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Friday, December 9, 2011

Sweden first Muslim woman police in hijab | Muslim Women News

Sweden first Muslim woman police in hijab | Muslim Women News

December 9, 2011

"Sweden’s first veiled police recruit, Donna Eljammal, 26, does not regard her traditional Muslim hijab as a hindrance but rather an asset for her future career within the Swedish police force."

'via Blog this'

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Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Eid: Being LGBT and Muslim - by El-Farouk Khaki

From the Huffington Post - 11/7/11

Eid: Being LGBT and Muslim - by El-Farouk Khaki


El-Farouk Khaki


Eid in Arabic means feast or festivity. Muslims celebrate two religious Eids: Eid ul-Fitri is the celebration at the end of Ramadan, the month of fasting. It is the more festive celebration after a month of abstinence and self-control; children receive money (Eidi) or presents and new clothes, so do some adults. Everyone will wear his or her finery.

The Eid that we are celebrating now is the more somber festival and has multiple names including Eid al-Adha or Eid e-Qurban (both meaning Festival of Sacrifice) and Eid ul-Hajj (Festival of Hajj).

It celebrates the end of the Hajj or the pilgrimage to Mecca during which Muslims around the world celebrate along with the almost 3 million pilgrims in Mecca.

The story of Eid ul-Adha is mostly narrated as the story of the miracle of God replacing Abraham's son with a ram at the moment of intended sacrifice by Abraham of his son Ismail. The miracle is celebrated with the sacrifice of an animal and the distribution of the meat to family, community and the poor. It is a grand tale of patriarchy and submission.

What is often glossed over or even forgotten is the role of an African woman in that story and its remembrance in one of the five pillars of Islamic practice, the Hajj.

Article continued on the Huffington Post.

Thursday, October 6, 2011

Video: First Rock Festival in Kabul After 35 Years

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy



Afghans rock at first music festival in three decades

Live rock returned to Afghanistan after three long decades on Saturday as young men and women cheered and leapt into the air to the sound of heavy bass beats and punk rock.

Full Article.

Kabul Rocks... With Music; Afghan Rock Bands Come Together After 35 Years

From MSNBC - October 3, 2011


Adrienne Mong

Morcha started up in 2005 and describes itself as a "blues rock" band.


KABUL — For once, it's not a deadly explosion that's rocking the Afghan capital.

Just a deafening one.

Electric guitars.  Drums.  Bass guitars.

And a whole lot of moshing. 

"I want to welcome you to Hoodie's, the first underground nightclub!"

Full Article.

Rocking Kabul: Afghanistan Stages Secretive Rock Event


From BBC - Tuesday, October 4, 2011


Festival crowd in Kabul

The event finished in the Central Sound Festival at Bagh-e Babor Gardens


It was arranged in secret, dates and venues closely guarded until the day.

But this basement gig, held underneath a veterinary clinic, isn't in London or New York but in the Afghan capital, Kabul.

The event was part of the city's first rock festival since the fall of the Taliban and it went ahead despite threats to some of the bands.

"Four or five years ago all this could only have been a dream," says lead vocalist of District Unknown, Kassim.

"You wouldn't even be able to dream it up actually. Having a rock festival, people gathering, girls and boys together and listening to this music and headbanging. But this week it's happening."

Full Article.

Thursday, May 12, 2011

Playboy's Muslim Cover Girl: Is Sila Sahin Good for Women?

Playboy's Muslim Cover Girl: Is Sila Sahin Good for Women?

Article - Nomani Playboy Muslim
Sila Sahin, an actress of Turkish and German descent, has outraged her family and members of the Muslim community by posing naked in Playboy.


Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Speed-Dating, Muslim Style

Yana Paskova for The New York Times

A speed dating event geared toward Muslim singles was held in a conference room at a Bayside, Queens hotel.

Full Article from the New York Times - February 11, 2011

Monday, January 31, 2011

LGBT Muslim Retreat; Spaces Being Filled Fast. Limited Registration; Scholarships Available

LGBT Muslim Retreat * Philadelphia, PA

May 27-30, 2011 - Memorial Day Weekend


Theme: Al-Jama'ah (The Community)


"Come, come, whoever you are. Wanderer, worshiper, lover of leaving. It doesn't matter.
Ours is not a caravan of despair. come, even if you have broken your vows a thousand times.
Come, yet again, come, come."  
- Mawlana Jalal-al-Din Rumi

 

Confirmed Speakers:  Imam Daayiee Abdullah (an openly gay Imam and scholar of Islam) and Dr. Siraj Scott Kugle (author of Islam & Homosexuality)


  Our retreat location:

§  Beautiful suburbs of Philadelphia; "an oasis for reflection with beautiful grounds"

§  On 20+ acres surrounded by trees, flowers and 1 mile woodchip trail

§  Private rooms with bed(s) and desk(s)

§  Delicious meals and refreshments (including vegetarian & vegan options)

§  Art studio, library & wi-fi access


     Available Rooms as of February 1, 2011:

§  1 single rooms - 1 space available (Male)

§  6 single rooms - 6 spaces available (Female)

§  1 shared room Option A - 2 single beds - 2 spaces available (Female)

§  1 shared room Option B - 1 double bed and 2 single beds - 3 spaces available (Female)

§  0 spaces available (Co-Ed Floor - Female & Male)

§  6 commuter / staying off-site spaces available


Registration Information:
Single Rooms - Retreat Accommodations & Meals: $250 plus Registration: $80  Total: $330 per person

Shared Rooms - Option A - 2 people per room - Retreat Accommodations & Meals:  $220; Registration: $80
                        Total: $300 per person

                        Option B - 3 or 4 people per room - Retreat Accommodations & Meals: $200; Registration: "
                        $80   Total: $280

  
Commuters & Those Staying Off-Site - Option 1:  Friday-Monday - Meals & Retreat: $85; Registration: $80   - Total: $165

                                                          Option 2: Saturday or Sunday only -Meals & Retreat; Total: $85

 

Limited Registrations / Scholarships Available


For more information visit: http://www.lgbtmuslimretreat.com 

or contact us at lgbtmuslimretreat@gmail.com



Sunday, January 30, 2011

Muslims for Progressive Values 5th Annual Retreat; July 1-3, 2011; Berkeley, CA


ourprinciples

SAVE THE DATE!


Muslims for Progressive Values
5th Annual Retreat

“Cultivating Spirituality & an Ethos of Justice in Everyday Life”

July 1st-3rd 2011
BerkeleyCA
Pacific School of Religion
Join Muslims for Progressive Values for an interactive weekend dedicated to self-reflection, personal growth and community building.

Presentations & workshops by:
Dr. Amina Wadud,
Dr. Ghazala Anwar,
Yarehk Hernandez, M.S
and more!

More information and registration details coming soon!
 Please join us on Facebook: “Muslims for Progressive Values” 
or visit our website: www.mpvusa.org.

We welcome all who are willing to respect, listen and learn from one another with an open, non-discriminating heart. MPV strives to create safe spaces for everyone including LGBTQ individuals, mixed faith couples, and people of various religious and sectarian affiliations.

Valentine's Day Across the Muslim World (2012)