My fashion and my hijab: Greek Muslimahs interviewed

Source:  Veto newspaper

© Translation Muslim Association of Greece

Διαβάστε στα Eλληνικά

It is not only one piece of cloth. The veil that envelopes the faces and the bodies of Muslims, is a symbol of Islam, so charged as the military conflicts that have broken out in the name of the hijab in many European countries. Lately, especially after the ban on headscarves in public places in France, there are more women who started wearing it. The global game industry is aware of this and few months ago, Barbie wore a scarf as well. Religious, political, revolutionary, feminist symbol? Muslim women living in Athens reveal what lies behind their hijab, as they call it.

 

Rabab

The hand of the photographer is on top of the table, with the coffees, tightened by Nashua hand, “I’m wearing gloves. It’s the only way I can touch another man.” Her daughter Rabab is smiling, holding her cup of coffee, smiling and with apologetic. “Sorry I’m not allowed,” as she declines the handshake. On her right shoulder is her baby sleeping. On her left shoulder her hijab falls until her waist. In fact they are to scarves, one pink and one black, both, elaborately braided together-the result is reminiscent braided hair. She was born in Greece, lives in Keratsini and every day, she wears her hijab in different style- which she has copied from a satellite hair channel. She has visited her home country, Egypt, only few times. She has heard though that there are many ‘hijab hair salons.’

Rabab has been wearing the hijab for the past 10 years. She wanted to take it off on her wedding day but her husband didn’t agree. Despite the meaning of her name ‘white cloud’, in her life there are many black clouds. At the age of 26, she must choose between her hijab or her career. “I was working in a telecommunications company. One day, my manager called me into his office and offered me the supervisor’s position. Under one condition: to take off my hijab. I couldn’t take the job wearing hijab. ‘At least wear a wig,’ he told me. So I had to resign.”

In her workplace today – she is an immigration consultant for Athens council- she wears her hijab without having any problems. “I can feel people’s eyes on me when I go to places or use public transportation. Most of them are staring. A few days ago, I was getting off the bus, when an elderly man hit me with his walking stick, so I would hurry.  With his walking stick! Is that possible? I was born here. And I am not taking my hijab off. It is a respect to me and my religion.”

 

Nashua 

Nashua never put pressure on her daughter to wear hijab. “She did it on her own, when she became a little lady.” It came to my mind the little girls with hijabs who were playing under their brothers’ eye, just outside the Libyan school on Kifisias boulevard.

“They are ignorant of Islam when they wear hijabs to kids in primary school,” Says Mrs. Anna Stamou, Marketing and Public Relations of the Muslim community. “A Muslim woman is wearing the hijab so she doesn’t attract attention, the paradox here is that this way she does. If we go out with a mini skirt nobody would look at us. Nakedness doesn’t evoke.” says her mother Nasoua, she has been living in Greece for the past 35 years. She assures me that under her impressive red hijab, which is fastened with a golden broch, has her hair groomed.

As she continues, “I go very often to the hairdresser. At home we don’t wear hijab. You never give up on yourself. I put facial creams and dye my hair, so my husband likes me, but above all so I please myself.”

 

Habiba

Habiba means ‘loved one.’ Habiba was the favourite student of her teachers in Paris. She arrived there from Morocco, to study fashion design. “Paris then was more hijab friendly,” she says, analyses the family tree of Sarkozi, concluding that he has roots in Marolo Jews from his grandparents. Because of her profession- she is a fashion designer in Athens and Paris-“I do not see any particular problem. I have contact with people who have an open mind and get on easily with scarf. Sometimes women say to me, ‘Come now, you are so progressive, you have to be free.’ But I am free. The scarf is my choice. It was never imposed on me. Not even from my husband.” And there is no doubt about that. Anas Habibas husband completes ”I have overcome some crashes. He grew up in Greece, he is from Argentina, but adopted by Greek parents before becoming a Muslim on his own initiative, he was baptised Christian and was called Anastasis. ”When I was little, I was the alter [boy] in church,” he says, laughing.

