flower brolly

Had to share this. What an amazing brolly. That would have been such a cool prop to photograph with.

Memory lane

Had to share this one. Who remembers theses? I would spend hours looking at the images in mine x

INTERVIEW FOR THE ISLAM CHANNEL

Life has a strange way of throwing random curve balls at you. Recently I haven't really been concentrating on the photography. If you read the previous blogpost you would know that I am planning to start a TEFL course (Teaching English as a Foreign Language). Well Alhumdulliliah I managed to get on the course I wanted and have a heavy work load of pre course work to do. On top of the heavy educational work I have to do I also have a couple of wedding jobs to squeeze in before the course starts. So as you can imagine I wasn't really paying any attention to anything else.


However life and opportunities had another plan for me. I received a call from one of the crew on a program called 'living the life' aired on the Islam channel. They had come across the hijab project that I am working on and wanted me to come on air.  Honestly I was really shocked!! it was the last thing that I was expecting and I decided that regardless of how nervous I felt I was going to give it a go. Now the one thing I love about my photography is all the new experiences it has given me and all the amazaing people that I have met through it. I have had a chance to travel and do jobs in Europe, I have met people and visited places that I would never  have otherwise encountered, and now in my lap this amazing opportunity.

Like most photographers and film makers, we are more often much more confident behind the lens then in front of it. Im fine taking my own pictures or having a close friend take them, but as soon as any one else is taking an image of me, I can't pose, those of you that have seen my picturess will know my famous peace sign. The only reason I do this pose is that I am way to embarrassed to do anything else. So knowing this I have to admit I was a bit apprehensive about how I would react in front of a film camera on set!!!!

So off I went to the studios, I can tell you now that I was so nervous on that train journey, my heart was skipping ten to a dozen and my head was swimming. I ended up doing deep breathing chi exercises on the train, much to the interest of the woman sitting opposite me lol.

Being on set was a really interesting experience and speaking to the hosts Raheem and Naeem before hand did a lot to calm my nerves. I have to say they are a funny likeable pair. Great guys.

So there I was on air, I didn't really have time to think about what was happening apart from the fact that we were live, I have to admit I was a little bit like "please God don't let me have a slip of the tongue on Islamic TV". Luckily for me God was listening and I got through the interview without a hitch.

I have to admit now that I have done it I really actually quiet enjoyed it, I really enjoyed the banter and the process of informing multiple people at the same time. Who knows in another time and another place I may do it again. This time I would like to think I wouldn't be so nervous.

When I manage to get a link I will upload it so that you can have a look for your self.
So really what can I say another experience to scratch off the checklist and another one to start.

And between me and you I think this next experience of learning to teach will be an interesting one, and one that will open a few more doors to new adventures and experiences. I'm really excited to see where is next.

RAHEEM JUNG ONE OF THE HOSTS

NEW ADVENTURES

I think it's fair to say that I have come to a point in my life where I am craving something new, an adventure, a chance to explore and experience. For a few years now, I have been toying with the idea of settling in another country. It's something that has always been in the back of my mind, but I've kept it there on purpose. Worried about all the little intricacies involved in making such a life changing decision. I guess I have let my fear hold me back from something that I really wanted to do. Fear is a strong emotion, sometimes I don't think we give it credit for how strong it really is, but I know myself and I know that when it came to this subject my fear factor was and still is quiet high. 

The thought of starting again somewhere new, having to learn a new language, a new culture, even the geography of the land is daunting to even the most adventurous of us. I think I could have quiet easily let my dream just fester in the back of my mind. I could have easily done the expected thing of me, settle down, get married, buy a house and have some kids, but somehow I never did this and I wonder if the real reason is that I never really wanted such constrictions in my life. 

Like they say your life is mapped out and everything happens for a reason, there were some unfortunate events of late but the positive thing is they have led me directly to the door of my dreams. I'm standing on the step hand ready to knock that door. So I guess you could say out of bad has come extreme good. 

I have decided for the first time in a long time not to think and over analyse, I'm just allowing one foot to follow the other and see where it takes me.

I've decided to enrol myself on a course. The course is called TEFL and it is for people like myself who already hold a degree or relevant qualifications. With this 4 week intensive and I mean Intensive ( really it should be done over 3/4 months in my opinion) course I will be qualified as an English language teacher and can pretty much teach anywhere in the world.

I love the idea of the world being my oyster and I love the idea of teaching. Even more I love the fact that I can take my camera with me and experience something new in my photography and even my writing. The though of developing these skills in another part of the world is so exciting, I can hardly contain myself.

Now I just need to pass one of my interviews next week to get into a good school. So lets cross all those fingers and toes and see if this journey will begin.

OXFORD LAW GRADUATE CLEARED OF WRONGFUL ARREST AT LAST YEARS RIOTS

Last summer we all watched the riots unfold on our TV's in shock and dismay. Many of us lived in the regions affected by these riots and could only look on in horror as shops were looted and buildings burnt down. This all diverting our attention from the real reason for the initial unrest, the death of Mark Duggen at the hands of the police.


Influenced by images of looting and rioting on our screens many of us had made up our minds on the current and previous court case concerning individuals arrested and put on trial. Presuming that the police had done a good job, and all those on trial were violent criminal thugs who deserved everything they got.


