre rifle in last November.

Khadija Mohammed (United Arab Emirates)
London 2012 Games
First female weight lifter from the Gulf
This 17-year-old is a future star because she is the first female Emirati and one of the few Muslim women who qualified outright for the Olympics. Many others were given wild card entries because they did not meet the Olympic qualifying standard. Khadija Mohammed is also making history by being the first female weight lifter from the Gulf at the Olympics.

She was only introduced to weight lifting two years ago by former Egyptian Olympic lifter Najwan El Zawawi, who established a gym in the U.A.E Mohammed who will be competing in the 75kg category is fortunate that her family is supporting her dreams. There is widespread resistance to weight lifting in Muslim families and societies because it is confused with bodybuilding - they fear girls will develop masculine bodies and not receive marriage proposals.

Sarah Attar and Wojdan Ali Seraj Abdulrahim (Saudi Arabia)
London 2012 Games
Making history for Saudi Arabia
Sarah Attar is competing in the 800m race and Wojdan Ali Seraj Abdulrahim in judo at the London 2012 Games. They are making history by becoming the first women to represent Saudi Arabia. Although they both actually live outside of the Kingdom, this is a very important breakthrough for one of the most religiously conservative countries in the world. This paves the way for women activists to demand internal policy changes, enactment of laws and provision to allow women and girls to play sports and compete within and outside the kingdom.

Woroud Sawalha (Palestine)
London 2012 Games
Making it to the Olympics despite living in an area of conflict
Woroud Sawalha has made it to the London 2012 games despite being surrounded by violence, subjected to travel restrictions, facing regular security checks and having no training facilities. The 20-year old is taking part in the 800m event. Sawalha is unlikely to win a medal because her personal best is 53 seconds slower than the Olympic gold medal-winning time. However, for her just competing under the Palestinian flag will be a source of pride. The U.N. does not recognize a Palestinian state but athletes have been allowed to compete under a Palestinian flag by the International Olympic Committee since 1996. Sawalha will not be the first woman to represent Palestine as they sent the first female athlete in 2000.

Tahmina Kohistani (Afghanistan)
London 2012 Games
Female athlete from a war torn country
Tahmina Kohistani will be Afghanistan's only female athlete at the London Games. She will be competing in the 100 and 200m events. The 23-year-old runner will be the third woman ever from the war-torn country to compete in the Olympics. Kohistani has been training at Kabul's Ghazi Stadium, a place where the Taliban used to carry out public executions - a reminder of the brutality of the former regime.

However, Afghanistan still remains one of the most dangerous places in the world to be a woman. Kohistani's presence at the games is therefore even more important because she will not only be representing herself but all women of Afghanistan. She will be helping to pave the way for other Afghan girls to follow in her footsteps. A woman participating in sports was something unthinkable 10 years ago when the Taliban were in control. Despite breaking barriers, Kohistani does not have the whole nation behind her. Olympics preparations took place behind guarded doors due to fear of retribution. She has encountered hostility from a very religiously conservative society that severely opposes women playing sports and participating in any form of public life.

Fatima Sulaiman Dahman (Yemen)
London 2012 Olympics
Only female athlete representing her country
Fatima Sulaiman will be the only female athlete representing Yemen at the London Olympics. She has had to overcome strong male prejudices and civil unrest to make it to the games. In Yemen girls are only allowed to train inside stadiums. So whenever Dahman wants to train outside, she waits until dark so no one can see her. During the uprisings in Yemen it was difficult for Dahman to leave her home to train. When Dahman was able to travel to the stadium, she had to mostly practice alone because there are only a few other female athletes in her country. When she first joined her sports club, there were 20 girls but now she is the only one left because the others did not receive support from their families to continue. The lack of family encouragement is not surprising in such a strongly male-dominated and tribal society, where child marriage is common. However, Dahman's parent, both doctors, encouraged her to compete. The 19-year-old received an Olympic scholarship and entered the women's 100m event.

Bahia Al Hamad, Nada Arkaji, Noor Al-Malki and Aia Mohamed (Qatar)
London 2012 Games
First Qatari women to compete in Olympics
Shooter, Bahia Al Hamad, swimmer, Nada Arkaji, sprinter, Noor Al-Malki and table tennis player, Aia Mohamed are making history for Qatar by becoming the first women to represent their tiny nation at the Olympics. Bahia Al Hamad was also given the privilege of carrying her country's flag at the opening ceremony. Perhaps it is no surprise that Qatar are encouraging women to play sports because they will be bidding to host the 2024 Olympic Games. Qatar can lead the way in the Gulf region and in the rest of the Muslim world by promoting sports for women.

