Muslim Women: Past and Present

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Throughout the ages, from the earliest days of Islam to contemporary times today, Muslim women have been and continue to be active leaders in their communities and countries across the world. This directory is a growing archive of leading Muslim women scholars, activists, writers, politicians, artists, religious and spiritual leaders, civil society leaders and more. Please contribute to this archive by suggesting Muslim women to be featured through our recommendation form.

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Ayse Önal

Known For: Journalist
Dates: Hijri 1374 - Present (AH)
Common Era 1955 - Present (CE)
Country: Turkey

About

Ayse Önal is a Turkish reporter who has dedicated herself to reporting on Turkish politics, culture, organized crime, and conflicts in the Middle East. She is the author of two books, winner of fourteen Turkish National Press Awards and the International Women’s Media Foundation Courage in Journalism Award.

While reporting on the Gulf War, she was arrested and detained in Iraq, threatened by Islamic fundamentalists and put on the revolutionary left’s death list. In 1994, Önal was shot and wounded by the Turkish mob because of articles she had written that linked the government to the mob. In response to this, Önal was forced to go into hiding for three months.

In 1995, Önal was targeted by a fundamentalist publication because of a report she wrote on peace in the Middle East. The following year, she was warned by the government censorship agency about her television interviews on the Kurdish conflict. In recent years, Önal has been unable to find full-time employment because of the opposition to her work.

Additionally, Önal’s work Honour Killing: Stories of Men Who Killed revolutionized the viewpoint the Turkish media takes on honor killings. The book stemmed from a TV special Önal worked on. While coverage tended to take the side of the killers and women’s rights groups demonized the matter entirely, Önal approached the matter from both ends of the spectrum, with an open ear for the stories of the perpetrators. In response to her work, she was flooded with phone calls from both men and women who were facing related dilemmas.

Sources

“IWMF : International Women’s Media Foundation - Ayse Önal.” IWMF : International Women’s Media Foundation - Home. (accessed November 18, 2009).

Sussman, Anne. “Ayse Onal Shines Light on Turkish ‘Honor’ Killings | Womens eNews.”Women’s eNews. 2009. (accessed November 18, 2009).

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This search feature will enable you to find Muslim women by their Country. We are actively building the archive of Muslim women leaders from the past, as well as from today, and we would welcome your recommendations of women to feature. Please complete our “Recommend Muslim Women” form and check the site again in the near future as we actively expand this section of the portal with your suggestions.
This search feature will enable you to find Muslim women leaders by entering the keyword(s) of your choice. If you cannot find a particular woman that you are looking for, please let us know by completing our “Recommend Muslim Women” form and check the site again in the near future as we actively expand this section of the portal with your suggestions.