I was already aware of the failings of the police before attending a trial at Wood Green court but nothing prepared me for the experiencing of hearing first hand how the need to incarcerate someone could overtake truth and justice.
This trial confirmed to me how when it comes to young Asian and Black men the word of the police is not always as reliable as it may seem.


Last week I sat in on a case of an Asian man called Fahim Alam, a young Law graduate from Oxford University. Alam was accused of being part of a hostile crowd in Hackney and for throwing a rock/brick at the police. However Alam cites that he was at Thomas Square on his way home and was just an observer of the skirmishes between a group of young people and the police.


On the evening of the 8th of August Mr Alam left the London Civic Forum after his first day as a research Intern to walk the short distance to his elderly Grandparents home in Hackney. On route Mr Alam encountered  a crowd of local residents and young people on Thomas Square observing skirmishes between the police and a group of youths on Mare Street
Mr Alam cites that as part of his Masters at the London School of Economics he studied riots and that his curiosity got the better of him and he decided to stay and observe the events unfolding in front of him.


Unfortunately for Mr Alam he caught the eye of one PC Sparks who said in court "spotted the alleged defendant due to his Arab Military style Shemegh" (British military terminology for Scarf or kuffiyah) Because Mr Alam wore a so called Shemegh PC Sparks decided to observe Alam regardless of the fact that Mr Alam was just standing watching the proceedings. PC Sparks insisted in court that he observed Mr Alam continuously for 30 minutes without looking away as the scarf had alerted him to Mr Alam's presence on the scene, this was regardless of the fact that during this 30 minute observation, several missiles, rocks, bricks and fireworks were being thrown at the police after they decided to charge the crowd several times. PC Sparks colleagues described the scene as hectic and chaos and PC Sparks himself said that despite his military training he was extremely frightened and thinking of his girlfriend at home, yet through all this his eyes remained transfixed by Mr Alam's Arab style Shemegh.


PC Sparks whole testimony rested on the observation of this so called Arab style brown scarf, which infact when shown in court was a multi coloured tasselled scarf. His description in his police notepad of the person that threw the missile was of an IC2 male  brown skinned European male as in Spanish/Italian etc) rather then an IC4 which is an Asian male.


This particular point resounded with me deeply as well as greatly disturbing me as the last time the police had mixed up their ethnic coding a young man called Charles de mendendez lost his life at the hands of the police.
PC sparks insisted in court that he continually observed Alam for 30 Minutes through a hail of missiles and that he was 100 % sure that it was Mr Alam who throw a brick that hit another officer PC Jones.


As well as inconsistencies with Mr Alams ethnic coding, PC sparks in his post arrest notes made no mention of Mr Alams height, hairstyle, facial hair or any other distinguishing features, in fact he had completely got Mr Alams clothing wrong, his whole testimony consisted of fundamental mistakes, and was based solely on this Arab style Shemegh.


Yet on this flimsy description Mr Alam was bundled into a police van, arrested, taken to court at 3am and spent 6 weeks in prison followed by a further 6 months on a 9pm curfew with an electronic tag attached to his ankle. Yet it took the Wood Green Jury just 30 minutes to unanimously clear his name.


Mr Alam was represented by Imran Khan, famously known for the Stephen Lawrence case, Mr Khan describes the Police as "having an itchy Trigger finger" and compared PC Sparks observation of Alam to the "where's Wally" cartoon where you have to spot a man in a stripy scarf  in a huge crowd of people! Khan's cross examination of Sparks showed the court the inconsistencies and presumptions that this police officer had made and highlighted all the fundamental mistakes that he had made that led to the arrest and incarceration of an innocent man.


Watching PC Sparks and his colleagues make their statements was a almost surreal experience. Spark's statement was terribly inconsistent, confused and reeked of racism and an imperialistic military attitude. Mr Alam is quoted as saying "the testimony was riddled with inconsistencies, together with highly racialised and politically loaded language and that this landmark case raises serious questions about the police and the criminal justice system.


Mr Alam was fortunate to have the legal representation that he did with Imran Khan, whereas many young Asian and black men are not so fortunate, this leaves you pondering, how many innocent young men and women of colour are languishing in our jails on merely the word of a bigoted policemen?
Fortunately for Mr Alam the jury was able to distinguish the lies from the truth and he was able to walk out of the Court a free man, however nothing can compensate for the false imprisonment and the humiliation he suffered at the hands of the Police and the media who were quick to condemn him as a thug but not so quick to write about his acquittal.
But I imagine this will spurn Mr Alam to tackle these issues head on, he has already been working on a documentary dealing with the riots and the issues and questions it has raised and this documentary will be released on the 1 year anniversary of Mark Duggens death.


If we walk away from this learning one thing is that a uniform does not essentially make you truthful or one of the good guys and that we need to look more deeply into the institutionalised racism found in the British Police force before another innocent young man has to go through the same ordeal.

