Working with Muslim Youth Conference – The new approach Burlington Hotel.

Hear My Voice organised a ground breaking conference for young Muslim Youth and organisations supporting them; including young Muslim women, not shying away from tackling serious issues on young gangs, violence and crime with 200 delegates storming around the room to network, engage and share experiences. It was a time to meet, colleagues, friends who have in years become my second family.

As a facilitator for the workshop young girls safe spaces- no boys allowed I gave delegates an overview on the role young Muslim women can contribute to economic activity and social enterprises, empowering women to capacity build and gain financial independence. This will build them in the future to strongly uphold them in big society. Based on the organisational model for the Community Integration Partnership CIP for Women, I showcased the charity organisation as a success to contributing new migrant women and children in accessing training and employment.  I provided examples and case studies in creating craft and practical innovative social enterprises in an extreme tight timeframe. My colleague, Shahida, community champion and highly regarded change maker; bringing all women cohesively, delivered the mainstream media perception of women with interactive activity for delegates in the first session. Zayneb female photographer captured highlights of the conference.

As I brought the workshop to an end with the final closure to respect, admire Muslim women and allow safe spaces for them to explore find their skills rather than forcing society’s minimum standards and requirements. These young Muslim women should be allowed to identify their careers, goals, aspirations and soft skills, they can explore academia and business model approaches. They also need to be supported by family and organisational networks and youth workers.

The conference networking gave some tiresome practitioners the space also to regain more energy to pursue our personal goals; to empower women and address the issues of violence against women that we hold in our heart deeply over a spot of halal lunch, mousse and beverages.

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Parveen Hassan's Blog: SECULAR FEMINISM IN PAKISTAN – A NEW AWAKENING

Parveen Hassan's Blog: SECULAR FEMINISM IN PAKISTAN – A NEW AWAKENING: "This week women from Europe and parts of Asia gathered to attend the Women from Muslim Communities and their engagement in politics conventi..."

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SECULAR FEMINISM IN PAKISTAN – A NEW AWAKENING

This week women from Europe and parts of Asia gathered to attend the Women from Muslim Communities and their engagement in politics convention; debating with leading academics on Muslim women; their roles in political and civic participation, activism and the Islamic Feminists Movement. I was captivated to hear their austere views on roles and labels society puts upon “Muslim” women rather than simply women struggling in society like their foremothers organised by the Centre for Research in Ethnic Relations. As my eyes conjecture over the delegation with women across the trans network  dressed in hijab’s and those women without the veil, intrigued to listen to the debate as I interviewed Afiya S Zia, author of the acclaimed Sex Crime in the Islamic Context, Rape, Class and Gender in Pakistan (1994).

Zia argues across the floor of sceptical women the point of a significant paradigm in the discourse of feminist politics in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Zia a forthright thinker of a new feminist breed was enlightening to the audience in comparison to European sisters speaking at the convention. Targeted delegates, academic researchers and strong leading Muslim women participated in the panel and round table discussions over a grilling two days.

A NEW FEMINISM?

Zia calls the rise of a new feminism, rooted in Islamic discourse, non-confrontational, privatised and bespoke, whose objective is to "empower" women within Islam.  Is Pakistan showing us the way for Bangladeshi women to deliver the identical purpose?  Before I categorise this under post 9/11; there’s far more credit to be given to Zia, educating and reminding the balance and the cause of this new feminist movement. As a consequence of unresolved debates on the issue of religion within the progressive women's movement, Zia suggests it has been the internal inconsistency of the political strategies as well as the personal, Muslim identities of secular feminists that has allowed for Islamic feminists to readdress and differentiate the feminist agenda in Pakistan.

WOMEN’S MOVEMENT

Zia worked in the non-governmental sector on women and development projects in the early 1990’s and wrote several papers for national and international forums, edited a series of books on women's issues including; ‘Unveiling the Issues.’ Her challenge to secular feminism in Pakistan as the women’s movement confronts growing conservatism and Islamic militancy has been observed world wide by women.

