News

This was originally published on The Huffington Post.  Social media is abuzz with the story of the well-respected scholar at the Islamic institute in Elgin, Illinois, who is accused of abusing his female students. When I read the story, I got flashbacks to that painful moment in my childhood when one of my religious teachers tried […]

We at KARAMAH choose to pay homage to our brother Hajj Malik El-Shabazz by living as he lived. On this anniversary of his martyrdom, we celebrate his life, legacy, and character. Dr. Azizah al-Hibri, founder of KARAMAH, first met Hajj Malik during his first visit to Beirut, Lebanon, in April, 1964.  Later, when he learned

Senseless violence took the lives of three young Americans yesterday in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. KARAMAH is deeply disturbed and saddened at the murders of Deah Shaddy Barakat, 23, his wife Yusor Mohammad, 21, and her sister, Razan Mohammad Abu-Salha, 19. They were exemplary role models, excelling in their educational pursuits, volunteering their time for

Many of the victims who reach out to KARAMAH face a serious dilemma. They are told by those around them that bringing such issues into the public eye violates the Islamic principle of satr. However, the popular understanding of the principle of satr in our community is loaded with cultural biases. It reduces the options

Over the past twenty years, KARAMAH has engaged in community-based advocacy. What does this mean? It means that KARAMAH makes careful, deliberate efforts to listen to our communities and then try to tackle issues. KARAMAH became involved in this work through our primary mission of education. We saw issues in the community that surfaced because

Recent developments in the Arab World, especially those surrounding the Gulf War, prompted demands for the introduction of democratic changes to systems of government in that region. These demands spurred a broad-based debate among Muslims concerned about the correct Islamic point of view on the subject. This article contributes to the debate by analyzing Islamic

On Thursday, January 29, 2015, a delegation of leaders from Lebanon visited KARAMAH for an engaging discussion with Dr. Azizah al-Hibri and Aisha Rahman. The delegation ranged from military captains to research and advocacy officers. Each leader was united on one issue: to combat domestic violence and human trafficking. During the conversation, KARAMAH staff advised

There is no sense in ignoring the momentous events taking place in the Muslim Shi’i community in Dearborn, Michigan.  On January 23rd, Sayyed Hassan Qazwini, a highly admired national Muslim leader, threatened to resign from his post as Imam of the Islamic Center of America, unless there is major reform at the Center. The decision

To close out the year, Dr. al-Hibri and Aisha Rahman were honored to attend an event hosted by KARAMAH alumna Zara Iqbal in her home town of White Plains, New York. The event, hosted with the help of longtime KARAMAH friends the American Muslim Women’s Association (“AMWA”) celebrated KARAMAH’s work for the past 20 years.

On Tuesday, January 6, 2015, a delegation of leaders from Pakistan visited KARAMAH for an engaging discussion and workshop. The leaders ranged from program directors to lawyers, all united under the desire to develop leadership with the ability to tackle issues their communities in Pakistan are facing. The delegates were on the trip to explore