Creating new perspectives since 2009
Items by Tasnim Nazeer
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The proposed burqa ban isn’t about safety—it’s about control
I wear the hijab. It’s a choice I make every day—a personal, conscious decision rooted in my faith and identity. But recently, I’ve watched with concern as politicians, particularly within Reform UK, have called for a ban on the burqa. This is not a simple debate about clothing; it’s about…
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The massacre of Gaza’s children: A stain on humanity
There are moments in history that burn into the conscience of humanity—so steeped in injustice that to look away is to become complicit. Gaza is one such moment. As we scroll through our screens on social media, the hollow eyes of wounded children in Gaza stare back at us. And…
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Surviving winter: Gaza’s mothers speak out
As the harsh months of winter descend on Gaza, countless families find themselves in a desperate struggle for survival. Among them is Fida Soboh, a 39-year-old mother of seven, who lives in a fragile tent after being displaced by the ongoing conflict. Originally from Al-Zahra City, Fida’s story captures the…
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Syria’s liberation marks a new dawn after decades of darkness
The fall of Bashar Al-Assad’s regime marks the end of 54 years of brutal oppression under the Assad family. For millions of Syrians, the liberation of Damascus is not just a military victory but the dawn of a new era, one filled with hope, freedom and justice. This historic moment…
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The teacher inspiring the children of Gaza
In the midst of adversity, 23-year-old Doa’a Qudaih has emerged as a guiding light for the children of Gaza, offering hope and resilience through the power of education. Turning a tent in Deir Al-Balah refugee camp into a classroom, she has stepped in to address the staggering gap in educational…
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The heart-wrenching reality for civilians in Gaza: A wake up call for the world
In the face of the ongoing tragedy unfolding in Gaza, it is the innocent civilians that always have to bear the brunt. At the time of writing, the death toll in Gaza has reached over 5000 Palestinians and half of them are children. Innocent children and babies. How can anyone…
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‘Hopefully my book can reach someone who can help the people who have been displaced from their homes in Syria’
Canadian-Syrian Zoulfa Katouh has become the first ever Syrian author to be published in the Young Adult category at Bloomsbury publishers with her debut ‘As Long As The Lemon Trees Grow’. Set against the backdrop of the Syrian revolution, As Long As The Lemon Tree Grows is not only…
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Shireen Abu Akleh: the West remains shamefully silent, but we journalists must not
Respected Palestinian journalist Shireen Abu Akleh was killed whilst covering a story in the Jenin refugee camp for Al Jazeera English. The veteran reporter was hit by a single bullet to the head by an Israeli sniper whilst wearing a “Press” jacket and helmet. Although Israel denies responsibility for Abu…
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This Ramadan, we must continue to speak out against Palestinian suffering
Another blessed Ramadan is upon Muslims around the world, but this year also sees yet another spate of attacks inflicted upon innocent Palestinian worshippers in occupied East -Jerusalem. In the last week, scores of worshippers were attacked with rubber bullets, batons and tear gas, at Masjid Al Aqsa – the…
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Double standards in reporting of Ukraine’s refugees expose Eurocentric bias
Since the tragedy of war in Ukraine,, more than half a million people in the country have fled for safe sanctuary, as countries welcome refugees into safety, and rightly so. The reporting however, of this tragedy has seen double standards and Eurocentric bias that hold one group of human lives…
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French Elections: Muslims in France Struggle with Islamophobic Leaders
The 2022 French elections are due to be held on the 10th April this year, with over 40 candidates from across France contesting to lead the country. However, the main front-runners prove no reassurance to over 5 million of France’s Muslim population which has seen Islamophobia rise within the country…
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The Muslim world must do more to help Uyghurs being persecuted in China
China has been accused of the genocide of its Uyghur Muslim population following testimonies of Islamophobia, violence, torture, rape and forcible detention in concentration-style camps. A recent independent tribunal held in London reached a unanimous verdict last month that “genocide” has indeed taken place against Uyghur Muslims, Tibetans and the…
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Islamophobia is often fanned by the mainstream media; I have witnessed it
I was once told by someone I networked with that, “You really don’t have the right look with your hijab on.” The person was in a position of authority within Britain’s mainstream media. I am not the first visibly Muslim woman to be told this, nor am I the only…
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The West’s deafening silence and double standards as it ignores the Palestinian struggle
A week has passed since Israeli forces attacked innocent worshippers in Al-Aqsa Mosque — the third holiest site in the Muslim world —using rubber-coated metal bullets, tear gas and stun grenades. Yet the silence of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is deafening, despite the numerous human rights violations inflicted upon…
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Biden could end the war in Yemen
US President Joe Biden could end the war in Yemen if he acts without delay. Democracy was at the core of his election campaign during which he pledged, inter alia, to end his predecessor’s discriminatory policies, such as the “Muslim ban”. Biden also pledged to end US support to Saudi…
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Trump’s incitement led to the chaos on Capitol Hill, but democracy must prevail
Yesterday’s shocking scenes in Washington DC left the world reeling at the unprecedented sight of Trump supporters storming the Capitol Building. Rolling media coverage called the events many things, but not terrorism. A few pointed to Trump’s incitement and provocative statements as the cause. This was a blatant attempt to…
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Trump has shown no regard for humanity by pardoning Blackwater guards
President Trump’s shocking pardoning of the Blackwater guards is a testament to his lack of humanity and his failure to bring perpetrators of the law to account. On 16 September, 2007, four guards from the private US military firm Blackwater fired at unarmed civilians in Baghdad, killing 14 civilians and…
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Yemen could lose an entire generation of children to hunger, yet the world remains silent
Yemen is facing an unprecedented high level of malnutrition in children due to severe food shortages, as a direct result of war and the coronavirus pandemic. The United Nation (UN)’s latest survey estimates that 100,000 children aged under five in Yemen are at risk of dying. Heartbreakingly, this means that…
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Children dying in the English Channel should be a wake-up call for Westminster
Two children were among four asylum seekers from the same family who were found dead in the English Channel this week as they tried to cross the busy shipping lane to get to Britain. The boat they were on board capsized during the journey from France. One member of the…
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The lives of children in Yemen matter too; the war must end now
After five years of conflict, the crisis in Yemen has reached an unprecedented level whereby children are battling life and death. UNICEF has declared a state of emergency for Yemeni children who are facing starvation as a result of aid shortages which have devastated the country. Furthermore, millions of children…
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Why Trump is targeting the ICC
The Trump administration in Washington has attempted repeatedly to block investigations by the International Criminal Court of Justice (ICC) in Afghanistan and the Occupied Palestinian Territories. These investigations are significant for probing into the conduct of American and Israeli citizens but the US President continues to find ways and means…
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Italy must halt arms deal with Egypt to uphold human rights
The Italian government is facing calls to abandon its potential $11 billion arms deal with Egypt, which is notorious for its human rights abuses. Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio noted that the deal had not yet been finalised, and that Italy should never have considered a deal with Egypt…
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Britain must address unlawful harm to civilians in Yemen
The war in Yemen has left many innocent civilians dead and is described as one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. Despite the ongoing scale of this brutal war, the suppliers of arms to Saudi Arabia have failed to address the unlawful harm to civilians in which they are complicit.…
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Why this Eid for Muslims around the world will be like no other
Due to the Coronavirus pandemic, Muslims around the world will experience an unprecedented Eid this year as for the very first time in history, Eid prayers in the mosque will be cancelled, leaving Muslims like myself having to pray from home. One of the fundamental elements of Eid is attending…