Zia voice quickly won the hearts and minds and mesmerised the delegation by her profound and somewhat not surprising papers on the larger anxiety over the rise of a new generation of Islamic revivalist feminists who seek to rationalize all women's rights within the religious framework and render secular feminism extraneous. The threat of her particular views premised on a polarized 'superior' verses 'shocking' Muslim women, such that women who abide by the liberal interpretation of theology will be pitted against those who follow a strict and literal interpretist mode and associate themselves with male religio-political discourse.

This is only likely to produce a new, radicalized, religio-political feminism dominating Pakistan's political future with progressive movements and to some extent Bangladesh and feminists finding a cause to progress women, equality and justice. I rally behind these women like Zia who forever a day challenge the notions of women struggles and movements with a different, unconventional philosophy.

I hope that her ideology is not wasted and her thought provoking paper add some understanding to women researching in this field as new growing feminist movements develop, supporting Muslim sisterhood; on strands of equality, social justice and fairness. Afiya Zia discovered the cultural impact of the discriminatory religious laws in Pakistan, find out more by reading her work; in Sex Crime in the Islamic Context; Rape, Class and Gender in Pakistan (1994).

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MUSLIM MARRIAGE CONTRACTS - MODERN NEEDS

I feel it’s genuinely important for women to be sentient of their rights, it’s not knowing them that makes you vulnerable and isolated in society. How meaningful are Muslim Marriage contracts to the common women who have immigrated from faraway shores and those living in the UK? You see heavenly weddings taking place amongst families, contracts signed between partners with an Imam and witnesses; but ask the bold question to the bride how much does a marriage contract hold legally? Dowry, wealth of gold and land written neatly in front of hundreds of well wishers; in reality we never look at the fine print beyond the wedding flowers and balloon trimmings.

As divorces take place within South Asian families, Bangladeshi females should acknowledge the existence of them, to avoid any Muslim female oppression in the future; contracts are there to be fulfilled. I was casting my eye over the recent Muslim Marriage contract I hold which looks very different to the one endorsed by Islamic scholars today and organisations; created by The Muslim Law (Shariah) Council UK, The Muslim Council of Britain, Imams and Mosques Council UK and Muslim Women Network in 2008 amongst other prominent Muslim leaders in the field. This can only aid women independently, support them and secure their ability for challenges when they arise.

Introduction to a Guide to a Happy Marriage

In the Shari‘ah, marriage is a relationship of mutual love, mercy and kindness. In Islamic law marriage is a civil contract between parties which allows them mutually to agree upon the terms and conditions of their future together. Like any other contract, the free consent of the parties to the agreement to marry is essential. Many Muslim couples in the UK prefer to have a marriage contract. In order to avoid any potential for confusion it’s best that the agreed terms and conditions of the contract be put down on paper.

Muslim Marriage Certificate its meaning?

To secure women’s rights under the mutually agreed contract, after rigorous redrafts, finalised by consensus effort of Islamic scholars and experts in family matters, it was laid down to protect the rights of both parties to a non-registry marriage guaranteed under the Shari‘ah. The Certificate of Marriage now explains basic rights and responsibilities of the parties to the marriage and recording the terms upon which the parties have agreed to enter into the relationship, with guidelines, their shared obligation to support the family. Setting down these matters in writing allows an intending couple to agree upon many important matters related to their future lives, together should contribute to a harmonious and happy marriage.

Terms and conditions

The Certificate of Marriage provides the parties entering into a Muslim marriage with written evidence of their marriage and of the terms and conditions agreed between the spouses. In the absence of such evidence, parties to a Muslim marriage, and in particular women have faced huge difficulties in securing the financial rights guaranteed to them under the Shari‘ah upon divorce.

Campaigns with Mosques

As advocates strongly campaign to encourage more mosques to become places registered for the solemnisation of marriage under the 1948 Marriage Act. Efforts are made for mosques to perform marriages recognised under English or Scottish law. Muslim women married in Britain will be able to access the British courts regarding marital issues whilst at the same time enabling British courts to enforce the rights of parties to a Muslim marriage in accordance with the Shari‘ah.

