Muslim women keep the faith while traveling — and ziplining — around the world
Yes, Muslim women do have fun. The notion that they don’t, that their faith dictates a nearly cloistered life, was a stereotype that Munazza Muhammad set out to challenge. But the Philadelphia day-care operator never dreamed it would land her atop a donkey wobbling up a Mexican mountain in the company of eight intrepid Traveling Muslimahs. […]
Bikini begone: What modesty at the beach means for Mormons, Muslims, Orthodox Jews, nuns and more
Summer is in full swing. For many of us, that means trips to the pool or the beach to cool off from the summer sun. So what are the options for people — women in particular — whose religion dictates modest dress? Deciding what to wear in the water as a conservative or plain clothes […]
The Burqa or the Bikini?
By Hanan al-Harbi As the weather warms up, many Muslim women head to the beach to cool off. While the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, expected his followers to be able to swim, many Muslim women are confronted with the question of swimwear. If one travels the shorelines of the Islamic world, […]
French Court Affirms One Burkini Ban, Rejects Another
A sizzling summer controversy over burkini bans in France returned to the spotlight in midwinter Thursday, as a Corsican administrative court upheld a local decree against the Muslim swimming garment in one village, but struck down a similar ban elsewhere due to a lack of evidence that it was a threat to public order. The […]
Miss Minnesota Contestant Wears Muslim Headpiece, Burkini
A -19-year-old Somali-American beauty queen became the first woman to wear a burkini and hijab during the Miss Minnesota pageant over the weekend. Halima Aden wore the burkini during the swimsuit portion of the event and the traditional Muslim headpiece during the entire competition. Aden, a student at St. Cloud State University, was born in […]
What’s next for France after the burkini madness?
The burkini hysteria of the 2016 summer has once again turned France into the laughing stock of the Western, if not of the entire, world. It took weeks of controversy and the seizing of the country’s highest administrative authority – the Council of the State – to reaffirm the right for women to dress as […]
Businessman pays fines for women who defied France’s ‘burkini ban’
A wealthy businessman has paid fines imposed on three women who defied France’s burkini ban, and also offered to pay for other people charged under the new law. Rachid Nekkaz, a real-estate entrepreneur of Algerian descent, said he personally opposes the burkini and niqab, but believes that within a democracy nobody has the right to […]
Burkini allows women to have freedom and fun, says Australian creator
Invented in 2004 by an Australian woman, the burkini has come under attack in Germany and France. Banning the full-body swimwear would rob many women of the freedom to have fun in public, says its creator. Sydney (dpa) – Siham Karra-Hassan was 15 years old when her older brother took her to learn how to […]
Who politicized the burkini?
In the past few weeks, multiple towns in France have issued bans on the full-body swimsuit known as the “burkini.” Designed for Muslim women, the burkini covers everything but the face, hands and feet. At least 15 towns and cities in France have banned the swimwear, according to AFP. Nice is the most recent to […]
Opponents Try To Block Mosque Construction In Italy
The construction of a mosque close to Italy’s famous leaning tower of Pisa has come under fire as opponents gather signatures trying to stop the project, claiming it could become a focal point for Islamic radicalization. “According to a recent poll, 57 percent of Pisans are against the mosque,” said politician Gianluca Gambini, one of […]