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'
From the Huffington Post - 11/7/11
Eid: Being LGBT and Muslim - by 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.
From Reuters - October 1, 2011
KABUL — 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.
From MSNBC - October 3, 2011 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!"
From BBC - Tuesday, October 4, 2011
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.
Playboy's Muslim Cover Girl: Is Sila Sahin Good for Women?
Sila Sahin, an actress of Turkish and German descent, has outraged her family and members of the Muslim community by posing naked in Playboy.
A speed dating event geared toward Muslim singles was held in a conference room at a Bayside, Queens hotel.
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
To gather together as a community of individuals who identify as Muslim culturally, religiously, ideologically and/or politically and also as lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT), while reconnecting with our faith, our community and with ourselves.
