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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Fatima Sadiqi (MA, PhD)

With all modesty..., I consider myself the first female linguist in the Arab world and the first to tackle the issue of women from a gender and language perspective in Morocco. The moment you gain languages you also gain access to the language of the media, the government, the mosque – and you start speaking the language of authority.

Statement Fatima Sadiqi told Saundra Satterlee for the Guardian Weekly: How I became a leading voice for Moroccan women

photo of Fatima Sadiqi (MA, PhD)

Known For: Author, women’s right advocate, cultural activism
Country: Morocco

About

Fatima Sadiqi is a former Fulbright Scholar and recipient of a Harvard Fellowship. She is Professor of Linguistics and Gender Studies, author of, among other works, Women, Gender, and Language in Morocco (Brill, 2003) and co-editor of Women Writing Africa. The Northern Region (The Feminist Press, 2009), Women in the Middle East and North Africa. Agents of Change, and Gender and Violence in the Middle East (Routledge 2010 and 2011).  She founded the first Moroccan Centre for Studies and Research on Women in 1998 and the first graduate program on Gender Studies in 2000 at the University of Fez. In 2006, she founded Isis Centre for Women and development (with the aim of bridging the gap between the university and civil society) and in 2009 she was elected President of the National Union of Women’s Associations. In the same year, she co-founded the International Institute for Languages and Cultures (INLAC).

Fatima Sadiqi was appointed by Kufi Anan as a member of the UN Council for Development Policy (E.C.O.S.S.O.C.), and was appointed by the king of Morocco as a member of the Administrative Board of the Royal Institute of Amazigh Culture (IRCAM). From 2007 to 2009, Fatima Sadiqi served as Director General of the Fes Festival of Sacred Music. She is currently writing a book on Women’s Empowerment in Morocco: Going Beyond Islam.

Sources

“Ms. Magazine | A Window On Abuse.”

Fatima Sadiqi

Videos

Morocco, Women’s Rights

More Information

Fatima Sadiqi’s Official Website

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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.
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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.