Empowering Women

By: Saadia Malik

Letter to Editor written to Mississauga News

As I read the recent comments made by Laurence Rossignol, France’s Minister for Women’s Rights, about Muslim women who veil being likened to slaves; I was left heartbroken. Firstly, because she will never know the repercussions that her comment will have, on Muslim women all around the world, particularly in France. France has already made it seemingly impossible for Muslim women to practice their faith without the fear of being judged, mocked and even punished. Muslim women who choose to veil are doing so with the conscious intention of being judged based solely on her personality, character and contributions to society. If Laurence Rossignol would take a step back and appreciate this, she would realize that these goals aren’t unique to Muslim women; these are the goals that all women strive for. In a world where women are constantly objectified and made to feel that their worth is based on how they look, Laurence Rossignol, as a minister of women’s rights, should not be telling women what or what not to wear. If a woman is free to expose her body, why is she not free to cover it? If you ask me, or the thousands of Muslim women who choose to veil, refusing to fall victim to a society who time and again reaffirms that a woman’s value is based on her sexuality and physical appearance, is truly a thing of strength. #BraveNotSlave


Published by The Mississauga News on April 15, 2016:

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Protecting Women's Rights; including Muslim Women

By: Saadia Malik 

Letter to Editor written to @TorontoStar (Unpublished)

I never truly appreciated how much power lay in the words of a political figure, until recently; I see time and again how people are influenced by Donald Trump’s outbursts of hate and bigotry. All it takes is one ignorant comment by one ignorant person, to set a wave in motion; a wave of hatred, intolerance and fear. 

Recently, Laurence Rossignol, France’s Minister of Families, Children and Women’s Rights, stated ignorantly that Muslim women who veil can be likened to “slaves”. Whether these comments were made to progress her political platform or whether she truly believe that a woman who chooses to cover herself is a “slave”, there is no room for such ignorance in a world that is already fighting a brutal battle against bigotry. If anyone were to ask me, or the thousands of Muslim women who choose to veil, refusing to fall victim to a society who time and again reaffirms that a woman’s value is based on her sexuality and physical appearance, is truly the personification of strength. It takes great courage to cover yourself in a society where uncovering yourself is applauded. It takes unparalleled bravery to veil in a world full of hate and intolerance towards Muslims. Muslim women who veil, are more empowered and liberated from society’s grasp, than many people know. We are not “slaves”; we are brave, courageous women who want nothing more than to be respected, dynamic and contributing members of society without having to compromise our ideals.

In a world where women are constantly objectified and made to feel that their worth is based on how they look, Laurence Rossignol, who should be defending women's rights, should not, of all people, be telling women what or what not to wear.

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The Islam of Peace, Love and Brotherhood

By: Saadia Malik

First Paris, then Brussels and now Pakistan; it seems that the ceaseless threat of terrorism no longer has any borders. This is a fear that resonates with everybody, all at once; nobody is safe anymore. The latest attack in Lahore shows us just that; innocent women, children and men, who were celebrating Easter at a theme park in Pakistan, were within seconds subject to one of the most horrific terror attacks the world has ever seen.  Our hearts grieve for the loss of these innocent souls. Sadly, for many people, this grief turns into anger, which is directed towards Muslims; towards Islam. This anger is soon after followed fear, which is evident in the growing trend of Islamophobia. We may not be able to do as much as we would like in the face of such attacks, but what we can do; we should. We must not give these terrorists the satisfaction of representing Islam; they represent only hate, intolerance and violence. Bernie Sanders, Democratic presidential candidate of the United States has said it best,  “It’s important we not succumb to bigotry. We are fighting a terrorist organization killing innocent people. We are not fighting a religion.” So let us do just that, as we stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters who have been victims of such terrorism, let us unite against the evil and not let it divide us. Let us attribute these atrocities to the evil people who orchestrated them, and not to the millions of innocent Muslims who are repulsed by Daesh and their relentless efforts to represent Islam; a religion which embodies only peace, love and brotherhood.

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The World Needs to Inculcate Truth and Justice

By: Sidra Saeed

Once again terrorism has stunned a major city of Brussels. An attack that was claimed by ISIS that has claimed lives of at least 30 and injured several others. Every time these so-called jihadist attacks make news headlines, Muslims find a moral obligation to prove that there is nothing Islamic about ISIS, or as I prefer to call them Daesh. I too, find it personally grotesque to hear of these where terrorists murder innocent civilians in the name of God, who in the Quran is mentioned countless times as, “The Most Gracious, the Ever Merciful”. The matter of the fact is that these attacks are solely geopolitical than religious. All these terrorist organisations have thrived in countries that are politically instable. Dictators in these Muslim-majority countries have suppressed its people of basic human rights, free speech, illiberal attitudes and the root cause of all of this being injustice. This has been repeatedly talked about by the virtuous and true Caliph of Islam, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad the head of the worldwide Ahmadiyya Muslim Community who along with millions of followers in more than 200 countries is ardently paving the path for reconciliation. He has been a tireless advocate of global peace and principle of true justice and the peaceful teachings of true Islam. The content of his numerous speeches and vital addresses to world leaders have been penned down in his book ‘World Crisis: Pathway to Peace’. However, in these trying times of the world it has become imperative now more than ever, for political leaders to inculcate truth and justice- for it is the foundation of a more harmonious and peaceful world.

