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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Rashida Tlaib

People's backgrounds don't matter to me as much as who they are, what they believe. Rashida Tlaib quoted in the Kalamazoo Gazette

Known For: Second Muslim woman to serve in a state legislature in the United States
Dates: 1976 CE -
Country: United States

About

Rashida Tlaib is a Democratic representative of the 12th District of the Michigan House of Representatives.She is the first Muslim woman to be elected to the Michigan legislature and only the second Muslim woman nationally to be elected to a state legislative body. A Palestinian-American raised in Detroit, she was born in 1976 to a father from a suburb of Jerusalem and a mother from near Ramallah in the West Bank. Rashida is the oldest of 14 children. She earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Wayne State University and went on to receive a law degree from the Thomas Cooley School of Law. 

Rashida credits her family’s struggle to create a new life for themselves in southwest Detroit for her commitment to public and community service.1 Prior to assuming office, she worked for organizations like Latin Americans for Social and Economic Development, the Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services, and the International Institute of Metro Detroit. It was her subsequent position in the office of Representative Steve Tobocman that led to her running for his seat. Tobocman, the son of Jewish immigrants from Poland, convinced Rashida to run when he finished his final term and, because of term limits, could not seek the office again. 

Her priorities are the rights of immigrants and the environment. She says of her position that she views her role as that “of a social worker [more] than anything.”2 Rashida is currently the minority vice chair of the Appropriations Subcommittee for the Department of Community Health.

[1]“About Rashida,” Rashida4Rep.com.

[2]“Rashida Tlaib is first Muslim woman to be elected to Michigan legislature,” Kalamazoo Gazette.. 

Sources

“About Rashida,” Rashida4Rep.com. 
Rashida Tlaib is first Muslim woman to be elected to Michigan legislature,” Kalamazoo Gazette.

More Information

Rashida Tlaib’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.