GENERATION GAP

Came across this on Face book and just wanted to share with you guys xx


In the queue at the supermarket, the cashier told an older woman that she should bring her own grocery bags because plastic bags weren't good for the environment.
The woman apologized to him and explained, "We didn't have the green thing back in my day."
The cashier responded, "That's our problem today. Your generation did not care enough to save our environment." He was right -- our generation didn't have the green thing in its day. Back then, we returned milk bottles, drink bottles and beer bottles to the shop. The shop sent them back to the plant to be washed and sterilized and refilled, so it could use the same bottles over and over. So they really were recycled. But we didn't have the green thing back in our day. We walked up stairs, because we didn't have an escalator in every store and office building. We walked to
the grocery shop and didn't climb into a 300-horsepower machine every time we had to go two hundred yards. But she was right. We didn't have the green thing in our day. Back then, we washed the baby's nappies because we didn't have the throw-away kind. We dried clothes on a line, not in an energy gobbling machine burning up electricity -- wind and solar power really did dry the clothes. Kids got hand-me down clothes from their brothers or sisters, not always brand-new clothing. But that old lady is right; we didn't have the green thing back in our day. Back then, we had one TV, or radio, in the house -- not a TV in every room. And the TV had a small screen the size of a handkerchief (not a tissue), not a screen the size of the wall. In the kitchen, we blended and stirred by hand because we didn't have electric machines to do everything for us. When we packaged a fragile item to send in the post, we used a wadded up old newspaper to cushion it, not Styrofoam or plastic bubble wrap. Back then, we didn't fire up an engine and burn petrol just to cut the lawn. We used a push mower that ran on human power. We exercised by working so we didn't need to go to a health club to run on treadmills that operate on electricity. But she's right; we didn't have the green thing back then. We drank from a fountain when we were thirsty instead of using a cup or a plastic bottle every time we had a drink of water. We refilled fountain pens with ink instead of buying a new biro, and
we replaced the razor blades in a razor instead of throwing away the whole razor just because the blade got blunted. But we didn't have the green thing back then. Back then, people took the tram or a bus and kids rode their bikes to school or walked instead of turning their mums into a 24-hour taxi service. We had one electrical outlet in a room, not an entire bank of sockets to power a dozen appliances. And we didn't need a computerized gadget to receive a signal beamed from satellites 2,000 miles out in space in order to find the nearest pizza shop. But isn't it sad the current generation laments how wasteful we old folks were just because we didn't have the green thing back then.

A BLOG POST THAT I FOUND INTERESTING ON AZHAR AHMED

I came across this blogpost on FB...I was already aware of the case and the ridiculous nature of the offence but I thought this post was very well written and worth a read.
Have a look and see what you think

http://www.harryfear.co.uk/blog/?p=2727

KONY CAMPAIGN A LOAD OF PHONEY BALONEY

Most of us by this point have come across the Kony 2012 campaign with its slick marketing campaigns and use of social media to spread its message across the globe.
Initially when this film hit the internet it managed to tug at heart strings and generate huge amounts of financial donations for the Kony action kits.  Everyone was talking about the campaign, I received numerous chain texts, saw numerous tweets and Facebook posts.

However the euphoria of feeling like you were part of a global movement soon began to fade as the truth slowly unfolded.

What Makers of  Kony 2012 failed to think about was that the advantages of utilising the internet and social networking sites also had it's disadvantages. Although the internet and social networking sites meant that the message could be spread further and faster it could also be researched and torn apart.
What they didn't bank on was the resourcefulness of people, as we started to investigate Kony 2012 and their funding company invisible children the awful truth came to light.

The truth that the film used old footage to push a war that no longer existed came out, the fact that the organisation wasted at least 85% of it's funds on plush offices, American wages and film production, also came out let alone the fact that what they did donate went to straight to the Ugandan Army, an Army run by a president with links to child soldiers, rape and the Rwandan massacre.

That's without even going into the imperialist tones of the film and the fact that America want to get a foot hold in the Congo and Uganda to bleed them dry of their oil and to get themselves out of the stinking debt that they have found themselves in.

So it seems that the whole campaign has back fired on it's imperialist Neo- Conservatives creators, who I have just heard maybe losing the plot after this back lash. Reports are coming through that today Jack Russel, one of the co founders was found masturbating and vandalising cars mid morning today while intoxicated. Now I have to wonder how viral this will go and how much more will be unearthed by the time this saga is over.

But one important lesson we must learn from this dear readers is not to blindly follow and redistribute information that we are fed by the media or the internet, do not support something because a famous Hollywood A Lister tells you too, go away, educated your self and make sure you understand what you are supporting and endorsing. This is an important message to remember in a time when pressing the re tweet button is a little too easy.

PRE MARITAL DOMESTIC ABUSE

Dear Reader,

I recently did a post on domestic violence (please check archives) I mentioned at the bottom of the post that I would really like to write an article on pre-marital domestic violence in the Asian/Muslim community.

This is an extremely touchy subject not often talked about. When we talk about domestic violence in our community we normally refer to it within a marriage setting. Relationships pre-marriage are considered taboo within the Asian/Muslim community so to talk about Domestic violence within this setting is seen as even more taboo.
Many girls in this situation are unable to speak out for fear of the relationship coming to light to family members and the wider community.
Statistics in this area are very difficult to come by as many women do not come forward to talk about this situation.

So writing this article and highlighting this issue is a little difficult. What I am asking today is if there are any women who would like to speak to me about their experience and provide me with further information on the situation and the affect it has. Obviously anonymity will be ensured and no personal details such as names etc will not be given in the article. I am just looking for a few women to provide me with case studies to base the article on.

If you have suffered in a pre martial relationship and would like to help me to highlight this issue please get in touch via email on:

duniyaphotography@yahoo.co.uk

again I stress complete discretion on my part.