Look at the fine print

Completion of this Marriage Contract allows an intending couple to agree upon many important matters related to their future lives together. As these matters can have lifelong effects upon both spouses and any children, it’s important that they be properly discussed beforehand, read the fine print carefully, completed and signed in triplicate: one copy should be given to the bride, to the bridegroom, and remaining deposited with the Registrar or Imam who countersigns the certificate.

Remember:

Mahr is the consideration for the contract of marriage between the parties either form of money and/or goods given by the Bridegroom to the Bride in consideration for the marriage. It is an essential element of Muslim marriage and is exclusively reserved for the use of the female partner. Any property the bride brings to the marriage through her own efforts or through inheritance remains the property of the bride and should be written down; any customary gifts given by the bride’s family dowry at the time of marriage remains the property of the bride and should be written down.

As I smile with bewilderment on paper, crowned already a Queen if it fails; the wealth of priceless lands in Bangladesh, mansion three fold of an English country cottage, promised superfluous sum of cash; along with any joyful occasion come responsibilities, obligations and accountability. It is the right of the women to ask for her contract and have it clearly explained. The precious document is vital as photographic memories; picturesque vanilla wedding layered flowered gateau and a tearful DVD of the celebration; for your own protection, retain it and have it reviewed by a family law specialist. Only then can we avoid it been played down by men under religious laws and pretence.

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NATIONAL MUSLIM WOMEN ADVISORY GROUP MUSLIM WOMEN CIVIC SKILLS PROJECT

UNIVERSITY OF WARWICK- LOCAL GOVERNMENT POLITICAL SKILLS FORUM

I  spoke at the new delegates of the national Muslim Women Advisory Group Muslim Women Civic Skills Programme.

24 Muslim Women were selected nationally to participate on the two day module course to actively path their career goals in public and political life, ensuring women had the opportunity to enhance their visibility in public life.

As a key note speaker I was determined to make them feel at ease and demonstrate what can be achieved in a relatively short programme.

I shared my career and civic participation I had undertaken in the community actively and campaigns whilst reviewing their ambitions and personal development goals. 

It was a day of meet, greet and network to support sisterhood.

I facilitated and conducted a speed dating exercise of fiery questions on the challenges I encountered to progress in my career and my personal ambition towards national recognition in public life.

Paul Wheeler from the National Political Skills Forum hosted the two days funded and supported by CLG; Communities and Local Government. 

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RED TENT BIRMINGHAM WOMEN LEADERS IN THE CITY

WAITS

Organised by Robina Iqbal, WAITS policy chair of the forum; Women Acting In Today's Society (WAITS) featured in the Birmingham Post.

I was asked to be a key note speaker; my presentation focussed on helping motivate others and mentoring programmes, young women and city mothers have a great deal of expertise amongst us.

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We discussed and delivered workshops on Domestic Violence Equality related matters amongst women, and women in leadership to maintain a work life balance.

The 60 women from all walks of life came together once again to share, learn and aspire others. I was proud to see my staff from the Birmingham Community Integration Partnership supporting the cause for new migrant women, refugee and asylum seekers with families show casing the work to assist women in education, life long learning and gain employment skills.

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BIRMINGHAM BIG SISTERS PROJECT MWN UK

Role models were recently identified to be part of the city wide BIG SISTERS Project. An exhibition, photo booklet of inspirational city wide role models with their individual successes profiled to share stories and career paths for young women at schools.


I was asked to feature as a board member of Muslim Women Network UK and the public appointments held; as a Trustee and my civil service career in addressing Gender Equality.


The personalised interview had taken me back 17 years and a journey from educational achievements and career ambitions.


I look forward to sharing the final article and feature with you once published on MWN UK and at the exhibition launch in November 2010.