On his hand is tattooed an alfa capital. “Yes I am an anarchist,” he answers just when he realized that I was looking at it, he listens to rock music, smokes and is a big fan of Jimi Hendrix. ”Jimbo, come here,” he shouts from the living room in the middle of the house and to our surprise, emerging as a tornado, holding a large cat, is his three-year old daughter, wearing a black ribbon on her hair. ”Look my little Rocker,” boasts Anas. “Last year she asked to wear the hijab on her own. She sees her mother and she wanted too,” he says and tells us the story of young Holy, which was adopted from Morocco. Holy, grows up in a home with strong Arab elements, bright colours and smells of Moroccan tea and has her little prayer rug in the mosque built by her dad, in the basement of their house. Answering a question on when their daughter will wear hijab, they started laughing. ”She is such a character that she might never put it on!” says Habiba. ”Everybody does what they like. Many try to hide behind a scarf, to show that they are good people. Like Christians who go to church and start prostrating, looking around to see who is watching them. “I don’t blame hijab. It is just a fabric,” Habiba continues,”a fabric that frightens and unfortunately has baptized terrorism and Al Qaeda. We are Hijab Frappe. It means that the scarf goes everywhere.”

Habiba doesn’t drink frappe, “because it bothers me but I go to the movies, theatre, and I enjoy art as a hobby. I like little taverns.” She is also an amateur actress. After Easter, she will star for a second year on the show “Hijab Frappe”, based on true stories of women. She opens the script book and starts reading: “The hijab is a symbol, no it’s not a symbol, it is responsibility. It is my faith, what I am, what I am not. It is mandatory, it’s optional, it is the law but not here. I wear the hijab for me, for God, for my husband. It is freedom, protection, mystery.”

 

Marina 

Her parents reaction when they heard she will become Muslim “brought trouble at first, but [they] realized that the path was purely my choice and was not influenced and accustomed. What they cannot get used to is the hijab. They are all hesitant with the scarf. The fundamentals of Islam lie beneath. There are Muslim women who do not wear hijab. The substance is not the picture,” says Marina, a Greek who embraced Islam three years ago. Her husband, who she met later, is Palestinian and they have a little boy. ”I became a Muslim from pure curiosity. Reading, I began to realize that Islam covered gaps that could not be covered by my previous religion. Half a year later, I wore the scarf, as required by the Quran. Nobody pushed me; nobody forced me,” says 26 year old girl who studied economics in Aristotle University. ”Since I wore the scarf my friends remain the same because they know me. On the street, they think I am a foreigner. Nobody imagines that I am Greek and only if they hear my accent they suspect it and start asking questions.”

 

Despina Papadopoulou, Assistant Professor in the Department of Social Policy Panteion University

“The headscarf issue is complicated and complex, so we must be careful. As the government attempts to limit religious freedom, the more resistance will be present. If we can express an opinion towards the prohibition of the headscarf or not, a safe criterion is the separation of public and private life. It must not affect the public order of society. And the state should not interfere with private life. Any form of religion must exist, in case of course, it doesn’t affected the person. On the other hand there is a military conflict: Who governs the existence of the hijab? The State or the family? This conflict leads nowhere. Especially if the government draws its legitimacy from religion. If actions are taken for the ban of the headscarf, it will hardly be implemented. The restriction is a simple solution to an issue as so critical.”
The trend is derived from feminist movements, in which any symbol of discrimination and equality in society is racist in nature. In Europe and America, it appears as Islamophobia.

 

—

Translated by Elena Nikolova-Pouliasi

Event: Panel Discussion on Hijab on Feb. 3

Event:

Panel Discussion on HIJAB- the Islamic Headscarf

“The Hijab:

Symbol of Oppression or Expression of Faith?

A Right or a Threat?”

