By imaanasimI joined my kickboxing class eight months ago, after leaving my beloved jujitsu class back in Doha last year. The biggest difference between the two classes is that my former was filled with Muslim women, but in my current class in England, I am the only brown woman (except for my sisters), and the only…
By imaanasimI won’t lie to you. This Ramadan was tough. It’s my seventh Ramadan fasting, and the hardest one to date. I’ve been back in England for almost a year now — after living in Qatar for nine years — trying to survive my first year of A-Levels unscathed. It was a rollercoaster month of ups…
By imaanasimRepresentation in sports can change hearts and minds. In a world where we are divided, constantly picking political sides or having debates about religion, it might seem surprising that football unites us all. At the core of football is unity and allyship, with support from players, bosses, and fans. I ask myself how one team…
By imaanasimEid is here, and I have a message for those of you who are done debating whether the moon can still be seen, and are instead panicking about what to wear: girl, I’ve got you covered! We all know how stressful picking out the right outfit can be, especially when there are so many different…
By imaanasimIf you ask any Muslim student what’s on their mind at the moment, it will probably be Ramadan and exams. When Ramadan is in the late spring or summer months, it coincides with exams for many of us, which some may view as a burden, but I would say it’s a blessing in disguise. Now,…
By imaanasimWe all know the importance of healthcare to be able to look after our physical and mental health. But unfortunately, in an age where capitalism is prevalent, not everyone can afford this. Healthcare is a necessity, not a luxury, which is why this Ohio mosque has opened up a free medical clinic for those who…
By imaanasimFor all Muslim women around the globe, yesterday was a monumental day. Halima Aden yet again made history by being the first model to wear a burkini in the Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition. I don’t know about you, but this excited me a lot. Like many other Muslim girls, I’ve grown up barely seeing myself…
By imaanasimYesterday, Trump tweeted out an edited video of Rep. Ilhan Omar’s comments about 9/11. From Omar’s entire speech, he picked out four decontextualized words—“some people did something”—which he used to further fuel his Islamophobic propaganda and racist agenda. It seems to me that many white, conservative men like Trump are intimidated by strong and powerful…
By imaanasimWe’ve all been in that situation where, amidst a discussion about world issues, someone has said to us, “Oh, I’m not into politics.” What I’ve never understood is how someone can simply not be “into” politics. No one is asking you to like politics, because let’s face it, who does especially considering the trainwreck it…
By imaanasimOn March 8th, some of us were celebrating International Women’s Day by watching Captain Marvel. In Pakistan, a nationwide “Aurat March” was held as a direct equivalent to the well-known “Women’s March.” Women and men from across Pakistan came together to protest against gender discrimination. I was intrigued as to why the word “Aurat” was…
By imaanasimOn March 15, 2019, up to 50 Muslim worshippers have been killed in Christchurch, New Zealand, during Friday prayers at two separate mosques. I’ve never felt so heartbroken over an attack before. Maybe it was because I was living in my little Doha bubble, shielded from the rest of the real world, or because I…
By imaanasimSuperheroes, arguably the one universal concept that all people support. We all love the comics, and we all love the characters, but we cannot all love the films. Why, I hear you ask? Well, perhaps because what we have sorely lacked in the vast line-up of Marvel movies is female superheroes. So, as we prepare…
By imaanasimAs a member of the community, I can firmly certify that within the South Asian community, an anti-black sentiment has been silently festering for some years through colorism, about affirmative action, dating back to a time when Black people were enslaved in India. Within the first few weeks of 2019, Khadija Ben Hamou became the first…
By imaanasimFor most of us, our regular commute on the bus or train is our first contact with the outside world, and can, as a matter of fact, make or break our day. Imagine having spent a lovely weekend unwinding from the stresses of work, only to be faced with that dreaded concept of Monday. Monday…
By imaanasimAngela Davis, acclaimed activist and author, dominated headlines this week after the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute revoked their decision to award her the Fred Shuttlesworth Human Rights Award. It won’t come as a surprise to hear this was a result of Davis’ long-term support for the BDS movement. Within the media, we only ever see…