Thank you again my lovely readers for taking out the time to assist me on this important matter

HIJAB PART 6 RAHIMA

Salaam and hello ladies and gentlemen, 

we have reached that point again, time for another installation of the "Hijab" project. Part 6 is a young lady that I heard of many times before we had the pleasure of actually meeting. She truely is an ispirational sister. Rahima not only works full time and runs a charity,but still manages to find time to be one of the most creative and beautifully quirky people that I have had the pleasure of meeting. Usually I write an intro to my Hijabi's however I loved Rahima's introduction to herself so much I am going to leave it as it is. So please enjoy and feel free to comment below the post.

My name is Rahima Begum. I'm a 27 year old living and working in London. I completed a Masters in Postcolonial History & Literature and then went onto work in research and enterprise at a University in London. That's the day job and pays for the bread and butter on my table, by the evening (and pretty much in between everything I do) I'm the director of an international human rights organisation and British Charity called RestlessBeings, and by night, which is usually very late as I'm a bit of an insomniac night owl, I illustrate, write short stories, knit and get crafty, lol. 

Friends and family often refer to me as the mother hen, workaholic & life juggler. I on the other hand, describe myself as just a magpie for all things creative. I have two passions in my life, one is art and the other is fighting for tangible positive changes for marginalised communities across the world. RestlessBeings allows me, with the aid of an amazing co-director and team, to bring these two passions together. An organisation that couples creativity with charity and makes the making of humanitarian changes an accessible and sustainable concept for likeminded people. For me, its the pulse of everything I stand for.   

My plans for the future are simple, but in numbers, lol: to develop RestlessBeings so we can become an organisation that acts as an alternative newsagency which covers all human rights abuses, an organisation which can help as many marginalised and neglected communities across the world by echoing their calls for change and demanding a difference for these communities. Other hopes are; to eventually finish writing all the short stories I started and compile them into a book and take all the doodles I have on the edges of every notebook in my belonging, and transfer them onto canvases which I can distribute amongst my loved ones, so when I have left this world, they have something beautifully crafted to remember me by (if they so wish to do so, lol). Thats it... I think... I'm sure the list would have grown by another ten more aspirations by next week, I am a magpie after all for shiny words/art/and more. ..  :)

What made you decide to wear the hijab?

I had toyed with the idea of wearing a hijab for a very long time and eventually started wearing it at university.  This was because I wanted to fulfil my obligation towards my creator (after all it is only fabric on my hair as an act of devotion,) it was hardly rocket science it wasn't a very difficult decision to make, however, ultimately, I was very keen to communicate my religious beliefs on an aesthetic level. As much as love my hair and how I could experiment with it, wearing a hijab for me did not feel an imposition. In fact, and I am sure many women and men who sport religious items of clothing on a daily basis will say, it liberates and raises the bar on how you carry yourself and want to be perceived. I guess a culmination of all this made me wear it and keep it... and here I am, many years on and its still going strong :)

How does wearing a hijab make you feel?

Wearing a hijab feels no different to carrying a bag... its an item of clothing, and thus a necessary part of me to allow me to fulfill a function. But if I really stop to think about it deeply, I guess it brings me an inner sense of peace and contentment. I am instantly perceived as a Muslim woman, and that perception encourages me to carry myself as best as I can to reflect the religious values and also maintain a certain dignified demeanour (I try, its not always easy as I do behave like a 7 year old at the best of times, lol). I love wearing it, it enhances my identity as a muslim woman and for me, there is no better reason to wear it. 

What have been the Positives and Negatives about wearing hijab?

There are many positives, but the key ones for me is that it is a constant reminder of what I believe in on a spiritual level and how my actions can contradict this aesthetic approach I have chosen for my self, thus pushing me to improve myself. This is a huge appeal. Aside from that, the feeling of instant recognition as a Muslim woman because I am wearing a fabric which holds so many layers of symbolism, is a great appeal. Another key positive, is the beauty of experimentation. I get bored easily and am constantly experimenting with new ways to dress modestly but fashionably. With so many beautiful hijabs now widely available, its definitely a positive to be able to not only adhere to a spiritual element in my life, but also to be able to do it with a  degree of fun and style.. this is definitely a bonus! 

Luckily negatives are in the very few and far between. Aside from constantly being asked by people whether I am hot in summer, or do I not miss the wind in my hair followed by the odd stare etc, I have not had to experience too much difficulty. I am blessed to be surrounded by open minded people who understand that the hijab, although heavily loaded with political, religious and historical symbolism, is just a piece of fabric which allows one to adhere to one of the many facets of their chosen path of spirituality. And if punks pierce their tongues and layer the leather, and bows and wide eyed kittens are the heart of kawaii culture in Japan - all in the attempt to communicate identity and lifestyle, then the hijab is another tool to convey the identity of a Muslim woman, a tool with many purposes but ultimately, powerful, protective and most pious. 

4WOMENBYWOMEN

Hey one more thing before I forget please check out the website www.4womenbywomen.co.uk

This is an endeavour that I have set up with fellow female photographer www.saiphotography.com

It will be an all female run studio day for women only.

There will be make overs, hair styling and hijab stylist for the hijabi sisters.

Have a look as we will be launching our first monthly studio session in april

Escape from Sudan

Was looking through some images online this evening and came across this one entitled "Escape from Sudan".

The image completely blew me away. Have a look for yourselves. We can only imagine the desperation to escape and the sadness of leaving your home and all you know behind

HIJAB PART 5 KHADIJAH

Welcome to part 5 of the Hijab project. 