Start Time: Wednesday, February 3 at 6:00pm

End Time: Wednesday, February 3 at 8:00pm

Where: Ianos Bookshop Cafe

 

Η ομάδα 53 Αθήνας της Διεθνούς Αμνηστίας διοργανώνει εκδήλωση συζήτηση στον ΙΑΝΟ (Σταδίου 24) την Τετάρτη 3 Φλεβάρη στις 6μμ, με θέμα:

“Μαντήλα:

καταπίεση ή πίστη, δικαίωμα ή απειλή;”

Εκτός από την εκπρόσωπο της Διεθνούς Αμνηστίας, μικρές εισηγήσεις θα κάνουν:

• η αγγλοϊρανή σκηνοθέτιδα Shirin Youssefian Maanian
• η δημοσιογράφος Κατερίνα Οικονομάκου και
• η Άννα Στάμου, υπεύθυνη δημοσίων σχέσεων της Μουσουλμανικής Ένωσης Ελλάδας.

Στη διάρκεια της εκδήλωσης, θα παιχτεί ένα μικρό απόσπασμα από το έργο “Hijab Frappe΄!”, που πρωτοπαρουσιάστηκε πέρισυ την άνοιξη σε περιορισμένες παραστάσεις και έχει σκηνοθετήσει η Shirin, και θα επακολουθήσει συζήτηση.

European mentoring course for converts: photo gallery

The following is an article and photo gallery of the NEMA mentoring course in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, that took place on December 12-13, 2009. Two members from the Muslim Association of Greece and one member from Greeks Rethink attended the course.

Διαβάστε στα Ελληνικά

 

The Mentoring Course that NEMA organized  (Native European Muslim Assembly, affiliated to FIOE) was indeed a great success. People from many countries as Finland, UK, France, Belgium, Italy, Germany, Greece and Holland attended it. The location was the Islamic University of Rotterdam and the honored guest was professor Jamal Badawi, a beloved scholar for millions of Muslims worldwide. The mentoring course was held by Kathleen Roche Nagi who runs the Approachable Coaching Program (www.approachablecoaching.com).

The Dutch Muslims presented their activities to us, their goals and participated actively with lectures that aimed to realize the situation and the challenges of the New Muslims. They presented their association and their websites www.ontdekislam.nl & www.lpnm.nl

The Mentoring Course was a sequel of previous and future sessions and when they are completed the attendees will be certified mentors in order to use their skills to the demanding convert community. The promising aspect was that most of the future mentors were converts themselves and this is always preferable in order to achieve maximum effect.

Dr. Jamal Badawi was giving lectures and answering all questions of the attendees and as well he gave more lectures out of the course at Erasmus University and at an Arabic center, so we were happy to follow him and listen to his teachings that are really inspiring and enlightening for all Muslims.

Greece was represented by three members of our group Elena Pouliasi, Amir Arvanitis and Anna Stamou but we also met our sister Stefanie Danopoulos, a Greek-Dutch, who lives there and was very active indeed in this event as a member of the Dutch Muslim Community.

Although the program was very tight and we had to squeeze time and learn as much as possible, we had a great time and endless talks with each other as we shared experiences and impressions from our countries. We were all sad when Sunday afternoon came and we promised to meet at the next session for mentors and of course at the NEMA camp that will be announced soon.

Indeed all people of NEMA did a wonderful job, the program was very successful like the previous ones and we are looking forward for their new website that will be launched soon.

Click below to see the full photo gallery.

 

 

Call for Athens mosque by Cairo Imam

Source:  Ethnos

Διαβάστε στα Ελληνικά

 

Muhammad Herzullah, Professor of Al Azhar University – Imam of Hussein Mosque Cairo

The request of the presence of an official imam and the existence of a mosque and Muslim cemetery in Athens expressed in his interview at “Ethnos”, Dr. Muhammad Herzullah, Professor of Al Azhar University and Imam of Hussein Mosque of Cairo. Dr. Herzullah defends the ideals of Islam and states that many times Islam is distorted in the West. The imam also rejects the aspect that the division of the Muslims into Shias and Sunnis has religious base and he supports that in fact there are different schools of Islamic thought.

