Growing up in Saudi Arabia, the rhythmic hum of oil derricks and the vast networks of pipelines were as much a part of my landscape as the desert dunes. The air, at times thick with the scent of hydrocarbons, carried the smell of prosperity, of progress. My education eventually led me to environmental science, a…
As the new school year begins and we welcome new members to our Islamic community, it is important to revisit the topic of inclusivity, especially in our tight-knit Muslim Student Association (MSA). In an environment where diversity, equity, and inclusion are values being silenced, it is important for us not to be complicit and instead…
In 1953, Iran’s democratically-elected government led by Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddegh had been overthrown yet again to restore power to Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the last Shah of Iran. The final months of Mosaddegh’s government were nothing short of chaotic. Economic tensions flared as the British embargo tanked public approval and sparked political violence among dissenting…
Picture this. You are standing in a courtroom–possibly in neon orange gowns you had to wear while spending the night in county jail. Frazzled and drenched in sweat, you rise with your right hand up before a sea of onlooking jurors. Apparently, you are to testify your innocence for a crime you know you did…
“Kafir!” One Instagram comment reads. Another reads, “All here to see the curse.” Is it true? Could Mohamed Salah’s rough patch be a result of a Christmas curse? If so, what could this mean for his future? Mohamed Salah is arguably one of the most revered faces in Muslim, Middle Eastern, and soccer communities worldwide.…
“This is not hijab.” In a TikTok with nearly 10 million views, an anonymous user posted a series of photos of women wearing different hijab styles and outfits, labeling each photo with “This is not hijab” or “This is hijab.” The comment section is filled with either support for calling out the supposed “improper” hijab…
During a family stay in New Delhi during my junior year holiday break, I witnessed protests advocating for Islamic equality. I watched as people from the Muslim community gathered in solidarity, chanted, and marched for their rights. Seeing the blur of faces, flags, and signs resurfaced my experiences of alienation as a Muslim woman in…
In the wake of the injustices Palestinians suffer and have suffered for the past decades, students of UCLA advocating for Palestine’s liberation arranged a series of walkouts recently, beginning on Thursday, October 12th, and led primarily by Students for Justice in Palestine. Students walked from Bruin Plaza up BruinWalk, Janss Steps, all the way to…
As many of you have learned, on Monday Israeli defense minister Yoav Gallant ordered for a “complete siege” of the Gaza Strip, cutting off all electricity, food, water, and fuel supplies. The orders came after multiple foreign ministries from the US, France, Germany, Britain, and other European countries reported that Hamas had kidnapped and killed…
Hijab Hypocrisy: A Women’s Rights Issue By Ayra Sultan, Sayyida Hasani, and Safiya Younas Graphics: Mateen Bahai The currency in Iran is the Iranian Rial, Switzerland uses Swiss Francs, France uses Euros, and India uses Rupees. However, a long sought-after societal currency is currently in high demand: the dual-sided coin of a woman’s right to…