This weeks amazing Hijabi is Khadijah Safari. Khadijah alongside her Husband runs the Safari kickboxing school based in West London. She is in charge of facilitating and running women only Mauy Thai and self defence classes. 

When I was first informed of Khadijah I found myself getting a little bit more excited then normal when doing these projects. I myself used to do martial arts as a teenager, in those days it was rare to see any Muslim women learning the art. I find it so amazing and wonderful that we have come so far that not only are we participating in martial arts but we also have a school for women run by a Muslim woman. 

So the next time someone presumes that a Muslim woman in a hijab is an easy target I really think that they need to think twice they could be messing with Khadijah or her legion of ninja style students. 
Islamaphobia may result in a fly kick...you have been warned..............

What made you decide to wear the hijab?

After reverting to Islam in 2009 I began to think about some of the reasons behind a Muslim woman's choice to wear the hijab. It made me stop to think about my own mind set on the way that I dressed. I had always worn clothes that stood out, that would make people tell me that they liked what I was wearing, or not! 

I even had a pair of knee high boots I'd found online in Japan, one was black and one was green, I loved them! I'd wear them claiming the familiar statement of, 

"I don't care what other people think of me", 

and "I'm dressing up for myself, I do it for me, not for others".  

But as I started to consider the idea of wearing a hijab I realised that actually, my previous statements were not true in the slightest! I realised I had a fear of wearing hijab, but why? 

It wasn't for any physical reason, infact it was the complete contradiction of my previous claim, as I was now worried what people would think of me! 

It's easy to step out dressed up to the nines, make up and hair done, but it's scary to step out keeping these beautiful things hidden? 

That's when I came to a realisation that I needed to work on my own confidence, and my own inner happiness. 

I had always thought that I had dressed for myself but it began to dawn on me that it had infact always been for others. 

The decision that I made to wear the Hijab, was for the first time me truly deciding to dress for myself.

How does wearing the hijab make you feel?

The hijab has taught me so much about human behaviour, especially from men! Before there was plenty of pointless conversations, whistling, comments from work men as I passed by etc. However now people get straight to the point, the word 'sexy' is replaced with 'madam', and a walk in the park is peaceful and hassle free! 

That doesn't mean that everyone has a positive attitude towards the hijab, but I don't let that affect me.  

Instead of judging the hijab as I did before, I now embrace it whole heartily as I am now able to fully understand the reasons behind wearing it. I feel confident and happy and feel that I am left alone to get on with my life.

What have been the positives and negatives of wearing the hijab?

My hair is in the best condition it's ever been in!! Haha. No sun or pollution damaging it like before.  

But on a serious note, I feel I am more humble. I am able to walk down the street genuinely not being concerned about what others think of me. Hopefully I can show other people that just because a woman decides to wear a hijab that does not make her oppressed or prevents her from living a normal life like everyone else. 

The negatives are only negative if you can't see past them, I have been told a couple of times, "go back to your own country". Which is ironic considering I'm born and bread British, my mums surname was Smith, can you get any more British than that? 

However I used to be that person, judging women who wore the hijab? Making irrelevent conclusions in my head. This was due to my pure ignorance, lack of knowledge and belief in the media spin stories. I feel that if I could change and understand the hijab then why not others?

No one can claim right from wrong to other people, but everyone should have the access to see both sides and make up their own minds. We live on such an amazing planet suspended in the middle of a huge universe and that's just the beginning, there is so much more to life then just worrying about make up, hair and heels, and I'm so blessed that I've found it!

I would highly recommend to any of the sister's reading this to looking into doing some classes with Khadijah.
If you are interested please check out her website 


http://www.ladiesonlykickboxing.co.uk/


Feel free to comment on this post by clicking below

Hijab part 4 Mona

Salaam and Hello, 

My dearest blog readers it feels like such a long time since we have spoken, as my previous post highlighted I have had some technical difficulties of late with my Mac, thank God (Humdulliliah) normal service is now able to resume. And what better way to resume it but with Hijab part 4 Mona.

Mona is a young Lady that doesn't live too far away from my parents house, she was sign posted to me by a dear friend Sister Shazia. It's always a little nerve racking meeting someone new but It was an unfounded fear, as I found Mona to be open, friendly and oh so funny xx(I have noticed many of the Hijabi's I have photographed have the most amazing sense of humour) Plus I have to admit I have a certain soft spot for her parents after meeting them both. I can see where Mona gets her lovely personality from. Mona is from a mixed race background, her Mother is an English revert and her father Egyptian. 

She is currently at University studying graphic arts. As well as this she works as a waitress in the much accaimed Nirvana Spa, apparently a favourite haunt of the rich and famous including stars such as Robbie Williams and Kylie. I find this concept amazing that amongst this glitz and glamour these people and are seeing a beacon of humility. The thing I really loved about Mona apart from her wicked sense of humour was her creativity and thirst for knowledge. I found myself happily explaining some photography tricks to her and even agreed for her to assist me on any events in town. You know me I keep harping on about female empowerment and it warmed my heart to see a young female showing such an ardent interest in photography. I have a very strong feeling in years to come you will find in Mona an acomplished graphic designer and hopefully (inshallah) a great photographer too. But I have no doubt whatever Mona ends up doing she will do it well.

what made you decide to wear the hijab?

