A Message for Mona Eltahawy after Watching her first Essay for Time.com

I really blame the media for the picture of angry men in Pakistan and showing Muslim women as a black walking tents, which is not the complete truth about Muslims and Islam.

I respect you Mona as an open minded and Educated person, and also respect your point of view, but some times I feel that you are not the right person to talk about Islam, I feel that I don’t have to look at you as a person who present Islam, maybe this works only with non-Muslims, but it will never work with Muslims!  Sorry to say that, but it’s only how I feel about you.

You showed us how the media present Muslims, angry men and black covered women, and you continue this show when you said “Look at me!!” , what should I look at? your hairs? or your nails?

I watched your Video on Time.com, I wanted to embed it here but unfortunately the Time.com website is not providing embed code, so here is the link anyways.

did you get what I mean?!

Mona, you became famous person in Egypt and in some other countries because of your work, so you should take care more for your steps, you can not present Muslim women with out veil, just talk about something else, change the subject plz!

We don’t need to show the world that we have uncovered women to think that we are open minded people, this has nothing to do with what you are wearing, or how you look like!

I am writing this post and thinking that maybe I will never get a reply from you like exactly what happen before when I wrote my other post about you, I know that you don’t have time for this, because your time is only for Big shows and programs where you can promote your self and your ideas!

Who is the Real Happy Muslim who confused the entire world?

I don’t want to upset you Mona, but it would be better to Look to Asmaa Abd El Hamid as a Former Islamist Spokeswoman, she almost reached the Danish Parliament and the heart of Denmark, and she only appears in public with head and hair carefully veiled.
I meet Asmaa Abdol-Hamid in person during my visit to Denmark two years back, and I can say she is the ideal picture of Muslim Woman to me. She is completely different person than you Mona, maybe it’s a good idea to learn from her!

So, I think the one I should promote is Asmaa, not you Mona!
I think she is the Real Happy Muslim who confused the entire world!

12 Responses to “A Message for Mona Eltahawy after Watching her first Essay for Time.com”

1. secratea says:

   April 14, 2009 at 5:35 PM

   I like the comparison you’ve made between both women activists which is totally valid, especially that Mona Tahawi is a self-proclaimed “secular” Muslim woman, but as she’s mentioned, she loves confusing people: talk about schizophrenia, whereas Asmaa Abdol-Hamid clearly states that she is a “practicing” Muslim woman first and foremost before even identifying her self by race or region.

   So honestly, why claim to be a “valid” counter image to the media’s image of practicing Muslim women shrouded in black while proudly declares being secular?

   btw, I have no problem with a “non-hijabi practicing Muslim” woman offering a counter image and a counter narrative to Western media’s images and claims about Muslim women

   secratea’s last blog post..On Falling Kings: Really, Who Would Have Wanted To Be In His Place?

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2. SÔNIA MOSSRI says:

   April 16, 2009 at 1:34 AM

   I REALLY DESAGREE. FOCUS THE FACT THAT WOMEN ARE SECOND CLASS HUMAM BEING IS THE POINT THAT YOU WOMAN LIVING UNDER THE MUSLIN RULES HAVE TO THING ABOUT. IT’S A LOST OF TIME AND STUPID THINK ONLY ABOUT CLOTHES BUT I THINK THE NEED TO WEAR A XADOR OU EVEN ONLY A SCARF TO HIDE THEIR HAIR IS ACTUAL A SIGNAL OS DISRESPECTFULL AGAINST WOMEN. WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO THINK AND DO WEAR WHEREVER WE WANT. I HAVE BEAUTIFUL LEGS AND A LIKE TO SHOW THEM. IT’S MY PROBLEM. ANYWAY, I RESPECT YOUR CULTURE BUT IT DOENS’T MEAN THAT I AGREE WHITH YOU. YES, WE FROM DE MEDIA ARE DOING A GOOD JOB SHOWING HOW RIGHT BEINGS HAVE BEEN PUT AWAY IN THE NAME OF A GOD ALAH. IT’S INSANE AND ONLY FOOLS WOULD AGREE WITH THAT.

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   Arabic Reply:
   June 18th, 2009 at 12:14 PM

   I rarely do not comment on blogs but yours I had to stop and say Great article!!

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   Sônia Mossri Reply:
   June 26th, 2009 at 4:45 PM

   @Arabic,

   Thank your comment. I really think that woman are treated lig dogs on most of cuntries which use Alah for politics and domination. I have been to some muslin countries and I always get surprised the way many wome look at me as a a prostitute. On the other hand, I have never had problems whith men. Maybe because I talk to them as I am one of them.

