Muslim Women: Past and Present

Recommend a Muslim Woman

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.

  • By Category
  • By Name
  • By Century
  • By Country
  • Search


Bina Bektati

They [Indonesian government] have succeeded in transforming censorship into self-censorship. We don't need warning telephone calls anymore, and the army doesn't have to threaten anyone. We have become 'good' journalists by censoring ourselves, and that is what our government calls a 'free and responsible press.' Today, self-censorship is our worst nightmare."

photo of Bina Bektati Photo courtesy of the Center For Media Freedom & Responsibility.

Known For: Journalist
Country: Indonesia

About

Bina Bektiati, an Indonesian journalist, began reporting about politics for the independent newsweekly Tempo in 1991. When in 1994 the magazine was banned and its license revoked by the Suharto regime and government-controlled publication replaced Tempo, Bektiati refused to write for it. Instead, she challenged the government’s actions in the courts and helped found the Alliance of Independent Journalists, Indonesia’s only independent journalists association.

Bektiati is a winner of the International Women’s Media Foundation Courage in Journalism Award.

Unable to find work in Indonesia like many of her fellow journalists, Benkiati in 1995, moved to Australia. However, she returned to Jakarta in 1996 and helped found the Institute for the Study of Free Flow of Information, researching and writing books on current affairs.

Bektiati continued writing about politics—often under a nom de plume—and covered the protests leading up to the fall of Suharto and installation of President Habibie in 1998.


The new government instituted modest reforms and in late 1998, Tempo was re-established and Bektiati accordingly returned to her position with the magazine and is now an editor at the publication.

Sources

ARIANNA ONLINE - Courage under fire.

IWMF : International Women’s Media Foundation - Bina Bektiati.

RSS Bookmark and Share
This search feature will enable you to find Muslim women alphabetically by their first names. Many Muslim names have alternative spellings once rendered into English so if you cannot find the name you are looking for, please try the general search tab where you can enter keywords of your choice.
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z
This search feature will enable you to find Muslim women chronologically by the Common Era century. 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 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.