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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Sharifa Akhlas

Known For: Journalist
Country: Pakistan

About

Born and educated in Afghanistan, Sharifa Akhlas now works in exile as a radio and television producer and reporter for the Afghan Media Resource Center (AMRC), headquartered in Peshawar, Pakistan.

In 1999, Akhlas won the International Women’s Media Foundation Courage in Journalism Award.

In the early 1990s, Akhlas, witnessing the status of women deteriorating because of hostilities in Afghanistan, began writing stories on human rights issues. When the Taliban began instituting bans on working women in Afghanistan, Akhlas continued to work but in secret for the AMRC. She elected to work with AMRC to ensure that her writings on humans rights would reach an international audience.

To avoid discovery by the Taliban, Akhlas and her family were forced to move frequently. Nonetheless, her reporting was discovered more than once, most recently in 1998 and she was subsequently arrested and beaten.  Her family was also effected—her husband and father both had to promise to keep her quiet or face the same treatment themselves.

Although she escaped to Pakistan with her family, she still moves around to avoid detection. In her current work with the AMRC, Akhlas travels back into Afghanistan, to interview women and bring news to the international community. Despite being captured and arrested by the Taliban again in 2001, Akhlas returned to Pakistan where she continues to work.

Sources

IWMF: International Women’s Media Foundation - Sharifa Akhlas.

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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.