If I had been asked this question back when I was 12 years old, which is the age I officially started wearing the scarf, I most probably would have said in my squeaky little voice something along the lines of “because in our religion we have to” or “because my parents expect me to”. And that’s not to say it was forced upon me.

My memory is pretty rubbish considering my age, but I vaguely recall the “hijab chat” from my father. You know that so called “father/son” chat, well it was something similar to that, starts with similar lines such as “there comes a time….” only in my case it was about the “birds” wearing the hijab. 

And so I was quite happy to wear my beginner’s hijab after that. Some of you will know which one I’m referring to. You know the standard one-piece tube that you just slip your head through like a turtle. Mum said I couldn’t wear the ones with pins for health and safety reasons in case I miss the scarf and stab my scalp. So anyway I didn’t really think twice before putting the scarf on, in fact I was probably overly excited to wear it. At that age you don’t care what people think of you or care what you look like. You’re just a kid. You don’t see the world through the eyes of a Muslim woman. I still saw the world through my precious Disney glasses, so I was clearly too young to be worrying about what to wear. Most of all I didn’t really appreciate why the scarf is important, or truly understand the value of it. To me my mother wore it, my sister wore it, and now it was my time. I didn’t want to be the odd apple, I just wanted to please my family, it wasn’t about pleasing myself.

But then I got older, and that’s when the real tests of wearing the hijab began, that’s when I began to test myself. The world is a different place than what it appeared when you were younger. Being a young Muslim girl, wearing the hijab and growing up in a western society you find yourself faced with new challenges and temptations. I sometimes felt like a fish in a big pond. Although there are many that also dress like you, you can still feel alone and lost if you don’t address what’s in the mind as well as what’s on the body. Islam doesn’t teach me to just follow the actions of my Muslim elders blindly, or do something because that’s what’s always been done. The hijab isn’t an old family antique past down through the generations at the coming of age. It’s something you choose to do for the sake of God and for the benefit of us. I have a duty to myself, and most of all God, to wear the Hijab for no reason other than I believe in its cause and because I have chosen to wear it. So although I felt like a little lost Nemo, the more I questioned things and questioned the hijab, the more I educated myself and with that I grew stronger inside and so did my love for the hijab. That’s when I truly started wearing the hijab

How does wearing the hijab make you feel?

Wearing the Hijab, has become like another part of my body. Like an arm or a leg. I don’t really think about how it makes me feel on a daily basis, just like u don’t think about how it feels to be able to walk from A-B everyday. But if I was to lose a leg, only then would I really appreciate it and long for that feeling of being able to walk. And similarly, if I didn’t have my Hijab, I would long for that feeling of wearing it. That feeling of being a step closer to God and feeling proud to be recognised by the world as a Muslim.

Many people have the misconception that wearing the Hijab is like a burden to Muslim woman, something that we sacrifice our happiness and freedom for. Well I’m a Muslim woman and I will tell you now, when I wear the Hijab and I’m walking down the street you may see me smiling or you may not (it depends weather it’s before or after food) but just know I will be smiling inside. And I don’t care if people aren’t smiling back at me, because I know God is smiling down on me, and that’s all I need, that’s all any of us really need. You know how I said I used to wear the scarf to please my parents and make them proud of me. Well I wear the hijab now to please God. And in return it pleases me to know I am pleasing him. I don’t feel caged in or restricted with a scarf round my head. I just feel protected. I can still achieve I just feel more guided. And I can still be beautiful. I just feel more beautiful to God.

 What have been the positives and negatives of wearing the Hijab?

The hijab has had such positive effects on me. One of the beautiful things about wearing the scarf is it helps to keep you grounded and is a constant reminder to not just others but yourself of the faith you represent and the beliefs you hold.

Growing up in a western world and especially being in university, student life is honestly one big test. The University social life itself thrives on alcohol, clubbing, getting wasted, basically losing yourself. It is not always easy being surrounded by it, especially when there are not many people you can turn to who share the same values and beliefs as you. So naturally it’s hard to meet things halfway. You want to enjoy yourself and be a part of a community but it’s hard sometimes when that community has a totally different social life. That’s when you start feeling the pressure and temptation of life on the other side. And for me wearing the scarf acts as a physical barrier from these things that will misguide me or weaken my soul. That’s not meaning I would easily be mislead if I didn’t wear it, most importantly your core should be strong. But as where all human we can sometimes feel our faith (or deen as muslims call it) weakened at times. These times when I feel most vulnerable I feel like the scarf acts as a double reinforcement, a bit of Hijabi double-glazing you could call it !!!!!

Negatives hmm yes in summer things can get a bit heated under my scarf and sometimes you do get the odd look when everyone’s rolling round in shorts and vest and you’re there basking in layers of clothing. They sometimes slip in the “o wow u must be boiling” and I just laugh and say if I can handle the heat in Egypt then I sure as hell can handle England’s…plus we all know its probably gonna be raining later. Plus it has its benefits of keeping me extra warm in winter, and I just say to the same person “o wow u must be freezing” :P

Please feel free to discuss and leave comments below by clicking on the word comment xxx

TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES

Just a quick post to explain the lack of posts in the last couple of weeks.
Unfortunately my poor Mac faced some hardships of late. It contracted two Trojan viruses ( yes it's true Macs can get viruses) as well as a faulty Trackpad.
Thankfully my baby has been returned from the Apple store and is in full working order. All I ask of you my dear readers is to be a little patient as I have so much to catch up with.
Part 4 of the Hijab project will be back up again next week. As well as other new and interesting posts. Until we speak again take care, stay safe and stay blessed xxx

BEARD IS BEAUTIFUL

Recently whilst out with some friends I noticed a leaflet on a community board. It contained a picture of a bearded man and the website "Beard is beautiful". It stuck in my head as I thought it ran parallel to my Hijab project which made me so curious. Also something about the style of photography looked familiar but I couldn't quiet place it.