                

An interview with Paraskevi Vonatsou

The interview was given in the context of the International Conference that took place in Athens the day before yesterday and the translation was made with the assistance of the president of the Muslim Association of Greece, Mr. Naim Elghandour.

In the Western world many times it is attempted to connect Islam with terrorism. How do you interpret that?

There is not the relevant education to understand Islam. In the countries that the one is connected with the other there is not the right information, Islam is something unknown.

Islam is a religion with high standards, respects for others and all opinions. This is the basis of Islam. I wish there were theologians coming from certified universities to many countries, in order to avoid misconceptions.

Then why there are deaths in the name of jihad?

The word jihad is another misunderstood term of the West that connects it with terrorism. It is a fight, and effort, a struggle. The word jihad exists everywhere: when one is going to study, to work, when one tries to solve problems between people, when he preserves his rights, when he defends his country.

In Athens, where there is not an official imam, is there a bad interpretation of the Quran from those who play the imam role at the unofficial praying places?

This is really very dangerous because anyone may interprete the Quran as he pleases. The authorities of the countries that have Muslim population must take care of the wellbeing of the country and for the harmonious coexistence, they must solve this matter, so that the faithful know which is the true Islam.

Does the religious division between Shias and Sunnis exist, or this is a case of political perspectives?

In fact those are different Islamic schools of thought. This hard rivalry between them is provoked by enemies of Islam, as happened in Iraq, where after the intervention of the foreign powers began the inner fight between them.

What is Islam at last? Is this a religion, and ideology or a way of living?

Islam is the vein of life. What gives life. It respects other religions, wants dialogue and thinking, and adopts the exchange of opinions with other religions, in order to eliminate religious conflicts and deaths in the name of religions.

There is the aspect that the Muslim woman has a diminished role in the society. Is this an order from the Quran?

No, this is a wrong aspect. Islam has given rights to the woman and gives her freedom of thinking and will. For example when a woman does not want to marry someone, she expresses that, she cannot get married by force, also the courts issue divorces to women. The Muslim is also a very good husband.

Polygamy is not derogatory for a woman? Why does it not exist for the opposite also?

I invite you to think which is best: a man to have two or three formal wives with rights at heritage, at pension and fortune or to have mistresses? The vise versa does not stand because a woman is not created in her nature to have many husbands. It is scientifically proven that the woman in her nature cannot marry more than a husband. This does not underestimate the woman. It is characteristic that many women accept the role of the second wife instead of being mistresses without marriage.

How do you comment the fact that there is not an official mosque and Muslim cemetery in Athens?

Greece is considered as the Cradle of Democracy and Freedom since those ideals were born here. I also ask the Greek government to make action those that your country represents. Like in Egypt, we have Orthodox churches and schools and communities and cemeteries.

 

Muslim Conference in Athens

The different schools of Islamic thought but also the hot issue of not having a mosque and a Muslim cemetery in Athens were the issues that were discussed at the first international conference titled “the Muslim Communities and their Cultural Identity”.

The initiative for the organizing this belongs to the Cultural Center of the Iranian embassy in Athens, to the World Forum for Proximity of Islamic School of Thought, and the Muslim Association of Greece. In the beginning at his salutation, Mr. Yunes, representative of the Afghani immigrants in Greece underlined that Athens is the only European country, despite of the existing laws that has not allowed yet the existence of a formal place of worship and a cemetery for the Muslims.

On behalf of the Muslim Association of Greece, Mrs. Anna Stamou underlined, “Islam is a system of life, not just a religion, and takes part at every aspect of people’s life. If someone wants to be called a good Muslim, he must fully respect the laws of the state in the country he lives.” The result of the conference was read by a professor of Tehran university and concluded that the right face of Islam must be shown globally.

Between the speakers were Ayatollah Akhtari, of the International Committee of Prophet Muhammad’s descendents, Ayatollah Taskhiri, secretary General of the World Forum for Proximity of Islamic School of Thought, Yashar Sherif Damadoglou deputy mufti of Didymotiho and the unofficial Mufti of Komotini Ibrahim Sherif, to whom the Muslim Association of Greece kept the distances.