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   Hisham Reply:
   June 27th, 2009 at 9:14 AM

   @Sônia Mossri, I just want to tell you that you are wrong, you have the wrong feelings and ideas about your trip!!

   in the Middle East there is everything you can imagine, men and women from all kinds and prospects. if you are a Muslim woman and visit any country in Europe of America you will face the same problem that other’s will look at you and give you the doubts about your self!
   I just feel that you didn’t get it!
   Hisham´s last blog ..Zebida Weekly Tweets 2009-06-24
3. Sarah says:

   April 24, 2009 at 2:35 PM

   As a muslim woman, I agree with you, the author. For me, there is no use of talking about Islam if in the first place, she herself doesn’t even practice the Islam way of life.

   Sarah’s last blog post..10 Spanish Words To Learn

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   Hisham Reply:
   June 19th, 2009 at 1:17 PM

   Thank you @Sarah for your comment, I appreciate you telling us about your opinion!
   Hisham´s last blog ..Zebida Fridays – Why you Should Add a Comment when Visiting my Blogs

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   Sarah Reply:
   June 19th, 2009 at 1:35 PM

   @Hisham, You are welcome Hisham. I hate those who say about something and do other thing. So if she thought that she should be talking about Islam, why don’t she portrays herself as a Muslim before talking about it.
   Sarah´s last blog ..Freelance Writer – 3 Reasons Why You Need a Blog

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4. muttertagsgeschenk says:

   May 1, 2009 at 5:51 PM

   Were did you get your blog design?

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   Hisham Reply:
   May 13th, 2009 at 12:58 PM

   @muttertagsgeschenk, You can get it from here Elegant Themes

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5. momeen says:

   November 9, 2009 at 6:47 AM

   “but some times I feel that you are not the right person to talk about Islam, I feel that I don’t have to look at you as a person who present Islam”

   Er..who are you or anybody to decide who can or can not speak about Islam?

   I will have you know the Eltahawy and the like are as practicing as the next Muslim and in the Qur’an, Allah says one (i.e. you) can not doubt a muslim on his/her faith, if they have first proclaimed to be Muslim. Why is so hard for so many to let God be the judge?

   So it is quite irrelvant who you personally view as a spokesperson for Islam. I would very much like to hear all sorts of views even if I don’t agree. That is freedom of speech and so ME is as entitled to speak about Islam, as Asma A. Hamid, who promoted herself solely on not shaking hands with men (all the while she had not problem doing so before running for the parlament) and the scarf og making contradictory statements which does not put her in a credible light. Nobody really knew anything about her political views or causes. The scarf is not a cause. But social welfare, senior citizens, education, employment, immigration policy, taxes, global economic crisis, the foreign policy are. Ms Eltahawy, however, is a journalist and Muslim, and even if she does not represent you, she does represent others. That is how a socity works. Preferences.

   Mind you, I don’t agree with everything ME says. I am just saying it is not up to you or anybody to play God an determine who can or can not speak on behalf of Islam og Muslims. Anybody can speak although it always helps when the opinion presented is informed.

   A scarf does not make a woman a better Muslim or less. Even the Qur’an says that real fear and faith comes from within. And nobody except Allah can judge. Muslims comprise of over 1 biliion people spread into groups, sects etc. No harm there. Therefore to conclude that somehow somebody can speak for all is naive.

   Like you don’t speak for me because tolerence for me towards people no matter who is an integral part of my faith. I see the lack of tolerance and the presence of strong bias in your article against certain muslims, as contradictory to the spirit of Islam. Divided we fall.

   But I would still say you have a right to have your opinion but likewise you must accept that Eltahawy too has a right to speak her mind on Islam or being a Muslim.

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   Hisham Reply:
   November 10th, 2009 at 12:13 AM

   @momeen, First of all, thank you for your comment!

   But.. I think you should read my post well, I didn’t doubt the faith of anyone, and I can not do such thing, all what I said that I am not convinced that this person present Islam in the public, and you are right about maybe she is presenting some others in the society!

   All what I did in this post was a part of freedom of speech as you said, and I already said what I like and what I don’t!

   And PLZ! go back to Qur’an and read the facts about the Facts about the Hijab!
   Hisham´s last blog ..Is your Kid a Computer Geek?

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