Egyptian Women's Olympic Team
London 2012 Games
Country with the largest delegation of Muslim women
Egypt has the most Muslim women in their team compared with any other Arab or Islamic nations at the London 2012 Olympics. Despite their political instability, Egypt has 36 female Olympians, which is the largest female delegation it has ever sent. The number breaks the previous record of 29 Egyptian women athletes at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The women will be competing in archery, athletics, badminton, fencing, gymnastics, pentathlon, rowing, shooting, swimming (including synchronized swimming), table tennis, taekwondo, weight lifting and wrestling.]]> tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//3.1677501 2012-07-18T19:00:00-04:00 2012-09-17T05:12:07-04:00

Shaista Gohir http://www.huffingtonpost.com/shaista-gohir/ Sarah Attar would compete in the 800m race and Wodjan Ali Seraj Abdulrahim in judo.

Although they are only sending two athletes, who actually live outside of the Kingdom, I think this is a very important breakthrough considering Saudi Arabia is one of the most religiously conservative countries in the world. Some critics argue that this decision changes little for women inside the country. I disagree because progress is already underway and women are a part of that change. King Abdullah, who has been the most progressive monarchy so far, has already started planting the seeds of change for his successor to build upon.

Last year the King opened the largest women's university campus in the world to boost women's higher education. He has promised to allow women to run and vote in the 2015 municipal elections and is permitting women to now work in clothes and cosmetic stores. King Abdullah is even trying to reign in the notorious morality police because the public has openly started to accuse them of being too aggressive and overstepping the mark. So earlier this year, he replaced the head of the 'Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice' with a more moderate cleric. Two months ago, he went even further and dismissed one of his most hardline advisers, Sheikh Abdelmohsen al-Obeikan.

These measured steps cannot be ignored. The control exercised by religious scholars over state matters is slowly being decreased. So the decision to include women in the Saudi Olympics team is another victory over the hardline clerics. Judging from King Abdullah's recent track record, he may well have wanted women from within the kingdom to participate in the London games contrary to what the clergy wanted, who don't want women involved in sports at all. They claim it leads to immorality and that excessive movements and jumping may also cause girls to tear their hymens and lose their virginity. I have to say these religious scholars seem obsessed with sex - 'protecting virginity' tends to be the most commonly used excuse to curb the rights of women and girls. It has even been used to ban women from driving. So under the circumstances perhaps the best compromise for now was sending two sportswomen who lived outside the kingdom.

I know the rate of progress is frustratingly slow but a gradual approach is more likely to achieve women's rights that are sustainable. We must remember that the monarch is fighting a constant 'tug of war' with the religious establishment who impose strict gender segregation and prohibit women from doing most things, unless they are granted permission by a male relative, such as husband, father, or son etc. They are very influential in Saudi Arabia and if the pace of change is too rapid, the public will probably side with the clergy.

With regards to sports, Saudi Arabia will be making history by sending a mixed gender Olympics team. They have set a precedent now - it will be hard to reverse this commitment in four years time. This decision now paves the way for women activists to demand internal policy changes, enactment of laws and provision to allow women and girls to play sports and compete within and outside the kingdom. Currently they have little opportunity to get involved in sports because physical education is not allowed in girl's schools and there are no sports facilities for women. Also, most of the 150 or so sports clubs that are officially registered with government do not allow females into their sports grounds. So for these Olympic games, there may not have been females inside Saudi Arabia at the appropriate standard to participate anyway. However, there will be no excuses next time - they have plenty of time to train Saudi women for the Rio 2016 Olympics.]]> tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//3.1670503 2012-07-13T17:02:23-04:00 2012-09-12T05:12:11-04:00

Shaista Gohir http://www.huffingtonpost.com/shaista-gohir/ being publicly executed the first thought that came to my mind was, are Afghan women and girls ever going to get justice? Clearly not, considering the lack of interest shown by the Afghanistan government in women's rights. The majority of men who have beaten, raped and killed women go unpunished. In April, Young Women for Change defied safety fears and came out in a public protest to highlight these cases. However, no government official could be bothered to come out and listen to their concerns. Perhaps this is not surprising when you consider what the Minster of Justice thinks about vulnerable women. Last month Habibullah Ghaleb claimed those living in women's shelters are prostitutes. Despite calls from women's NGOs, President Karzai has refused to fire the minister.

