Barbara Federman

Editor’s note: Earlier this year, Barbara Federman contacted us with the idea for a letter writing exchange between women in the United States and Arab and Muslim women around the world. If you are interested in becoming a part of this project, please contact Connection Point Manager Yasmina Mrabet: yasmina@peacexpeace.org
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A Letter to Arab and Muslim Women Around the World
Dear Arab and Muslim women around the world:
My name is Barbara Federman and I am a member of a group of women named Peace and Letter Society (P.A.L.S.). Our goal is …

Dania Shahzad

“To be clear, Islam does not forbid women and men from talking to one another, but asks that they practice modesty and remain within the limits that Sharia has set.”
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Walking down the school hallways as a young Muslim girl I used to see guys and girls holding hands, or a girl standing by her locker crying as her boyfriend talked to her. I would be confronted with questions and statements about dating that took different forms and styles, starting from elementary until I graduated high school. Both guys and …

Zahreen Ghaznavi
“We may be more independent and free than some of our sisters in other parts of the world, but post-9/11 there is a real fear within the American Muslim community about putting women in the public and at the forefront.”
Connection Point Manager Yasmina Mrabet interviewed Zahreen Ghaznavi, Chair of the Board of the Muslim Public Service Network, about the role of Muslim American women in civic engagement and public policy. Her responses are below.
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Can you tell me a little about your personal background and how you became involved with …

Erick Brocoy
Philippines
“Community cooperation and cohesiveness increase while livelihoods and incomes become steady. The people develop an entrepreneurial drive accompanied with working hand in hand with community members. The sense of unity and camaraderie flourish.”
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Despite the number of interventions done to promote empowerment through basic human rights, women are still suffering from inequities around the world.  The role of women in our society is crucial and we must continue to empower them. Without them development will never occur. I met two women who defied cultural limitations, finding ways to empower fellow …