Centre for the Study of Women and Gender Events

You are warmly invited to join us for the launch of the book

Secular Muslim Feminism: an Alternative Voice in the War of Ideas

by Dr Hind Elhinnawy (Nottingham Trent University)

The event will include a presentation of the book by the author, Dr Elhinnawy, with responses from Dr Amina Easat-Daas (De Montfort University) and Dr Ramisha Rafique (Nottingham Trent University) and refreshments to follow.

About the book: For over a century, Muslim women have championed their own brand of feminism, rooted in human rights principles and a deep understanding of their diverse cultural contexts. Yet, secular Muslim feminism remains shrouded in misunderstanding and contention. Secular Muslim Feminism boldly confronts the complexities and controversies surrounding this contested concept, offering a nuanced exploration of its potential to bridge divides and empower women. The book challenges simplistic portrayals of Muslim women, dismantling the harmful narratives of oppression and victimhood propagated by both Western and Islamist agendas. It critiques the selective glorification of religious agency by some feminists, recognizing how this can inadvertently reinforce patriarchal ideologies. Additionally, it exposes the hijacking of the secular Muslim feminist movement by the far-right, disguised as advocates for women's rights but fuelled by anti-Muslim sentiments. Drawing on over two decades of personal observations and interactions with diverse organizations in the Middle East and Europe, the book delves into the heart of secular Muslim feminism, dissecting its nuances and potential to reconcile divergent perspectives. It amplifies these voices, challenging the misrepresentation and limitations imposed by external agendas.

About the author: A committed feminist, activist, and scholar, Dr Hind Elhinnawy is a Senior Lecturer in Criminology and co-chair of the Critical Criminology and Social Justice Research Group at Nottingham Trent University. With a two decades’ dedication to gender-focused social and political activism, Hind is widely recognized for challenging women's status in Egypt, contributing significantly to law and policy reform. Her impactful research, reflected in her first book and this monograph Secular Muslim Feminism (Bloomsbury), explores the extent to which the voice of the ‘secular’ Muslim woman remains contested as she dares to proclaim adherence to secular beliefs yet refuses to engage in anti-Muslim sentiment.

About the discussants:

• Dr Amina Easat-Daas is a Senior Lecturer in Politics at De Montfort University. Her recent publications include the co-edited Palgrave Handbook of Gendered Islamophobia (2024), her monograph Muslim Women’s Political Participation in France and Belgium (2020) and the edited volume Countering Islamophobia in Europe (2019). Dr Easat-Daas’s wider research interests include the study of UK, French and Belgian politics, decolonising politics, Islam and Muslimness in the UK, France and Belgium, gendered Islamophobia and countering Islamophobia in Europe.
• Dr Ramisha Rafique recently completed her PhD at Nottingham Trent University, exploring the ontology of the postcolonial flâneuse and decolonisation in British Muslim women’s writing. Her research specialisms include Post/Anti-Colonial Literature, Flânerie, Islamophobia, and Poetry. She is the founder of Essential Praxis Consulting, supporting universities and higher education institutions in taking actionable steps toward meaningful change through specialised consultancy and training services on Islamophobia and Decolonisation.

This event is free and open to all, but advance registration is required.

To register for a place, CLICK HERE.

If you have any questions about the event, please email cswg-events@warwick.ac.uk

If you have accessibility requirements or there are any adjustments we can make to support your full participation, you can let us know through the booking page above.