There should be zero tolerance of such attitudes amongst decision makers, particularly if they are in charge of spending budgets on improving the rights of women. Donor countries had the perfect opportunity to intervene. They had every right to demand the removal of Ghaleb. The U.S. alone is spending $110 million annually on the Afghan judicial system and this minister is making decisions on how some of these funds are used, which includes improving women's access to justice. When he has shown he cannot be objective about women, why have all aid donors accepted that Ghaleb remains in charge of how their money is spent?

Despite such vast sums going into the judiciary, the rights of Afghan girls and woman continue to be abused both in national and local courts. Most are unaware of their legal rights and lack support to defend their rights through the judicial system. So what on earth is the money being spent on? The fact that the Taliban had the audacity to carry out Najiba's execution so publicly (with 150 or so men watching) and only a few miles from the capital city of Kabul shows lack of government control. It raises the question, do the Taliban control everything outside of Kabul or are some government officials colluding with them?

So the only hope that women and girls have is the international community, and by that I mean all of us. We need to question our governments on why our money is not improving the safety of women and girls and providing them with justice. These questions should have been asked a long time ago, because "Afghanistan has received nearly $60-billion in civilian aid since 2002."

Perhaps the image of Najiba kneeling down in the dirt and being shot several times at close range has finally outraged us enough to speak out. Stories of Afghan women suffering violence regularly make it into the news. How many times have we just ended up sharing them through social media and done little more than that? I have been guilty of that, too -- but this time I was so angry that I felt compelled to do something and contribute in some way. Within hours of watching Najiba's murder, I set up a petition calling on the governments of the UK, U.S., Germany and Japan to ensure the Afghan government not only bring Najiba's killers to justice, but do more to protect Afghan women. You, too, can join in and take action by signing and sharing the petition.

I have targeted UK, U.S., Germany and Japan in particular as they will be the largest donors of the $16 billion of civil aid pledged to Afghanistan over the next four years. They should be ringfencing sufficient aid to ensure it is spent on measures that will increase women and girl's safety and security and access to justice. Hollow pledges and public statements by senior government officials, particularly by Hillary Clinton, should no longer satisfy us. She has said, "Afghan women will not be abandoned" and "women's rights must be an integral part of Afghanistan's future" -- but these are very broad statements. She has failed to back them with specific measures, firm action and stringent conditions to make them a reality.

Recently, British Foreign Secretary William Hague also made a public statement. He said he was "shocked and disgusted" by Najiba's murder. He has even publicly called upon the Afghanistan government to bring the perpetrators to justice. However, once the publicity subsides, he and other world leaders will forget her. Najiba will just become another Afghan female statistic. We can make sure that world leaders do not forget this Afghan woman -- her death can be used to help other women and girls get justice. Powerful images can turn history and perhaps Najiba's video may do the same. In a country where demonstrations are rare, dozens came out in Kabul to protest against her killing and demand that the government take serious action to prevent violence against women.

The Afghan government depends almost entirely on foreign aid and I think it is time to say "if you want the money, you must show how you are protecting women's rights." The global public needs to ensure donor governments make that happen. If women's rights are not improved over the next four years, the likelihood is that the most educated and skilled women will leave the country while the rest will be too scared to go out and continue to suffer in silence.]]> tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2011:/theblog//3.1002939 2011-10-10T05:54:09-04:00 2011-12-10T05:12:02-05:00

Shaista Gohir http://www.huffingtonpost.com/shaista-gohir/ Dame Helen Mirren, Shazia Mirza, and Alesha Dixon are being the voice for women outside of Afghanistan so they can have one inside it. Celebrities are going green for the Green Scarf Campaign calling on world leaders not to sacrifice their rights in any political deal. I am sure Afghan women's rights activists, who wear green scarves as a show of strength and unity, will welcome this much needed support. They are worried the clock could be turned back on their rights now the US government is in direct talks with the Taliban. I know Hilary Clinton has made public statements defending Afghan women, but who knows what is going on behind the scenes. This issue of Afghan women always touches an emotional chord globally - no wonder Pakistani pop star Hadiqa Kiani and the chat show host dubbed Oprah of the Middle East, Nashwa Al Ruwaini, have also joined the campaign.

Since the fall of the Taliban, women have once again returned to work as doctors, lawyers, judges and police officers although participation levels are nowhere near the pre-Taliban era when women in Kabul made up 70% of teachers, 50% of civil servants and 40% of doctors. Women are participating in sports too - something unthinkable 10 years ago. There are now female boxers preparing for the 2012 Olympics and even a women's national football team - although they have to train behind guarded doors for fear of retribution.

