From Victims to Suspects ― Muslim Women Since 9/11

Drawing on interviews and examples from across the globe, this book tackles the shifting narratives surrounding Muslim women

Once regarded as passive victims waiting to be rescued, Muslim women are now widely regarded as arbiters of "terror" and a potential threat to be kept under control. Drawing on interviews and examples from around the world including Afghanistan, Pakistan, Europe, and North America, Shakira Hussein shows how this shift in attitude has taken place and how it impacts feminism, multiculturalism, race, and religion on a global scale.

She argues that alongside the fear of Islamic terrorism is a growing fear of Islam as a cultural hazard that is undermining Western society from within. Muslim women, the transmitters of cultural practices, are frequently seen to play a key role in this. Hussein’s work makes for a compelling read, offering a unique perspective on what it means to be a Muslim woman post-9/11.

Shakira Hussein is a research fellow at the University of Melbourne’s Asia Institute. She is a regular commentator on issues of gender, Islam, and multiculturalism. She lives in Victoria, Australia.