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.

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Dalia Ziada

Education is the biggest problem in the whole Muslim world, particularly for women. And, you know, always an enemy for any society is ignorance. And once you remove ignorance, anything can happen. 3

–Dalia Ziada

Known For: Human rights activist and blogger
Dates: Rabbi al Awwal 7, 1402 – present (AH)
January 2, 1982 – present (CE)

Country: Egypt

About

Dalia Ziada is an Egyptian rights activist and blogger who has been honored by Newsweek as one of the 150 most influential women in the world and by Time magazine as a Muslim rights champion.  She was selected by Daily Beast as one of the world’s 17 bravest bloggers and is also a recipient of the Anna Lindh Euro-Mediterranean Journalist Award and Tufts University Presidential Award.1

Dalia’s interest in activism began as a child when she wanted to change her family’s stance on women’s rights. As an undergraduate, she launched a campaign together with four classmates to create awareness about the consequences of female genital mutilation. After graduation, her interest evolved to encompass not only women’s rights but human rights more broadly including freedom of expression in the Middle East.

In 2007, she began her work with the Cairo office of the American Islamic Congress (AIC). Her accomplishments include the inauguration of the Middle East’s first human rights film festival and the launching of the 5F campaign to promote religious tolerance in Egypt. Through her work at AIC, she has advised local and regional policymakers along with members of the US State Department and Congress.  In June 2009, she was invited to attend the historical speech of President Obama to the Muslim world in Cairo.

Currently, she lives in Cairo and is pursuing an MA in International Relations from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University. She received her BA in English Literature from Ain Shams University and published her first book of poetry in 2010.2

 

[1] Dalia Ziada: About Me.
[2] ibid.
[3] Dalia Ziada: Muslim Youth on Obama’s Speech.

Videos

Interview with Dalia Zaida



Dalia Ziada

More Information

Dalia Ziada’s Blog

American Islamic Congress - Egypt

Egypt’s revolution through the eyes of five women

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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.