Despite these gains, Afghanistan is still one of the most dangerous places in the world to be a woman because the Taliban continue to get away with attacking them. In 2008, the Taliban assassinated police commander, Malalai Kakar and last year MP Fawzia Kofi survived an attack by gunmen. I some times wonder what the Taliban hate more - women's empowerment or Western occupation. A recently launched Oxfam report reminds us what life is really like for most Afghan women. More than 87% have experienced at least one form of physical, sexual or psychological violence or forced marriage. Renouncing violence and severing links with Al Qaeda is a pre condition set by the international community for negotiations with the Taliban -so why has ending violence against women not been included?

The Afghan government doesn't appear to be committed to women's rights either. Any legislation passed offering equality to women is not backed up by any enforcement. So those who intimidate, threaten and attack women are rarely punished. President Karzai publicly vowed that the men, who threw acid in the faces of 15 female students in Kandahar city in November 2008, would be severely punished. He has made no attempt to bring them to justice.

Karzai also panders to conservative religious clerics in exchange for their political support. Prior to the 2009 presidential elections, he passed the Shia Personal Status Law, allowing fathers and even grandfathers to have full custody of children in a divorce and women having to seek permission to work. Karzai was ready to pass the law in its original form, which was even more controversial as it legalized marital rape and only amended it after an international outcry. Pressure can work so let's be the voice for Afghan women. Foreign Ministers from around the world will attend the Bonn Peace Conference on 5th December to discuss the support package for Afghanistan after Western forces withdraw in 2014. Let's tell them not to negotiate away women's rights by joining the campaign at www.ch16.org - I just have!
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Shaista Gohir http://www.huffingtonpost.com/shaista-gohir/ criminalise the face veil. The veil is already banned in France and Belgium and on Friday, the Dutch government agreed to propose legislation that will make it illegal to wear clothes that cover the face in public places. Anyone flouting the ban in public buildings, educational institutions, hospitals and public transport, will be issued with a fine of 380 euros.

The government says they want to "protect the character and customs of public life in the Netherlands." However, the truth is that they are pandering to the anti-Islam politician Geert Wilders because they need his party's support. Wilders leads the far-right Freedom Party (PVV), which won 24 of the 150 seats in the 2010 Dutch elections, making it the third biggest party in parliament. When the Liberal WD party and the Christian Democrat party formed a minority coalition last year, they struck a deal with Geert Wilders' Freedom Party - despite not being a part of the governing coalition, they pledged to back austerity measures in exchange for a ban on the face veil.

I wonder how curbing this minor phenomenon of veiling is going to help the country's economy? An opportunity to influence decisions that would have improved the lives of his voters has been wasted by Wilders. But I guess that should not be surprising, as he doesn't have any credible policies. He only has anti-Muslim policies - he wants to ban the Quran, veil, new mosques and new migrants from Muslim countries. He promotes anything but freedom contrary to the name he has given to his party. Many Governments in Europe will not mind this distraction away from an economic crisis that they (and the bankers) are responsible for. Instead of allowing the far right to influence policy, those in power should be removing the conditions in which such political parties thrive. Providing a platform to an opportunist such as Wilders, who has built his profile on promoting fear and hate, is likely to damage the reputation of the Netherlands.

Are Muslim women's clothing really a threat to the Western way of life? I cannot see how a few thousand veiled women in Europe, who are apparently not engaging with the majority anyway, going to bring down Western culture! The veil has become such an emotive issue, but how many calling for a ban, have actually come across women wearing it? Statistics quoted are based on guesswork and exaggeration. For example, the exact number of women veiling in the Netherlands is unknown - it is believed there are only a few dozen from the 900 000 Muslims. Belgium estimates that only a few hundred adopt it from a Muslim population of 630 000. In France, the Interior Ministry has been quoted as saying that 1900 women wear the veil (from a population of 5 million Muslims). However, the influential newspaper, Le Monde, revealed they had seen government reports showing the actual figure to be 367.

Despite the disproportionate level of attention given to Muslim women's attire by politicians, media and public - most appear to be misinformed about the topic. Reasons cited for a veil ban vary and are not coherent. Some say covering the face is a threat to security but veiled women are showing their faces for identification when necessary. Another common argument is that it's a barrier to integration. I accept the veil impedes communication and integration but how is preventing a few thousand women in Europe from covering their face helping the majority of Muslims integrate? If concerns were genuine, then politicians would be attempting to tackle the real barriers to integration such as high unemployment rates and the multiple forms of discrimination experienced by the Muslims.