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VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN BOARD PAN BIRMINGHAM

FORCED MARRIAGES PROTOCOL

Attended the Violence Against Women Board as an executive member, partner agencies and women in the city worked for several hours to review a way forward on the city approach to tackling the Forced Marriages protocol.

Executive members, directed by the chief executive heard from the early developments of city council leads and litigation department in working with children and young people and vulnerable adults.

As we review drafts and return to respective organisations to champion and support the cause, we continue to read headlines on Ahmed and others on Honour Based Violence and Domestic Abuse.

Further monthly meetings are held looking at the city wide approach on campaigning against Violence Against Women.

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BANGLADESHI FEMALE ICONS

How easy is it to make the fashion world? Our hidden role models include our Bangladesh beauty; Bibi Russell is much to be admired. Young girls dream of fabrics, cuts and fashion labels with marketing and branding attached to sequins and silks. We know little support is given to women and young girls to join the fashion industry, despite women from immigrant families in Bangladesh arrive trained and masters at cutting and stitching blouses. Some already tailor experts outshine men but rarely utilised to expand their talents in the UK.

Could we see a brick lane with female run boutiques and factories run by women? This is not as hard as it seems; women from Bangladesh have all the making of garment glamour to explore and believe in creativity in their own fashion. However they never seem to make it from their backend lounges. As Bibi Russell, dedicated her life to fashion is no ordinary fashion designer from spreading her iconic charisma on the catwalks, a renowned former international model from our very own Bangladesh. I remember as a young girl, my mother an immigrant from Bangladesh was a factory clothing specialist in the UK. Breaking stereotypes, she worked for survival and means, cut exciting patterns from home for the factory and frantically at times when dinner was served late to meet timescales. I wonder why I never pursued this line of work; perhaps lack of encouragement and support from my family and father. This is not to say we cannot all take forward this unique craft at present since as a generation new art is formed.

As we learn from the best, Bibi Russell born in Chittagong, Bangladesh, studied in London College of Fashion, earning a graduate degree in 1975. Her modelling career, within the next five years gave her stepping opportunities and cover shoots as a model up market magazines including Vogue, Cosmopolitan and Harper's Bazaar.

From fashion shows working with Yves Saint Laurent, Kenzo, Karl Lagerfeld and Giorgio Armani in the nineties. Her fashion heights since her return to Bangladesh in 1994, Bibi Productions was born, launched her own fashion house, fusing native Bengali cultural elements into her fashion line.

Thanks to the support and endorsements from UNESCO, she organized her first European fashion show in Paris in 1996. As of 2004, her company employed 35,000 weavers in rural Bangladesh. Her entrepreneurship has earned her many awards. This entails her to build her entrepreneur skills and assist other women of Bengal, now an ambassador of fashion, it is time we looked at art of cloth making, the history of uniforms to saris, all start with South Asian home grown skills, talent within our Bangladeshi communities’ females and males can benefit from the concept of fashion. The wealth of fabric lines in Bangladesh can be imported in to the UK as do from India and Pakistan, Bangladesh as an industry could be born.

Actively encouraging women and young men to appreciate vocational art of fabric textures, clothing and dyes is creativity at its best. Consequently girls can break the industry of fashion who like the inspiration and overcome cultural barriers and prejudice of having their own dream factories; can find their threads and machines, silks and various jute, velvet with wadding and cutting mats. Take a look at London College of Fashion for colour management and textile diplomas, short courses, one day master classes and full time courses in; fashion marketing, management, textile design and pattern cutting.

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DOMESTIC ABUSE ‘UNLOCKING THE SECRETS’

Domestic Abuse is part of our everyday lives; we see it on poster campaigns, sensationalised recently on TV programmes to open our eyes, only to remind us what is happening to women across the globe. High publicity campaigns by stars come out in forces like Nicole Kidman; highlight the need to report crimes as we listen to continuous alarming statistics; drastic related murders from years of enduring suffering from women and survivors of Domestic Violence who coincidentally escape.