Greeks rethought and met each other!

Ramadan Timetable for Greece

Our next event: 6th September 2009

Greeks rethought and met each other!

Apprehensive, nervous, excited.

What was the matter? It was our first on line Paltalk gathering. After furious preparations with announcements, giving and receiving instructions of how to use Paltalk, and a lot more, the moment was here. Now we were actually going to hear and speak to our brothers and sisters who were to attend.

What was crossing my mind?

Is my Internet going to let me down? Am I going to overcome my apprehension and be clear and coherent? And am I going to choke and cough? This is the funny side. Sister Anna Stamou who hosted the event had a lot more to worry about. Being in Andros and having fires burning just across from where she was, was wondering if her power supply would be cut off. We all at the Greeks Rethink and Muslim Association of Greece team were holding our breath.

We were all so excited that the pre-gathering nerves and worries were forgotten. At last.  Face to face and personal.

The gathering started with a short dua recited by Br. Naim Elghadour of MAG, then some simple instructions of the use of Paltalk by Br Amir, introductions and we were ready to start and get close and personal….

Sister Anna made everybody feel relaxed and the conversation was just like a river flowing. Also, sister Iman who was supposed to relax and did not, made everybody feel at ease with an amazing voice of a 17 year old (as she was complimented). Masha Allah.

We did not feel like strangers. We all (and I dare speak on behalf of everybody) felt that we knew each other so well.

We shared our stories and Ramadan experiences in our respective countries of residence. The Ramadan spirit and the relaxed mood made me share confidences and Br. Hayrullah was a marvelous shoulder to cry on and also loads of laugh. So much so that we asked him to host our next gathering coming soon.

I have to say that some of my fears became true. At the crucial point of introducing myself I got disconnected. But Alhamdulillah. It all went well. Till next time. Coming on the 6th September 2009. Please use the link for more information.

Greek immigrants graduate from Odysseas

Euro camp: photos and reflections!

Two weeks have already passed by since the NEMA camp, but I still sense the strong family spirit amongst our Muslim brothers and sisters who attended.  Gosh, I didn’t even attend and I’m feeling the powerful vibes all the way from Canada!

Read a couple of their experiences and see the group photos below.

 

 

 

Well, putting feelings into words is not an easy task but mainly, I met my new family at Istanbul – brothers, sisters and even children and my father and mother. 

 

This event was heartwarming.  Even though I am not European, I felt as if  I am because that what is great about Islam despite the fact that we are 60 participants from different countries all over the world we managed to meet and agree, have fun and make each other smile while getting educated about how to live as a good Muslim in the West and how to be positive active part of the society.

 

In less than a few hours after we met, we clicked directly because we have something in common – we are all Muslim. We start to act like if we knew each other for a million years taking care of each other. We started to know the story behind the story the face behind the face.

 

This camp which was fully organized by NEMA as one of the associations of the Federation of Islamic Organizations in Europe (FIOE).  I will not talk about the organization because it was so professional and was so organized, actually perfect could be the word to describe it. I would like to take this chance to thank the NEMA team.  I will not mention names because I am sure I will miss someone and I don’t want to miss any.

 

The saddest day was the last day when people start leaving. We did not want to leave I can assure you that. We created a bond and as a family. I will share with you some of my photos even though it will not describe how we felt.

~ Fadi Hasweh

 

I was so eager to go to Istanbul because I was lucky enough to attend the previous NEMA gathering at the Training Course in Birmingham in August 09 and I met this unique team! That is why I recommended to  all others to attend this camp.

 

Where to start? Dr. Jamal Badawi? He is a brilliant professor with a sparkling mind, a true believer and I was always amazed to listen to him. So humble, so low profile and so effective, ma sha Allah, may Allah grant him a place in heaven.

 

As for the Muslim brothers and sisters from all over the world, this was really exciting and funny. Of course the Greek team that was the largest and was very noisy and full of joy!

