Kartini – A Symbol of Women’s Rights in Indonesia

One hundred thirty-four years after her birth, the name Kartini still resonates for her determination to improve the status and lives of women. By Annisa R Beta. EVERY APRIL 21ST, women of Indonesia prepare themselves to celebrate the birth of a national heroine. Raden Ayu Kartini continues to be remembered today as a critic of, among … Read more

Saudi Women in New Drive to Get Behind the Wheel

RIYADH, December 4, 2013 (AFP) – Saudi women activists have relaunched a campaign for the right to drive in the ultra-conservative kingdom, urging women to get behind the wheel on December 28. The call for action is a “reminder of the right so it is not forgotten,” activist Nasima al-Sada told AFP, adding that women … Read more

What’s in a Name: Feminist Muslimahs

A Muslim woman can be many things. But can she be a feminist? Fatimah Jackson-Best muses about how Muslim women worldwide are defying norms and setting new standards. Recently, a student approached me after class. Whispering, she asked if it was possible for Muslim women to be feminists. She came to me in a manner that let me … Read more

Egyptian female cyclists pedal for acceptance

Egyptian Yasmine Mahmoud, a 31-year-old executive secretary, rides her bicycle in Cairo on December 25, 2014. Women enjoy more freedom in Egypt than in deeply conservative Muslim countries such as Saudi Arabia, but the most populous Sunni Arab country still considers it inappropriate for them to ride bicycles. Unlike in many countries, the two-wheeler is … Read more