So earlier when I decided to google the site and have a look I was pleasantly surprised to see it was a project by Ayman from Tawheed is unity.It's crazy how small this world is as Ayman had recently interviewed me for his website (please refer to previous post).


So I thought why not share this site with you. If we sisters can have the Hijab project then the brothers can have their beard project.


Don't know why but this post has me smiling. Maybe I'm smiling at how similar Muslim photographers think, or maybe its just coincidence....what ever it is it really is a beautiful thing.


Hope you enjoy the website as much as I did xxx http://www.beardisbeautiful.com/

TAWHEED IS UNITY INTERVIEW

I was recently asked by a website called Tawheed is unity to do an interview on my work and being a female Muslim photographer.


It was a really enjoyable experience and I thought that I would share the interview with you.


http://tawheedisunity.com/2011/12/18/anika-zahir-duniya-photos/

A NON MUSLIM MANS VIEW ON THE HIJAB

I recently put up a blog post about the Hijab..part 3. In response I received an email from a gentleman called Derek Wood....I found the email insightful and interesting. It is exactly what I was hoping for, open dialogue on the Hijab. Please find the email below

What is my view on women who wear hijab and dress moderately? Do I think they are treated as lesser beings for doing so? Or are they generally passionate about their role as Muslimahs in respect to their faith?

Read on and I will put forward my own unique western view on this rather, at times, over-debated topic.

I suppose like most westerners, I didn’t really think a great deal about Muslim women who wore the veil prior to the events of 9/11. Then Islam became front page news for all of the wrong type of reasons. As Sabiha has mentioned previously, she was attacked on a bus as strangers kicked and punched her whilst trying to remove her veil. To hear about this more than 10 years later still sickens me as we are all humans regardless of colour, religion or sex. The western media made a big fuss following the Twin Towers attack about Muslim women being oppressed and forced to wear the hijab, niqab and even the burqa.

However, my experience since then is that hijabi wearing women are some of the nicest people I have ever met. At this point I would like to make a few side observations. If we see a nun wearing a habit we do not take a second look, but think that she is a devoted servant of God. If we see a Sikh man wearing a turban we know he is being loyal to his religion and is certainly not oppressed. Even my mother used to wear a scarf when we used to go out when I was a young boy. Even then, no one thought anything about that. However, at that time of my life, I was more embarrassed to be wearing short trousers in the middle of winter than to worry about my mother!

In my working life I have come across a few hijabi wearing co-workers and can confidently say that the veil was not a barrier to them being able to perform their role. After all, what hindrance can a hijab be if you are, say, working as an accountant, fashion designer or even driving a bus? The answer is it is not a hindrance. Work is all down to your ability and not what you wear. I can easily work at the same level if I am in a t shirt and shorts in comparison to wearing a three piece suit! It is my ability that is important.

As a result of the GFC I started doing some part time evening work in a local call centre. I can easily say wearing headphones on a hijab was not a problem for my co-workers. Again, it was their mannerisms in dealing with irate customers that was important. Maybe Islam made them even better prepared to deal with customer complaints. As fellow workers they were the nicest people to talk to.

My optician is a hijab wearing professional. When she checks my ageing eyes she does so in a friendly and easy going way. Again, I can’t remember her hijab getting in the way of the optical equipment. Oh, I should add that she also wears an abaya. Does this change my view of my optician? No, in fact, it cements my opinion of her.

At my daughters Catholic school, I met a mother who is Muslim and wears a hijab but in a different style to most other hijabis. Over the past few years I have got to know her very well. She is now a really good friend to me and my family. She is a very hard working mother who wants the best for her family. She dresses moderately, prays 5 times a day and gives her time to help others when possible. When my sister was diagnosed with breast cancer she sent me a text message telling me she was praying for her recovery. Did I see her headscarf as being a sign of her oppression? No, I saw her as a truly wonderful giving human being.

The Quran states that women should dress moderately. Now I am sure there are many interpretations of what modesty means and how it should be interpreted. I am not going to make judgement on this as I am the last person to suggest how women should dress. However, I have seen young Muslim women wearing hijab, short skirt and leggings. I am not sure in my humble opinion that is what you would call dressing moderately.

As I have gotten older, but still young at heart I hasten to add, I have a greater respect for women who do not reveal their bodies to the public. I can’t say I respect women nowadays who show lots of cleavage and wear clothes so short that a barbie doll would struggle to fit into them! The fact that men will comment on scantily clad women is surely a sign that the wearer does not respect herself. To have a woman dress conservatively is surely a better way to go.

Interestingly, the majority of western female reverts to Islam dress more conservatively than those females born into Islam. Maybe they have seen that wearing revealing clothing is not the best option.

Finally, all of the Muslimahs that I know cover up because they want to, rather than being forced to. It is out of their respect to their religion and also their family as to why they do so.

As westerners we must stop looking at the material that a Muslim woman puts on her head but look at THE person beneath it. If we can do that then I am sure a lot of barriers will be broken down and we can all get on much more harmoniously than at present.

