Shireen Qudosi speaks with Democratic activist and female imam Rabi'a Keeble on Ilhan Omar's latest Muslim Caucus Day controversy. Why did Ilhan Omar deflect from answering a straightforward question on a human rights issues in her district?
2 minutes: The "magical" appeal of Ilhan Omar
4:40 minutes: Somali support for FGM
5:40 minutes: Ilhan Omar's "disgusting" response to a Muslim question on FGM during Muslim Caucus Day
10 minutes: Is Ilhan Omar deflecting because she had FGM done to her?
14 minutes: Ayaan Hirsi Ali vs. Ilhan Omar
14:40 minutes: Trump vs. Ilhan Omar
16:10 minutes: Is Omar influenced by the Hamza Yusuf?
18:05 minutes: Why Rabi'a and I get attacked by the Somali community
28:34 minutes: Fresh thoughts on Islamophobia
29:30 minutes: Why activists in Africa are doing a better job of ending FGM
30:20 minutes: Why Muslim scholars can't the cure for FGM
Closing: Regressive community pressure kills genuine reform initiatives against FGM.
Reference Links:
http://www.startribune.com/minnesota-bill-against-female-mutilation-raises-opposition/423070383/?refresh=true
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCcd-HaIWd4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ob3Wf0PKtBM
Qudosi's Articles on FGM:
FGM Silences A Woman's Most Primal Voice
Zuhdi Jasser and Shireen Qudosi discuss FGM In the Era of #MeToo
FGM Must be Seen as Sexual Violence Why Freedom of Religion is an Illegitimate Defense of FGM After Detroit
American Muslims Target Female Genital Mutilation
About Rabi'a Keeble
For over 20 years, Rab’ia Keeble (RK) has personally seen issues affecting the Muslim community/women up close, including victims of FGM and forced marriage. This in part initiated her activism work including opening a woman’s mosque, one that openly spoke out against FGM and anti-Semitism. Rabi'a started the Qal'bu Maryam Women's Mosque in Berkeley, a registered non-profit (not yet a 501c3), that meets every Friday. Attendance at the mosque ranges from 5-15 women. Other motivations for opening the mosque grew out of frustration with pro-segregation attitudes by mosque leaders that also denied Muslim women equal access to the facility and events, thereby also lessening the impact of their voice. Rabi'a has also tried to reach out and speak with the imam in Virginia who advocated for FGM. Requests to speak were not returned. I recommended RK consider producing an open letter video in order to still be heard and possibly reach a wider audience. In other words, don’t accept a denied request; instead, reach for a bigger platform. FGM has become one of the most important topics right now for RK as a Muslim woman. She is a Democratic delegate for her district in California, where one of the perks is access to speak w/ assembly leaders (Rob Bonta) who asks for legislation ideas. Rabi'a wrote the Muslim Woman's Bill of Rights, which includes the right to refuse FGM, the right to make decisions about her own body. It is in Sacramento now at the state capital, and Rabi'a is hoping to represent it if it is put into legislation. She has told Bonta that they need to include in this bill stipulated in high schools, mosques, city hall, and via literature, television, etc.
