A Love Letter to my Inner Child

Shamsa Araweelo’s inspiring written piece about her journey of self-love, courage and resilience as an FGM survivor.

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Baroness Shaista Gohir OBE on Israel / Gaza - House of Lords (24.10.2023)

Baroness Shaista Gohir (CEO of MWNUK) spoke at the House of Lords on 24th October 2023 regarding the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict and the rise in hate crimes against Jewish and Muslim communities in Britain.

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Baroness Shaista Gohir OBE on Israel / Gaza - House of Lords (24.10.2023)

Baroness Shaista Gohir (CEO of MWNUK) spoke at the House of Lords on 24th October 2023 regarding the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict and the rise in hate crimes against Jewish and Muslim communities in Britain.

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Meet our Team

Love reading and photography. I began writing my novel in Autumn 2019, this is an extremely exciting venture. So far, I have written 8 pages!!! Wish me luck! "Never give from the depths of your well. But from your overflow".(Rumi).

Shameem Hussain
Director of Communications

Kick ass feminist fighting against my arch nemesis, misogyny but doing it in style with my eyelash extensions. I have different guises, blonde, pink or purple - depends on my mood. I have tsundoku - buy more books than I have time to read.

Shaista Gohir OBE
President

Lawyer by day, serial binge-watcher by night. I love to read (Jane Austen & JK Rowling rule my bookshelves), write poetry, drink mocktails and eat cake. I did a bungee jump once. I froze at the top - petrified staring at death - so they pushed me off.

Nazmin Akthar
Editor-in-Chief

Super mum of 3 using my super powers to juggle school runs, nappies, love, fun! AND the serious business of making the world a better place. Who needs sleep?! We have coffee! Grounded by my faith. Born leader. Believes knowledge is power. Ready for action!

Faeeza Vaid MBE
Vice President

Despite my degree in overthinking and my resting bitch face, I promise I'm nicer than you think (especially if there is food in front of me). Acting is my calling, but I'm also a singing diva in the shower. I'm fearless! except for when I see a spider!

Aaliyah Gohir
Editorial and Communications Manager

I'm super competitive and love to be good at everything I do! I'm a self-confessed cinephile who hopes to one day work on a film project centred around powerful (but crazy) Muslim women! One thing I hate is tea and coffee! I've tried but I just don't get it!?

Zeinab Abid
Digital Content Manager

Born and raised as an Arsenal fan (thanks to my dad). Born and raised as a feminist (thanks to my mum)! In love with the world of anime. Studying the art of jiu-jitsu. Could've become a professional footballer but knee injury ;)

Faris Gohir
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Rizwana Bi
Public Relations & Analytics Manager

FAQs

The MWN Hub is owned by Muslim Women’s Network UK(MWNUK), which is a registered national charity in the UK (registration number 1155092).MWNUK works to improve the social justice and equality for Muslim women and girls through campaigning, advocacy, research, its helpline, connecting its membership and providing training and resources.

The MWN Hub has been set up to:

1. Inform â€“ provide you with information on a wide range of issues through videos and blogs

2. Listen â€“ to you through polls, your comments, forum posts and feedback

3. Connect â€“ you to others and expand your reach allowing you to also form your own groups

4. Provide - a space for your voice so you can express your views through blogs, videos, discussions and comments

Blogs 
You can live anywhere in the world to submit a blog but must be a member of the MWN Hub. If you are not a member, simply register on the platform, which is free and create a profile and then submit a blog through the ‘Read’ section. We do not make payments for blogs.  However, occasionally we may pay for commissioned pieces.

Videos
You can live anywhere in the world to contribute but must be a member of the MWN Hub. If you are not a member, simply register on the platform, which is free and create a profile and then send us your ideas via email on  contact@mwnhub.com  and title the email ‘Video Contribution Idea.’ Only record a piece for us once we have agreed that we will accept your idea. We don’t want you to create unnecessarily work if we do not accept the idea. However, if you have already created a piece and would like to add it to our platform, then you can tell us about it and send us a link to you video.

Examples of pieces that can be submitted (ideally between 500 and 800 words although can be longer but shorter pieces are more likely to be read) include: 

  • Personal story of an experience
  • Opinion piece e.g. analysis of a current topic or issue etc.
  • Review e.g. of a film, TV programme, event or book etc.
  • Interview e.g. a questions and answers with someone
  • Tips e.g. a top ten or five etc., of something
  • Guide on how to do something

However, we will NOT approve the following types of articles:

  • That endorse a product or are a publicity post
  • That are defamatory
  • That do not adhere to our equality policies e.g. anything that promotes violence, intolerance, hatred or discriminatory attitudes towards any groups of people


If you are thinking about writing a blog for our website, you can access our Contributor's Guide.   We will not change the content of a written piece or the arguments made unless they breach our terms and conditions and you will be contacted should this be the case. If needed we will therefore make the following editorial changes:


• Spellings and grammar
• Title
• Content related to legal issues e.g. defamation
• Factually incorrect information
• Add or choose alternative links to information referred to

If minor cosmetic changes are made such as spellings and grammar only or links chosen, we will not contact you to seek approval and make your article / blog live and update you. If you are not satisfied, you can request for changes. We will contact you for other changes such as perhaps requesting you to consider strengthening or clarifying parts of your article. We will retain the right not to publish any piece that is submitted to us. This could happen if the article is: of poor quality, not relevant to our audience or the content is in our exclusion list.