 

The camp was very well organized so we had everything in the right proportions. Time for lecture, time for eating, time for chatting at the huge lobby, time for networking, sightseeing, and above all time for SHOPPING! (just teasing, ok?) Ok I shopped a little only because in Greece you cannot find jilbabs and stuff. Istanbul is a beautiful city, you can sense the history, the legacy behind these magnificent mosques and palaces, and of course our soul connection as Greeks.

 

We had a great time, I wish we stayed more!!! Looking forward for the next NEMA gathering!

 

~Anna Stamou

 

Have an experience you want to share? Post it in the comments. 

Have NEMA photos you want to share?  Email them to me.

 

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Πολιτισμός της πίστης – Civilization of faith

Some of you might have seen this book before.  Translated into Greek by Anna Stamou, now it is available in the mainstream and available for purchase at phigita.net bookstore.

 

Synopsis

[...] Ο “Πολιτισμός της πίστης” είναι μία φιλότιμη προσπάθεια. Παρουσιάζει τον τρόπο με τον οποίο το Ισλαμικό κράτος και οι Μουσουλμάνοι πολίτες του όλων των τάξεων απολάμβαναν έναν μεγάλο πολιτισμό και μία άνετη ζωή όταν η αφοσίωση στην Πίστη κυριαρχούσε: Πίστη στο Θεό τον Ύψιστο, το Βιβλίο Του και την Παράδοση του τελευταίου Του προφήτη και απεσταλμένου (του ευλογημένου εν ειρήνη από το Θεό). [...]

(από τη σημείωση της αραβικής έκδοσης)

 

Bibliographic information

Title: Πολιτισμός της πίστης
ISBN: 9789608910768
Publisher: Etra; 1st edition (2006)
Prototype: Civilization of Faith, a Journey Through Islamic History
Author(s): {Μουσταφά Αλ Σιμπαάι} {Άννα Στάμου}
Format: Paperback
Subject: Ισλαμισμός
Πίστη

Dimensions: 21 x 14 cm
Pages: 285

 

Order now.

Greece featured in Euro Eid coverage

The widely respectable news portal, IslamOnline.net, has been gracious enough to work with us to regularly include Greece in their Euro section so I was happy to see our community member, Anna Stamou, featured in their article today, “EU Muslims: Does `Eid Make You a Well-Integrated Muslim?”  Congratulations Anna.

Excerpt:

In Europe, Muslims also celebrate `Eid, but celebration should fulfill the necessity of integration and strengthen the spirit of solidarity among the Muslim community.

As a European Muslim, how does `Eid make you a well-integrated Muslim, and how can you celebrate `Eid as a Muslim in a non-Muslim country? How can `Eid add to both your European and Muslim identity?

 

Anna Stamou, Greece

 

Celebrating ‘Eid in Athens is not like being in a Muslim country of course, yet, we feel the joy of ‘Eid with hundreds of thousands of Muslims in our home city.  A few days before ‘Eid, we get into the festive mood by decorating the Olympic stadium in Athens, where Muslims of many colours and nationalities attend the prayer lead by a famous guest from abroad, a different one each year.

 

After the prayer, we give presents to the children that make their presence so vivid with their yells and laughter.  It’s a rare chance to meet people we hardly see throughout the year, shake hands, and give wishes.  People then split into groups and have festive lunches in their houses, exchanging visits and giving presents to their children.  Many prefer not to sacrifice the lambs in Greece but they give the money to an organization that sends the money to the orphans of Palestine where meat is hard to come by.

 

I personally have no experience of celebrating ‘Eid in a Muslim country but the feeling in Athens is often isolated because the festive atmosphere is restricted to the stadium and houses.  On the other hand, non-Muslim neighbours are always happy when there is a happy occasion because this is part of Greek culture and often participate by tasting different recipes and observing how Muslims celebrate.  It is very usual to have both Muslims and non-Muslims at our festive tables.

 

Read the full article…