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Biased Media reporting promotes Islamophobia

By: Saadia Malikk

Letter written in Response to: +National Post @VictorFerreira  "San Bernardino suspects’ home opened for reporters who dig through personal items"

Allowing reporters and civilians to scamper through the apartment of the San Bernardo suspects and publicly expose the photographs has numerous unavoidable and inadvertent implications. Firstly, what should have remained a functional crime scene under surveillance of the FBI and other investigative authorities has now become an idealized public “expedition” of the weapons and other possessions of the malicious San Bernardo murderers. Likewise, the images of the Quran, the poster on the wall with “Allah” written on it and various other Islamic books found in the apartment, will further increase the sentiment of Islamophobia among the general public.  For people who are already falling victim to Islamophobia and the unwarranted fear of Islam, they now have another excuse to associate these images with terrorism. Instead, we should focus our attention on the innocent victims, voicing our disapproval of American gun laws and the NRA, as well as remaining unified and informed during this truly difficult time. It is crucial for us to remain informed, impartial and cognizant as we are inundated daily with images, stories, and reports of this ongoing investigation. 

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Unity and Dialogue - Vital to Fight Terrorism

By: Saadia Malikk

Letter written in response to: +The Associated Press and +Toronto Star's report FBI investigating California mass shooting as act of terrorism

The mere thought of a well off, newly married couple with a young child, attacking a group of innocent people with rounds upon rounds of bullets, is truly unfathomable. While the true motives behind this immoral attack remain unknown, it is important for us to keep a few things a mind. Firstly, we must be cognizant of the information that is being reported by abstaining from grouping these malicious attackers into the same category as millions of Muslims who like everyone else, are extremely upset by this senseless act of violence. Instead, these attackers should be grouped with all of the other violent attackers, regardless of their faith or cultural background, who have committed similar senseless acts of violence. Secondly, we must all play an active role in voicing our opinions and denouncing the NRA and American gun laws. Lastly, we must remember that at times like these when it can be so easy to become divided, it is tremendously vital for us all to remain unified and engage in an exchange of dialogue. Without this discourse, ill-advised assumptions will be formulated, and we will end up falling victim to the irrational fears and discord that extremists ultimately thrive on.

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My Religion is Islam; Their's is Mockery

By: Maria Ahmed

Have you heard of a religion that promotes violence, death, and bloodshed? ...Unfortunately, I have. The name of this so-called "religion" is mockery and it thrives on defaming Islam by using it as a tool to promote ruthless acts that any true Muslim would condemn. These impostors are better known as ISIS.

Islam means peace, yet the impostors continue to kill.

Islam promotes selflessness for humanity, yet they continue to torture.

Islam stands for harmony, yet they continue to discriminate.

Islam leaves death to the will of God, yet they continue to commit suicide bombings.

Islam is not synonymous with terrorism, yet the terrorists continue to call themselves Muslims.

These impostors have been attempting to forge Islam as a religion of mass violence for far too long. And in light of the recent terror attacks in Paris, let it be clear that this was not an 'Islamic attack'. 

The statements released by ISIS claiming responsibility for the Paris attacks are not only sickening; however, they boast a so-called “Islamic” ideology. Interestingly enough, the word ‘Islam’ means ‘peace’; thus, contradicting the actions of ISIS and the movement itself. The ideology they so proudly flaunt is purely radical; far from Islam or any other religion. It is the ill fortune of these armed men to have painted Islam and the Prophet Muhammad (saw) with their own false perceptions. The God they claim to follow is not our beloved Allah. Our Lord has provided us with the following teaching in the Quran: "...And kill not the life which Allah has made sacred. (Chapter 6: Verse 152)." Furthermore, the Prophet they claim to follow is not the Prophet of Islam. Our Prophet was a man who never raised his voice, prayed for all of humankind, forgave even his worst enemies, and treated each and every human being with utmost love and respect. How can he be the same man to promote violence and bloodshed, let alone support it in any way? 

Quite unfairly, ISIS is described as a “terrorist group led by Muslims". Based on the details of Islam discussed above, it is obvious that a movement of this sort is strictly forbidden in Islam. Therefore, the impostors who took the lives of an astounding number of individuals in Paris are not Muslims. This attack was not religious, nor was it ‘Islamic’. It never is. Sadly, these attacks are committed by the impostors against humanity, peace, and harmony - characteristics that are not only rooted in Islam, but are common on a global scale. Their ruthless attacks continue to cost the lives of hundreds of innocent individuals. And now, we mourn their loss. 

My heart goes out to those who have lost their loved ones, have been injured, and have had the misfortune of witnessing this grotesque attack. I pray for those who must bear the burden of laying their child's grave, have become physically disabled, and are now mentally unstable. As a human being, a sister, a daughter, and a friend, I, too, grieve your loss. As a Muslim, I, too, stand with you against these impostors. 

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