We encourage readers to turn to multiple and diverse news sources for accurate information and balanced commentary. The goal of these roundups is simple: to offer a sample of news from around the world related to the intersection of “east” and “west” and the status of women. If you have articles or other items you’d like to suggest, e-mail Todd at todd@findingbibi.com.
Biggest haul at Grammys goes to record-breaking Beyonce, New York Times
Deadly blast hits Iraq pilgrims, Al Jazeera English
Iran pays homage to Khomeini amid turmoil, Al Arabiya
Muslim feminists deserve to be heard, Sydney Morning Herald
WTFatwa Literally! Media’s Love Affair with “The Fatwa”, elan the mag
The boy who cried “witch”: Saudis investigate domestic workers for witchcraft, AltMuslimah
68% of Saudi girls drop last name on Facebook, Muslimah Media Watch
Director Kathryn Bigelow wins first female top director’s award for Iraq film, Al Arabiya
Women Artists from the Islamic World, AltMuslimah
Why aren’t the networks picking up more pilots created by women?, Jezebel
Define Yourself: Discussions of Women, Feminism and the Arab World, Muslimah Media Watch
Collision of beauty and beliefs The Jakarta Post
Bloomingdale’s Dubai opens, the company’s first location outside of the US, Huffington Post
Egypt beats Ghana, earning African Cup Title, New York Times
Driving me crazy: The BBC’s Muslim Driving School, Muslimah Media Watch
Malaysian court overturns ban on Muslim women book, AFP
Iranian opposition calls for mass protests, Al Jazeera English
Canada to reject burka ban, Toronto Sun
International Muslim women scientists conference opens in Tehran, Tehran Times
This is not an exhaustive list nor one filtered to reflect a particular point of view. Therefore, neither the views expressed in articles nor those neglected by this list should be seen as reflecting Finding Bibi’s views.
Thanks for another really interesting and thought- provoking Roundup! The contrast between the opinion piece, “WTFatwa Literally!” and the article from the Jakarta Post, “Collision of beauty and beliefs,” regarding the same fatwa story was particularly thought- provoking. If the fatwa issued by the supposedly obscure East Java group of clerics … See Moreshould simply be dismissed as silly and meaningless then why, as reported in The Jakarta Post, is there a “silent majority” of people–including leaders of Muslim organizations and a bunch of Muslim hair salons– who fear some sort of reprisal or at least economic effect if they speak out against it? Aisha Gawad seems to be blithely dismissing the potential for negative fatwas–even silly ones–to create fear and limit personal freedoms. When moderate and progressive Muslims have reason to fear speaking out against an absurd fatwa, perhaps it shouldn’t be so lightly dismissed. Her elan opinion piece prompted me to research Salman Rushdie and the death sentence fatwa he has been living under for decades! [I do agree, however, with Aisha Gawad, that there seems to be a sort of lust for negative reports about Islam and Muslims among non-Muslims.]
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