HIJAB PART 3 SABIHA

Happy New Year!!

So we begin another year. I've never been one for resolutions, i'm more into adventures, so I guess it will be another random year for me. However I couldn't start 2012 without treating you to another part of the Hijab project. Part 3 is Sabiha.

One of the wonderful things about doing this project is getting the chance to meet such inspirational women. A few months ago somehow and I do not remember who added who my path crossed with Sabiha on Facebook. During our interactions I got to know a little about this amazing sister, what she did, what she believed in and stood for. For me it was also brilliant to be able to converse with another Muslim female photographer. There's a few of us about and it's starting to become a little sister hood. So another member was more than welcome. So I was estatic when Sabiha agreed to take part in the project and I was just as excited to meet her as to photograph her. It was interesting to talk about how things were the same for us regardless of the difference on wearing of the hijab, it was noteworthy that regardless of this difference we are both facing similar barriers and stereotypes. Sometimes as Muslim females we forget that these are small differences that do not divide us, we all face the same struggle.

So anyway back to the story.

Sabiha is a freelance photographer/journalist, speaker/activist, she runs her own online business, she's also a mother, and a wife. As well as all this, and as if it wasn't enough Sabiha main work is heading a war wounded children’s charity in which she helps bring children via medical visa’s who have been injured severely. They are provided with plastic surgery treatments to reconstruct limbs and facial features which were mutilated as a result of war.

1) What made you decide to wear the Hijab?

When, how, where and why I decided to wear the Hijaab I don’t think I know or perhaps I was too young to remember (however there is a photograph of me wearing hijaab when I was 4 years old).

I never really knew the significance of it or why I was wearing it. Until September 11^th. when I was aged 16. I was travelling home from Sixth Form on the same bus that I had taken, with the same old faces that I had seen day in and day out.

Earlier in the day during my lesson a student had barged into the classroom yelling ‘Twin Towers have been hit by a plane’ from that point onward until the moment I stepped on that bus there was somewhat of an eerie silence amongst friends, non-muslim and muslim alike.

The bus was completely full of passengers, three Caucasian men and a young lady boarded the bus. They made their way down towards the back. She walked up beside me and the next feeling I got was a tugging at my hijaab, the young woman was pulling at it and I asked her to let it go, she tugged it again and I felt like a dog on a leash. I held on to hijaab really tightly, I’m not sure why, I never knew what it meant...she tried to tear it off and I screamed ‘LET GO OF MY SCARF’ she lunged at me and her punch landed in my throat, gasping for air...I fell on the floor and she held me down by my throat whilst the three men surrounded me, kicking me wherever they could find room on my body to do so and punched me until I couldn’t quite see straight ...I asked for help ‘THEY’RE RIPPING MY CLOTHES OFF, MY HIJAAB I CANT BREATHE, DO SOMETHING’ ...nobody bothered to get up, perhaps they wanted to see what would unveil beneath my hijaab, the men shouted at the girl ‘GET HER RAG OFF, GET IT OFF THE FILHTY TERRORIST’...no matter how hard she tried it didn’t unveil. An old lady stood up I could just make out her feet and walking stick, she raised it up and with a fit of anger began to wave her stick about over me hitting one of them on the head. The bus came to a sudden stop and the driver had made his way, we were all haled off, waiting for police to arrive. Thankfully they were severely punished for what they did to me. I was escorted to hospital to the waiting comfort of my family’s arms, all torn and broken and I remember the very first thing I wanted to do was to take off my hijaab, it had suffocated me, chocked me, brought me agony, the pin left a cut in my throat but I took a deep breath ‘it didn’t unveil’...’I’m alive’ I thought...God protected my modesty to the very end and that is when I decided what wearing the hijaab meant to me, I chose instead to let the experience strengthen my belief in the hijaab and educate myself.

2) How does wearing the Hijab make you feel?

I feel extremely exhilarated, liberated, on top of the world, fearless, confident, free; words you wouldn’t think to associate with the Hijaab. How refreshing it is for me when I can slap ignorance in the face and show that I am not what you think I am. I somewhat love the feeling of controversy and the feeling that I get when walking into a room knowing that a million questions are flying/whizzing around in the minds of the people seated. I hold the key to their questions, they just have to open their minds and I promise they will feel exhilarated too when they search me for answers. Oh and you know that feeling when your hair sticks to your lip gloss, you're forever searching for the miniscule hair and it’s so frustrating well, I don’t have to worry about that anymore thanks to my handy hair trap, my hijaab.

        3) What have been the positives and negatives of wearing the Hijab?

My non-muslim friends found this insatiable quest to try to uncover the latest problem with my newfound love for the hijab, after that horrid day they couldn’t understand why I still bothered to wear it, but all their negativity empowered and made my resolve stronger. Negativity can go take a flying jump because I do not have the time to stop and listen to it from anyone. The positive events in my life and believe me my life is quite eventful are all done whilst wearing my hijaab, it does not burden me with any limitations and it has become a fusion of my head now. The list of positive reasons of wearing the hijaab is endless but I found a new positive reason about hijaab the other day whilst I was walking to my car, it served as a good protection from bird poop!

So that's the end of part three. Below you will see the word comment, if you click on it you can leave me some comments about the project so far. It would be really great if we could use this as a starting place for some discussions on the subject xxx