Women gather to share their stories (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)
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Women gather to share their stories
9:37pm Tuesday 6th October 2009 in Bradford By Marc Meneaud
The women (from left) who took part in the book are Shahana Rahman, Jean (Rabia) Yousfi, Selina Ullah, the editor Wahida Shaffi, Zohra J Rashid and Syima Merali
Inspirational stories by 20 Muslim women from Bradford were brought to life last night in a project to give a voice to marginalised communities.
Women between 14 and 80 who wrote Our Stories, Our Lives were at the book’s launch at the National Media Museum to read extracts.
Their contributions included stories from the first women who came to Bradford from Pakistan in the 1960s to the experiences of life in Britain as a Muslim woman post 9/11.
Contributor Radhia Tarafder, 40, of Heaton, Bradford, worked with historian Irna Quereshi to tell her story.
She said: “Irna drew out really unique parts of everybody’s lives and we found that, although we all had the experience of being Muslim and in Bradford, there were also such differences. It was fascinating.”
Fellow writer Symia Merali, 35, talks about her choice to wear the traditional Muslim hijab headscarf when she began to discover her Muslim faith.
She said: “Writing was a really good experience because it was not meant to be a book at the start but it has grown because everyone’s stories have been so interesting.”
The book was edited by Wahida Shaffi, a conflict resolution trainer from Heaton, Bradford, who is also co-ordinating a ten-year project to explore the views of Muslim women in the city.
Bradford University graduate Ms Shaffi said: “It shows the pioneers from the first generation of Muslims, who talk about the racism when they first got here, to the later generations and their experiences of being a modern day Muslim woman.”
Keighley MP Ann Cryer was among dignitaries at the launch event.
Mrs Cryer, who campaigns against forced marriage in the Muslim community, said: “I want to hear the voices of Asian women, because you don’t hear them enough. There are some male leaders of the Muslim community who seem determined to keep them quiet and I want to encourage and support those voices and hear them for myself.”
Comments(20)
ItchyBungle
says...
12:33pm Wed 7 Oct 09
However, I wish the ladies luck with this book.
albion
says...
12:59pm Wed 7 Oct 09
Too many of them live too much of a restricted life (for a variety of reasons) it must be hoped that projects like this lead to a more open, enlightened and less divided life.
Iona Cortina
says...
2:03pm Wed 7 Oct 09
albion wrote:Lol ! - and how would you know, albion ? - in future, please refrain from using anti-Muslim media like FOX 'news' (if you have it), or the Sun, to get your 'facts' on women and Islam.
It makes a very pleasant change to read that Muslim women are voicing their experiences and (hopefully) thoughts and opinions.
Too many of them live too much of a restricted life (for a variety of reasons) it must be hoped that projects like this lead to a more open, enlightened and less divided life.
Thanks :)
albion
says...
2:26pm Wed 7 Oct 09
Iona Cortina wrote:I would know because for thirty years i worked in peoples houses, mostly Manningham and Heaton and mostly occupied by Asians and in particular Muslims.
albion wrote:Lol ! - and how would you know, albion ? - in future, please refrain from using anti-Muslim media like FOX 'news' (if you have it), or the Sun, to get your 'facts' on women and Islam.
It makes a very pleasant change to read that Muslim women are voicing their experiences and (hopefully) thoughts and opinions.
Too many of them live too much of a restricted life (for a variety of reasons) it must be hoped that projects like this lead to a more open, enlightened and less divided life.
Thanks :)
I have never heard of Fox News and most certainly do not read the Sun.
Any opinions i might express are based on first hand experience and research.
At least i gave an opinion on the report, and it was based on many hours of conversation with such people.
I am not just anti-Muslim i am anti ALL religion.
Iona Cortina
says...
3:15pm Wed 7 Oct 09
albion wrote:And what a sad person you are, albion.
Iona Cortina wrote:I would know because for thirty years i worked in peoples houses, mostly Manningham and Heaton and mostly occupied by Asians and in particular Muslims.
albion wrote:Lol ! - and how would you know, albion ? - in future, please refrain from using anti-Muslim media like FOX 'news' (if you have it), or the Sun, to get your 'facts' on women and Islam.
It makes a very pleasant change to read that Muslim women are voicing their experiences and (hopefully) thoughts and opinions.
Too many of them live too much of a restricted life (for a variety of reasons) it must be hoped that projects like this lead to a more open, enlightened and less divided life.
Thanks :)
I have never heard of Fox News and most certainly do not read the Sun.
Any opinions i might express are based on first hand experience and research.
At least i gave an opinion on the report, and it was based on many hours of conversation with such people.
I am not just anti-Muslim i am anti ALL religion.
albion
says...
3:46pm Wed 7 Oct 09
Iona Cortina
says...
6:13pm Wed 7 Oct 09
albion wrote:Is there the missus too ? ;)
I am not alone in that, am i ?
Tollerboy
says...
6:15pm Wed 7 Oct 09
Tollerboy
says...
6:17pm Wed 7 Oct 09
eldraco
says...
6:56pm Wed 7 Oct 09
Sort it out Iona. I've followed your posts an many an earlier topic of discussion on these pages and you're better than this.
g-daffi
says...
7:01pm Wed 7 Oct 09
Iona Cortina
says...
7:38pm Wed 7 Oct 09
AHS
says...
8:47pm Wed 7 Oct 09
likethis
says...
3:07am Thu 8 Oct 09
albion
says...
10:54am Thu 8 Oct 09
At the last national census in the belief section the number of people who put "no belief" was very high and leads the experts to predict that "they" will be in the majority in the next two or three years.
Apologies for being off topic.
I have no personal animosity to anyone here, just certain organisations and totalitarian dictatorships.
Despite having a religious upbringing and studying a variety of beliefs, i have long since concluded that there is no eternity and any powers i can raise are already within me.
Once again i apologise for being off topic and mistakenly posting a similar message on another thread.
ErnestPBarroclough
says...
12:25pm Thu 8 Oct 09
eldraco
says...
2:14pm Thu 8 Oct 09
Iona Cortina
says...
5:30pm Thu 8 Oct 09
likethis wrote:Albion is a very silly man that needs to be told when he's wrong.
tch tch tch! i don't know. C'mon Iona, Albion may well be an elderly gentleman who would be delighted to see me and many like me kicked out of the country or maybe even strung up. but that shouldn't be any reason to disrespect him. i don't know him personally, and i know he hates my way of life as he states so himself but i still choose to respect him. i hope he comes to learn one day that it was religion that directly produced many if not all of the institutions that we have today. we wouldn't be here today if it wasn't for religion. i.e. what it taught man to do. it is very simple really. importantly, if you didn't do well at history or missed loads of it, then views like albions is a symptom. Ask youself the question dear sir albion, 'do i really want t deny myself eternity?' by choosing to not believe, by turning away before even looking to see that it may just be all true! do yerself a favour mate. Iona, show some respect to your fellow citizens please. Albion is a very welcomed and well known person on this forum and his comments are always welcomed even if they are at times unpallatable. peace, love and harmony for all.
.
That is all.
Iona Cortina
says...
5:31pm Thu 8 Oct 09
ErnestPBarroclough wrote:It was a naughty post, Ernie.
I would love an explanation as to why my post was removed....
eldraco says...
11:46am Wed 7 Oct 09