A new national organisation has been launched which aims to, among other things, 'advance the inclusion of Muslim women in the gender equality struggle.'

Advancing Voices Of Women against Islamophobia (AVOW) is being led by a group of professionals and volunteers from across the community.

Two separate launch events took place at Whitworth Art Gallery in Manchester and at the Maryam Centre, East London Mosque.

The group has been founded by Farah Anwar-Bawany, Shenaz Bunglawala, Dr Siema Iqbal, Heena Khaled and Amanda Morris.

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The group says for Muslim women, the problem of ‘media generated Muslim women’ is relevant and describes the beliefs people hold about Muslim women based on the narrow contexts in which they are reported on in the press: as ‘oppressed’; as lacking capacity to act for themselves; of being in thrall to a ‘misogynistic religion’.

Dr Siema Iqbal said, “For me it is a time to be a Muslim woman without fear, compromise or discrimination”

Amanda Morris said,"There are too many voices speaking in behalf of Muslim women, but very few of those voices belong to Muslim women. This needs to change. AVOW wants to help push for that change."

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The group is aiming to challenge all forms of Islamophobia faced by women by 'ensuring women are portrayed in inter-sectional not binary ways' and to empower women to take ownership of the narrative, to voice the challenges they are facing.



 

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Farah Anwar-Bawany added, ”I joined AVOW because now, more than ever, the voices of Muslim women need to be heard and listened to”

Heena Khalid said, “AVOW comes at an imperative time where Muslim women are the most disadvantaged as a result of Islamophobia and for me as a Muslim woman there’s nowhere I’d rather be than here to challenge and end that."

To find out more you can contact info@avow.org.uk