If your blog is time-sensitive then please let us know in the 'comment' box when uploading and submitting your piece for our consideration. Alternatively you can email us at contact@mwnhub.com.

The short answer is yes. If a blog includes information relating to an identifiable third party and they disagree with what has been said, then they will have the right to put forward their comments and/or version of events. However, the exact means by which this right will be exercised will be at the discretion of the Editor In Chief. This could be by way of a post scriptum, allowing the third party to leave a comment below the blog or potentially to allow them to write a blog of their own as a full rebuttal. Where such a request is made, we will aim to inform you as soon as possible and let you know the Editor in Chief's decision.

If you are an individual wishing to make a rebuttal, please make a request to our Editor in Chief using the 'contact' option at the top of our website.

You can submit content on any subject in your videos providing you adhere to the platform’s terms and conditions.  Examples of type of video content you could produce (although not an exhaustive list) includes:

  • Piece to camera (3-10 minutes) such as:
    • Facts on an issue 
    • Tips, advice or guidance on a topic
    • Recipe
    • Review e.g. book or film etc
    • Opinion on an issue
  • Interview with another person (This may be 10 – 30 minutes).  If it is longer we may need to split the interview into more than one part. 
  • Discussion, which may involve more than one person.  Ideally the discussion should not involve more than 4-5 people. 
  • Song or music – you may wish to record yourself singing or playing an instrument
  • Spoken word – you may wish to recite a poem or spoken word piece
  • Documentary – you could create a short documentary to highlight an issue
  • Film – you could create a short film or drama to practice your film making skills

If you need advice and tips on filming, then please contact us for a contributor's guide by emailing contact@mwnhub.com  We can edit submissions but will not change the contents or the arguments that are made unless they breach our terms and conditions. However, the following editorial changes will be made (if needed):

¡ Intro screen (with agreed title) where needed unless this has already been added

¡ Adding images and captions to clarify or highlight a point.

¡ Thank you end screen (if required) to thank partners which may include their logos unless this has been added

¡ Adding links for further information (if needed)

¡ MWNTV logo appearing on the top left or right of the screen (unless there is a good reason not to do so)

¡ Standard end screen that appear on most MWN TV videos (see other videos for information)

You could be liable for defamation for any statements you make within your blog or video about a third party which could be deemed defamatory and its inclusion is likely to cause serious harm to the reputation of said third party. Although truth is a defence to any defamation claims, this defence depends on your ability to be able to prove that your statements are the truth in a court of law which can be a lengthy and costly process. The MWN Hub will not take any responsibility for any actions which may be taken against you by third parties as a result of your contribution and it is therefore imperative that you consider any risks which may be involved in your proposed piece. Whilst we cannot provide any legal advice, the editorial team would be happy to discuss the wording and scope of your blog and any concerns you may have in this respect.

You could also be at risk of legal action if any information within your blog could be considered a breach of confidentiality or data protection, contempt of court, harassment or any other laws. The MWN Hub, and MWNUK, will not be responsible for any actions, claims, losses or damages arising and/or suffered by you and/or any third party as a result of publishing your blog or video.

You are able to write a spotlight highlighting the work of a charity, not-for-profit organisation or community group in the UK provided that you are affiliated to it and have the expression permission of the organisation to write, and have a piece published, on their behalf. By submitting a blog about another organisation, you will be confirming to us that you have such authority.


MWN Hub will make all reasonable efforts to ensure that the information contained on this platform is accurate at the time of its creation and/or modification, but the accuracy or completeness of information on MWN Hub cannot be guaranteed. MWN Hub, and separately MWNUK, shall not be responsible for any errors, omissions or inaccuracies and accepts no liability whatsoever for any loss or damage howsoever arising. Please see the terms and conditions of membership of the MWN Hub for further details, and please make your own enquiries in respect of the accuracy and reliability of any information provided.

The short answer is yes. If a blog includes information relating to an identifiable third party and they disagree with what has been said, then they will have the right to put forward their comments and/or version of events. However, the exact means by which this right will be exercised will be at the discretion of the Editor In Chief. This could be by way of a post scriptum, allowing the third party to leave a comment below the blog or potentially to allow them to write a blog of their own as a full rebuttal. Where such a request is made, we will aim to inform you as soon as possible and let you know the Editor in Chief's decision.

No. Any views and opinions expressed by members of the MWN Hub, in any format, are the personal views and opinions of those members only. Unless expressly stated by the MWN Hub, the views and opinions expressed by members through any comments, blogs, vlogs, videos or other contributions are not to be interpreted as the views and opinions of, or having been endorsed by, MWN Hub (or MWNUK).