However do we rarely go deeper to explore, address and challenge myths and stereotypes set out by agencies? These failures make us more vulnerable to these crimes which are massively under reported.

CHALLENGE MYTHS

How many times have I heard the notion ‘it’s another domestic, leave them it’s in their household, let’s not interfere it’s cultural in families.’ What a load of nonsense. The impact Domestic Violence has on their personal relationships, their families are seriously underestimated.  Domestic Violence accounts for 17% of reported crime (survey 2005, Nicholas, Povey, Walker and Kershaw). Society fails these women, to understand their needs and circumstances, wipes away them as another menace to society and the neighbourhood. Agencies neglect, authorities vigorously deny it only to hear the latest episode of another tragedy. Survivors of domestic violence and their children are left unsafe whilst their abusers roam freely.

DOMESTIC ABUSE

Horrific case studies show more fingers pointing amongst agencies and failures of lack of joint interaction when survivors relieve their tormented nightmares. As they remember their ordeal to make us aware of the rooted lack of support and missing the signals to help them.  Domestic Abuse varies from physical, financial, emotional threats and isolations they are many other forms of Domestic Abuse.

Cultural Sensitivity

Cultural sensitivity is no excuse to be ignorant. Women from South Asian communities encounter domestic violence. Their language and cultural barriers, confusion how to contact authorities is patchy across regions. Organisations addressing Violence against Women have developed help lines, refuge and support workers, however under resourced. They provide skilled workers from diverse backgrounds but the Community and Voluntary Sector specialists are anxiously scarce. Recent Government cuts will impact them heavily. Cultural barriers stem from zero understanding of agencies thinking of family attitudes towards women; male behaviour patterns and mentality capture these women more in unsafe territory. These particular women trail in communicating their problems to third parties. Men make women feel undervalued, useless, as they suffer from low self- esteem. Women are more at risk when ignored by society and the police. Agencies run wrongly to religious leaders and family members colluding to situations. As we hear horror stories; mother in laws beating their daughter-in- laws with shoes, yanking hairs become cooking slaves, husbands force themselves on women, pressurise them to remain to bare the pain by threats of removing their children. Physical and serious sexual violence are overlooked by health, welfare and the state repeating mistakes.

Provocation

Society needs to acknowledge this is not just another domestic between partners and same sex relationships; yes it happens there too, for power and control to bully women from their female partners. Many lead to deaths, serious sexual assaults and prison them from social interaction, confined in homes. Possessive violent partners remove them from economic standing. Survivors should not be blamed for this occurrence. We need to broadly deal with myths and stereotypes to help women.

Myth 1 – the like it; people question victims and survivors all the time; as weak for not leaving partners and abuse. It’s not simple as many quote, ‘they must have liked it, why don’t they just leave?’ Factually people must appreciate and be sensitive women cannot leave, they fear further violence, sexual assaults and lack of support services to help them to make right choices. They do not understand benefits, housing and legal rights. They are fairly pressured, insecurity wanting their children to remain with fathers give in to emotional blackmail, to retain the financial secure environment.

Myth 2- this only happens to women in council estates, fact both classes suffer domestic violence; women from affluent backgrounds fear their careers and social standing to report abuse.

Myth 3- Abusers are mentally ill so we can forgive them.

Abuse itself is a behaviour taught, not an illness, abusers build their violence within environments they are not mentally ill and this is not an excuse to be violent.

‘Behind closed doors.’

The power and control of survivors needs to be given back to women to rebuild their lives, homes and children. It’s a social problem as well as a criminal one; we all should take responsibility and accountability for unacceptable behaviour and not flagrantly ignore it.

Dedicated to the forgotten women murdered and suffered from Domestic Violence and Honour Based Violence.

Tasleem Begum

Banaz Mahmod

Caneze Riaz

Heshu Yones

Article sourced by researchers in the field of Domestic Violence. Please contact Respect UK www.respect.uk.net, Newham Asian Womens Project 0208 472 0528 or the Metropolitan Police Community Safety Unit for advice; all emergencies call 999 for confidential support and advice.