And there are those who want to save the oppressed Muslim women who are forced to cover. Such women do exist but the majority are wearing the veil out of choice and their reasons vary widely. Some feel it is a religious obligation while others admit it isn't but want to take an extra step to feel closer to God. There are those who want to make a political statement or do it for reasons of fashion or culture or are simply going through a fad. Many have told me they feel liberated in the veil. I can't see how the veil is liberating, but that does not matter. It does not matter that some people find it intimidating and frightening because it's unfamiliar as my nine year old daughter described in her blog - none are sufficient reasons to justify legislation banning it.

Personally I am not keen on the veil as it overwhelmingly reinforces every conceivable Western prejudice about Muslims and Islam. I would even urge veiled Muslim women to consider the impact their choice is having on Muslim communities living in the West. However, from a gender perspective, I will vociferously continue to speak out on the right of women to make autonomous choices about their bodies whatever that may be - whether they live in the West or in Muslim countries. It is interesting to note that it tends to be mainly men that lead debates telling women what to wear.
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Shaista Gohir http://www.huffingtonpost.com/shaista-gohir/ 9/11, it is also an ideal time to take stock of how this tragedy has impacted on the lives of Muslim women in Britain during the last decade. The events of 9/11 and the subsequent intensification of anti-Muslim sentiments has been a double-edged sword for Muslim women - on one hand they have suffered immense hostility and on the other, they have found a voice and are more visible now than they have ever been before.

One unintended legacy of 9/11 and the London bombings has been a dramatic rise in the number of Muslim women wearing the headscarf and a minority adopting the face veil. This phenomenon is not surprising because when any population feels threatened, it reacts by defending its culture or faith, becoming more attached to it. By assuming a public Islamic identity, Muslim women suddenly became more visible. However, this visibility also made them easy targets of discrimination because their faith was constantly being associated with extremism and terrorism - even though Muslim women are law-abiding citizens.

Muslim women are now under intense pressure to conform rather than make autonomous choices about their lives and their bodies. Mainstream society uses their dress to highlight they are not integrated enough while increasingly religious sections of Muslim communities accuse women of not being Muslim enough if they do not wear the various forms of Islamic dress. All sides are victimizing them, and this negativity is manifesting itself in the form of verbal and sometimes physical abuse. Muslim women are being viewed as one monolithic group - their diverse cultures, ethnicities, dress and the way they want to practice their faith is being ignored.

This obsession of what Muslim women wear needs to stop - the vast majority of the 1 million Muslim women in Britain, do not even wear the face veil. Why is attention not being given to those Muslim women who are participating in a range of professions and various aspects of British life? There are Muslim female policewomen, magistrates, lawyers, doctors, teachers, engineers etc. I wonder how many people know that Ruby McGregor-Smith, chief executive of the MITIE Group PLC, is the first and only Muslim woman to run a FTSE 250 company. Then there is Salma Bi who works as a nurse and plays for Worcestershire Women's Cricket Team and also teenage golfer Sahra khan who represents Wales and Britain in international tournaments. Another successful woman is London based Zaha Hadid. She is a globally renowned architect who has won a plethora of awards, including the Pritzker Prize, becoming the first woman to be given this award. Many such female role models have been highlighted on the Big Sister website to raise the aspiration of young Muslim girls. Such achievements should be applauded instead of constantly complaining about the face veil.

These accomplishments show that despite all the barriers, it is still empowering to be a Muslim woman in Britain today - it would be much harder to be socially and politically active and take up leadership roles anywhere else in the world. Last year Muslim women even made history - one made it into the cabinet (Sayeeda Warsi) and three were elected as MPs (Shabana Mahmood, Rushanara Ali, Yasmin Qureshi).There is also a steadily growing band of women who are reacting against what is happening in their communities. So one advantage of Muslim women becoming more conscious of their religion has been better knowledge of their Islamic rights and interpreting faith for themselves. Activists are now using Islam as a tool to challenge culture and patriarchal interpretations of religious texts.

A British Muslim women's movement has emerged spearheaded by the Muslim Women's Network UK. Muslim women may be trying to stamp out inequalities within their communities, but they need to have equal life chances in mainstream society too. They are still one of the most disadvantaged groups in society, disproportionately experiencing adverse socio-economic conditions such as high unemployment rates; low academic achievement; experiencing mental health problems; and having the poorest general health. Within their communities they experience further inequality due to culture and sexist interpretations of their faith - examples of abuse encountered include: forced marriage, female genital mutilation, honour based violence, polygamy, domestic violence and isolation.