No. MWN Hub is owned and run by Muslim Women's Network UK (MWNUK) which is a charitable company registered with both Companies House and the Charity Commission. Charitable companies may have members who will have a specific legal standing, role and rights relating to the charity. However, becoming a member of the MWN Hub will not make you a legal member of MWNUK the charitable company and the provisions of the Companies Acts will not apply to you.


If you are a member you can contribute with written pieces and video content. You will also be able to set up your own ‘Groups’ under the ‘Talk’ section of the MWN Hub. All of these channels we help you to:

  • Expand your reach to new audiences.
  • Use your content to raise awareness of issues that you are passionate about
  • Create debate and discussion on topics
  • Expand your own knowledge by learning from others
  • Expand your networks and build connections.

Online harms may manifest themselves in a number of ways and it must be acknowledged that completely eliminating all risks of, and actual, harm will be impossible. We also acknowledge our own limitations as a small charity which mean that we are unable to provide 24 hour surveillance of all activities on the MWN Hub. We will therefore not be able to commit to reviewing every comment left on any forum discussions, blogs or videos, and would not be able to review any private messages. However, we have taken the following steps to minimise and mitigate risks:

  • Made it clear in our terms and conditions, acceptable and unacceptable behaviours relating to use of MWN Hub
  • Shared safety tips within the MWN Hub to raise awareness of the types of safeguarding issues which may arise so that Hub users are able to identify concerning behaviour (whether directed towards them or others)
  • Provided a reporting function so comments can be flagged by users and brought to the attention of the MWN Hub admin staff.
  • Provided contact information on our contact page so anyone can contact us to raise concerns .

The following is a non-exhausted list of the types of issues which could occur and it is imperative that we all remain vigilant:
  • Stalking, harassing or bullying of users either openly through forum discussions or by using private chat functions.
  • Targeting individuals, befriending them emotionally and manipulating or coercing them into sending them money.
  • Targeting individuals, befriending them emotionally with a view to 'getting to know each other for marriage' and when they meet, the victim is physically/sexually abused.
  • Using private chat functions to facilitate organised crime, including grooming and financial abuse.
  • Sharing publicly or privately comments that promote self-harming, extremism or other abusive views.
  • Sharing comments either publicly or privately which are discriminatory and/or fall within the definition of a hate crime.
  • Sharing comments which raise concerns that the user (who has shared the comment) or someone they know (who may be an adult or a child) may be at risk of actual or suspected harm and their life may be in imminent danger.
  • Threats of violence being made, including to MWNUK itself.
  • Harms experienced by individuals through the use of third party products or services, details of which were shared on the MWN Hub (For the avoidance of doubt, whilst MWNUK accepts makes no endorsements and accepts no liability in respect of any products or services advertised or otherwise shared on the MWN Hub).

You can flag comments to us by using the 'report tab' in each of the comments sections.  You can also get in touch via our 'contact us' page.

If you are worried about your own safety or safety of others and see suspicious activity, please inform us even if you are unsure.  You can get in touch via our 'contact us' page.

Where we are informed of any issues, we will nevertheless endeavour to take steps to address any concerns. Actions to be taken will depend on the issue at hand and will be decided on a case by case basis, in a proportionate manner.  The types of action which we may take include (but is not limited to):
  • Deleting any comment(s) of concern
  • Deleting or suspending any groups which have been created
  • Issuing written warnings to users informing them that their comments, actions or behaviours are deemed to be in breach of the Hub terms and conditions and that further action may be taken 
  • Temporarily or permanently suspending use and/or terminate membership 
  • Making a formal complaint to a representative organisation or other body; for example, where an individual leaves abusive comments and said individual is the CEO of a charity, we may make a complaint to the charity or even the charity commission about their policy
  • Reporting the matter to the police or such other statutory body as may be relevant depending on the circumstances involved 
  • Alerting other individuals/organisations of the complaint, concerns and/or allegations where it is deemed necessary to safeguard others
  • Taking no further action (where a review leads to the conclusion that there are no safeguarding concerns)

We take all allegations of abuse or harm very seriously and this includes any allegations against our staff or volunteers in relation to the MWN Hub. Complaints will be handled in accordance with the relevant complaints procedure and a thorough investigation will be carried out internally.
If deemed necessary, we may also report the matter externally, such as to the police and Charity Commission.

We welcome feedback on any ideas and suggestions.  The best way to contact us is via our Contact page which can be found via the top menu.

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you are concerned about the activity or behaviour of another platform user.  We take safeguarding seriously.  Please also read the 'Safeguarding' section in our FAQs.  You can contact us via our 'Contact' page which can be accessed via the top menu.

We hope that everybody who contacts us is pleased with the service they receive. We are continuously working to improve our service and your feedback is valuable. If you would like to make a complaint about our service, then please contact us at the Muslim Women's Network UK (who are owners of the MWN Hub). You can contact us in the following ways:

Email to contact@mwnuk.co.uk

Phone on 0121 2369000

Write to:
Muslim Women's Network UK
The Warehouse
54-57 Allison Street
Digbeth
Birmingham
B5 5TH

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