International Women’s Day 2022 #BreakTheBias

This year’s International Women’s Day raises awareness against bias and celebrates womens' achievements throughout the world. We want to highlight 5 Muslim women breaking barriers in their fields and paving the way for other Muslim women.

Zeina Nassar

The 24-year-old German boxer of Lebanese decent, Zeina Nassar, has reached the pinnacle of boxing in Germany being a six time champion and aims to compete in the 2024 Olympics. However, it is her fighting outside the ring that has enacted a big social impact, making the sport more inclusive for Muslim women. Until just February 2019, the World Boxing Association’s dress code did not allow female athletes to compete in tournaments wearing a hijab, leggings, or long-sleeves. Thanks to Zeina and her coach challenging this stipulation, the doors have been opened for girls who faced the same struggles in this sport.

Ayesha Malik

Ayesha Malik, 55, was sworn in as Pakistan’s first female supreme court judge which is a landmark occasion in a country where the law is often manipulated against women. She now sits on the bench alongside 16 male colleagues at Pakistan’s highest court. Ayesha has combatted against patriarchal legal conventions in her Punjabi province jurisdiction. Last year, she outlawed a deeply invasive and medically discredited virginity test used on women who reported being raped or sexually assaulted. Women in Pakistan struggle for justice in rape and sexual assault cases, and the test was seen as a way for investigating authorities to dishonour victims by casting defamation on their character. Malik’s elevation to the highest court in Pakistan has paved the way for more women to enter the male dominated judiciary system in the country.

Zakia Hussein

Back in 2018, Zakia Hussein Ahmed became the highest ranking female in the Somali Police Force after recent promotion from her previous rank as Colonel. She becomes the first woman in the country’s police history to attain the rank. Brigadier General Zakia also occupies the new position of Somalia’s Deputy Police Commander. The prime minister at the time, Hassan Ali Khayre, said “I want to encourage Somali women to stop aiming low. Instead, I would like you to focus on becoming the next president and premier in this country.” I think you couldn’t suggest a more male dominated field than the army, but that didn’t stop Zakia from risisng to the top and it shouldn’t prevent other women from following in her footsteps either.

Dr Dana Al-Sulaiman

Saudi engineer Dana Al-Sulaiman won the "Innovators Under 35" award, for her ability to create a chip that detects different types of cancer inside the patient's body. The award seeks to honour technical experts, male and female researchers and scientists under the age of 35. The innovation was granted an American patent, and the technology is currently being developed and manufactured from sustainable materials at King Abdullah University and will be delivered to doctors in all hospitals soon. This astounding feat reminds everyone that Muslim women have the potential to change the world.

Nora Al-Matrooshi

Nora, 28, is an Emirati engineer and is the first Muslim female astronaut; she was one of two successful candidates over 4000 applicants for the UAE Astronaut Training Program, which will see her train at NASA’s Space Johnson Centre in Texas. During her first media appearance, she shared some particularly inspiring words with the Dubai Media Office: “my message to everyone is if I can do it, you can do it,” she said. “And if no one has done it before then you can just go ahead and be the first, because if you have the ambition and drive you will find opportunities everywhere at any time.”

Click here to watch our Instagram reel on the first three women mentioned in this blog