Honor Violence in the US

Due to privacy reasons we will not be able to disclose the speaker's name until the actual day of the event. 

"The speaker is an American Muslim activist and writer. She focuses primarily on issues related to the status of women and girls in the Muslim world and in Islamic communities in the West.  She is a vocal advocate for religious reform, freedom of speech, and equal rights for women and girls. She works to eradicate honor and gender-based violence (including female genital mutilation), end forced and child marriages, and protect the separation of religion and state.

As a freelance journalist, her work has been published in papers and journals worldwide, including in Ha’aretz, Publico, Portugal’s largest daily; Aquila Style (a cosmopolitan Muslim women’s magazine published Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei), and more. She has lectured in North America and Europe on issues like honor killings, dissent, and the role of women in transforming the Muslim world. 

The speaker received the prestigious Colin Higgins Youth Courage Award, granted to “those individuals who have endured overwhelming hostility and hate, yet have handled themselves with the utmost grace.”

The speaker received a Durga Award at the 6th annual San Diego IndieFest. The Durga Awards are presented annually to “outstanding women who dedicate their lives to healing communities.” She is the first woman under age 30 to receive this award." 

She will be presenting on her work in Honor Based violence in a U.S. context to the graduate students at the College of Education. Her presentation will be covering topics such as the intersection of human rights and cultural and religious practice as well as the difficulties involved in having such a conversation.

It is our hope that the faculty will support this endeavor by letting your classes know the event is occurring and encouraging attendance.