The recent release of an online collection of songs by female Muslim rappers and poets form the US, UK and Europe has provoked debate about the role - and rights - of Muslim women in British society.
The album, Sisterhood, was produced by Norwegian artist Deeyah, also known as "the Muslim Madonna", who is now lives in the US under 24 hour protection. Deeyah received death threats after the video for her single "Plan of My Own" featured the singer showing her back and dancing seductively with a man.
Deeyah says she released Sisterhood to show solidarity with young Muslim women wanting to forge a music career. She says:
"In many Muslim communities, there is virtually no support for young women who want to express themselves as creative artists. It's not one of the professions expected of a woman. Many are actively discouraged from expressing their thoughts and dreams through music. A big part of the problem is the cultural expectations placed upon women. There is the association of music with sexuality and a westernised form of expression. The main aim I had in putting together the Sisterhood project was to let young Muslim girls know they are not alone in their struggles to get their music out there."
The response from the Muslim Council of Great Britain (MCB) has not been supportive. Dr Daud Abdullah, deputy secretary general of the MCB, says that, according to Islam, women artists should refrain from performing before a mixed audience:
"The Islamic view [is] that women should not draw unnecessary attention to themselves, because of the impact this will have on a male audience. The moral framework of Islam has already been laid down and women should not push beyond its boundaries for the sake of commercial gain."
Dr Abdullah also spoke out on Islamic obligations for women in 2006 following the former foreign-secretary Jack Straw's suggestion that the full face veil hindered community relations. He said that although individual Muslim women could choose to remove part of their veil, covering hair was "obligatory" for Muslim women.
Deeyah is an exceptionally talented and inspiring Muslim artist who faced discrimintaion from Islamists and radicals in Britain.Somone from MCB had made a comment about that just because her name is Deeyah, she may not be a Muslim which is wrong and shows how ignorant narrow minded leaders can be. Many South Asian Muslims do not have Muslim names. In Deeyahs case she was named after an Indian neighbour who had supported her mother, her mother honoured her indian friend. That is the kind of love and friendship we Muslims have with our neighbours. MCB are Islamists. Deeyah is a woman of substance..brave as an activist who writes about the pain Muslim women endure. There is nothing in the Quran or hadith to suggest that music is haraam,it's just Islamist propaganda.Deeyah inspires Muslim female artists who express our plight through their lyrics and music. God bless her..especially for opposing the veil so publicly.
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