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Asian Women and Domestic Violence Conference

Chairing the Conference 

One of the first major projects was mapping out the work in addressing Domestic Violence amongst South Asian Women as a particular focus.

I led the programme to work with the Community and Voluntary Sector  in partnership within my organisation and Criminal Justice Partners.

The project led to supporting victims and witnesses from diverse communities; understanding the support services available and the work agencies supportively can do to assist them go through the process.

Delegates

The training, workshops, facilitating the conference and working to develop practitioners understanding on the roles of interpreters, cultural barriers, support from intermediaries was the first in the region which brought the expertise in the community and staff together by utilising drama and theatre role plays.

I would like to thank the women supporting all survivors and charities that worked at length; RSVP, BSWA, Ashram, Roshni, Barnados and others who supported my initiative whom invested their skills to make this a success.

I hope to continue to lead and support several projects to ensure we sustain communities development in addressing Violence Against Women and raise training, awareness and service improvements within agencies to make a positive impact to survivors.

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Conservative breakfasts

During campaigning for the 2010 general election; I engaged with many friends and members of the communities of the West Midlands, sharing time at meetings, panels and discussions. Here are some highlights with Nusrat Ghani, PPC for Birmingham Ladywood for the Conservative Party, members and party leaders,

Maura, Nusrat and I Conservative Breakfast Meeting 

leafleting, forums, dinners and promoting the cause for change to make change happen. Below members of the Conservative City Branch attended meetings to plan campaigning and learn more from the PPC views on Conservative policies. Sukhdev and I attended an awards ceremony where he shared his views on engaging diverse communities in politics. I heard from  Mike Whitby encouraging words for me to stand as a candidate to share different communities experiences and bring a perspective to address barriers to engaging with women.

Sukhdev, I and Councillor Mike Whitby Leader of the Conservative Group
Birmingham City Council 

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Dying Love Embracing? Successful Women in Relationships.

Young women speculate continuously what true love is. Early romanticism has died for many for generations whom desire for commercial, economic success. Today in the modern era, women leave their feelings behind on the track to entrepreneurial dreams, opulence, affluent lives and complete comfort with soft furnishings in their lavish trophy homes. I see these women have many commonalities, indispensable fundamental principles and justifications broadly, a lack of trust in male species and love partners from same sex relationships. Society calls them man-haters, for their rage, sternness and aggressiveness, wanting rightful demands and equality. Women push through views strongly and vocally for independence.

I proudly devote feminists, men relate to them quite differently, tarnishing openly with new found labels; ruthless, shrewd, selfish and hard-hearted with no affectionate love. Tiresome men have no reason to have strong feelings for feminists or love them; male emotions and the lack of respect are calculated by arrogance and ignorance as they make men vulnerable and exposed as weak within their kingdoms and own rival competitiveness.

There are men I regard as friends whom are very smart and see the exterior cutting edge side of their opposite sex and dare not get too close to them, acting with caution. They spend most of their spare time admiring them from a distance whilst scheming a softly manoeuvre for their own professional purposes; to cage them by captivating women with over sensitive emotion, affection and feelings to win their trust and ploy their gain.

There are a few men surprisingly, respect and appreciate women who are independent, can pay their way in life and progress without fear insecurity and jealousy. These strong men admire successful women in return for love and mutual understanding; shockingly these friendships freely spend time together without judgement, balance their freedom and are compatible. However this is not the case for many South Asian men who chauvinistically still remain within back street mentality to stay in control and cannot progress their partners.

However far truth it is, women yearn for love, romance and the forever ending make believe stories, although women adore space, ingenuousness, freedom with simplicity and have odd hurtful moments when they need to have their sanity reconnected without love clouding their judgement, seeing the worst in those they are attracted to is their only means to finding their soul again. Women choose to love and be loved, it cannot be forced by society and those who seek to follow the trail of intimate relationships.

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