When they are given the opportunity, Muslim women are integrating, participating in civic, economic and social life while raising children who are productive members of society. In the last decade, Muslim women may have developed their religious identity, but it is now time to strengthen their national identity. Tackling poverty, discrimination and high unemployment rates as well as providing them with information about their rights is the way forward now.
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Shaista Gohir http://www.huffingtonpost.com/shaista-gohir/ Maddy Jackson appeared on the US reality show 'Toddlers and Tiaras' wearing a padded bra. Her mother also gave her a padded bottom and made her don a peroxide wig in an attempt to make her look like Dolly Parton. I am disgusted by this mother - the lengths that some people go to for a few minutes of fame has really hit an all time low. Where is Maddy's father - why is he not stopping this?

I am disturbed by some mothers in Britain too - the one who gives her 4 year old a spray tan, the one who teaches her 7 year old pole dancing and the one who injects her 8 year old with botox. And these are the cases that we know about through media. I wonder how many more parents are encouraging their little girls to grow up too quickly. Television, magazines, music and clothing are already sexualising children, so when mothers start joining in, then things have just gone too far!

At the other end of the spectrum, I am also troubled by a minority of conservative Muslim parents who are making girls as young as three, four and five wear hijabs (headscarves) despite it not being a religious obligation for them. It may be unintentional, but they are also sexualizing their children because the purpose of the hijab is to prevent unwanted male sexual attention. By wrapping little girls in headscarves they are being treated as sex objects, who apparently need to be covered up. A healthy balance can be struck on children's appearance without going to such extremes.

Many of us would be critical of the parents mentioned so far. But how many of us are also sending the wrong messages to our children through inappropriate choices that we are making unconsciously. I blame the mothers because women are making majority of the purchasing decisions. They are buying high-heeled shoes, provocative underwear and sexy clothing. Kids wear adorned with slogans that are sexist or have sexual innuendoes are also regularly being bought. Here are some examples of the types of slogans that have appeared on girl tops: "Future WAG", "Future Porn Star", "So Many Boys, So Little Time." Babies have not been spared from sleaze either and wording has included, "I love boobies" and "Mother Sucker." A couple of years ago there was outrage in New Zealand when babywear featured, "I'm Living Proof My Mum is Easy", and "The Condom Broke." I know sex sells, but this is ridiculous!

Last week, another T-shirt caused controversy for being sexist. It was covered with, "I'm too pretty to do my homework so my brother has to do it for me." JC Penney, a national retailer in the US, discontinued the 'Too pretty' T-shirt within 24 hours of a petition going viral on social media. However, another T-shirt is still being sold in their stores, which says, "My best subjects are boys, shopping, music and dancing." When I asked my 9-year-old daughter about her views on these, she said, "boys have superheroes on their clothes who are strong and powerful, why can't girls be told they have girl power." She has written a blog titled 'Pretty Clever' on the topic. I wanted a male perspective too so I asked my 10-year-old son for his opinion and his response was interesting. He said: "the slogans are unfair on both girls and boys because girls are being told they are dumb and they won't learn anything while boys have to do double work!"

Some people will view these slogans as harmless humour - but sleazy and demeaning messages are no joke. Not only do they undermine women's fight for respect and equality, the accumulative effect is damaging. Girls are being prevented from reaching their full potential because they are being conditioned into believing they are not clever and to focus on appearance, boys, and sex. Why are parents buying into these stereotypes? If we don't stop now, the obsession with looks will lead to problems later such as body image dissatisfaction, wanting plastic surgery, eating disorders, low self esteem and depression. If kids are looking and behaving like mini adults, then they are also more likely to engage in sexual behaviour at an earlier age. It's no wonder that the US has the highest teenage pregnancy rate in the developed world and the UK has the highest rate in Western Europe.

Now that the government is clamping down on retailers, magazines and broadcasters, we should see less sexualized products and imagery. This will mean less pressure by children on parents. However, recommendations in the Bailey Report on the 'Commercialisation and Sexualisation of Childhood' are only being enforced through voluntary regulations and not legislation. Major British retailers may have signed up to comply but they will always try and constantly push the boundaries.

The only beneficiaries to the sexulisation of children are the corporations and of course pedophiles - after all, sexualisation, whether through adverts, music or products, is a form of grooming. Parents have been helping the very companies that are profiting from the exploitation of their children by buying from them. If we continue then we will be complicit in the sexualisation of our own children. Let's stop right now and not rob them of their childhood.
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