As Muslims around the world come together to mark the holy month of Ramadan, many do so in fear – fear of discrimination, exclusion, and even violence.

We are witnessing a disturbing rise in anti-Muslim bigotry:

From racial profiling and discriminatory policies that violate human rights and dignity, to outright violence against individuals and places of worship.

This is part of a wider scourge of intolerance, extremist ideologies, and attacks against religious groups and vulnerable populations.

When one group is attacked, the rights and freedoms of all are at risk.

As a global community, we must reject and eradicate bigotry.

Governments must foster social cohesion and protect religious freedom.

Online platforms must curb hate speech and harassment.

And we must all speak out against bigotry, xenophobia, and discrimination.

On this International Day to Combat Islamophobia, let us work together to uphold equality, human rights and dignity, and build inclusive societies where everyone, regardless of their faith, can live in peace and harmony.

Source: UNIS

At the forefront of this movement is Dilruba Begum, 43, who guides a kayak along a canal, her paddle gently cutting through the water.

“Out here, you can be anyone,” Dilruba reflects, savoring the freedom that the water offers.

Two years ago, Dilruba, overwhelmed by the demands of motherhood, discovered a free, women-only paddle sports program in her community.

Now, as a qualified paddle sport instructor, she helps other women—many from marginalised communities—explore water sports they once believed were out of reach.

The program, launched by local housing association Poplar HARCA, has grown from 18 participants to around 70, many of whom, like Dilruba, had never imagined themselves on the water.

The initiative’s impact goes beyond the physical benefits of sport. Dilruba and eight other women, including Atiyya Zaman, 38, have now qualified as instructors and formed London’s first all-female, Muslim-led boat club, “Oar and Explore.”

The club, which caters to women of diverse backgrounds, operates in one of London’s most economically disadvantaged areas—Tower Hamlets—using the borough’s extensive canal network to create access to “blue spaces.”

Breaking Barriers
For Muslim women, participating in water sports presents unique cultural and religious challenges. Many, like Naseema Begum, 47, faced cultural taboos, especially regarding modesty and the hijab.

Naseema, who now teaches alongside Dilruba, wanted to show that “you can wear anything and go in the water. As long as you’ve got the right equipment… anyone can take part.”

Her own niqab has never been a barrier, and the program’s inclusive approach to attire has made the sport accessible for local Muslim women.

Affordability is another key factor. Private boating clubs often charge prohibitive fees, a barrier for women managing household finances.

This community-led initiative removes that obstacle, offering women the chance to learn and participate in water sports without sacrificing their budget or responsibilities.

Beyond the physical activity, the water offers emotional solace. Dilruba describes it as “an escape,” a place where she can reflect and find peace.

For Atiyya, too, kayaking provided a much-needed release from the stresses of parenting and work during the pandemic. Both women emphasize the mental health benefits of connecting with nature through these activities.

With plans to raise funds for their own boats and storage, the women of “Oar and Explore” are determined to continue breaking down barriers. They aim to inspire future generations of Muslim women, proving that water sports are not only accessible but an empowering space for growth, community, and self-discovery.

As Dilruba puts it, “The enjoyment and confidence I’ve built from this, I want to pass it on to others and tell them there’s more to life.”

Source: About Islam

Netherlands’ Muslim athlete Sifan Hassan earned global acclaim after receiving her gold medal at the final 2024 Paris Olympic Games ceremony on Sunday, August 11, while wearing a hijab, in a defiant message again France’s controversial hijab ban.

Sifan delivered an incredible burst in the final 250 meters of the women’s marathon, clinching gold with an Olympic record time of 2:22:55.

The Dutch runner had already picked up two bronze medals in the 5,000m and 10,000m races at this Olympics.

The 31-year-old became the first athlete to medal in all three of the long-distance events at the same Olympic Games since Czech Emil Zatopek in 1952.

In previous Olympics, the men’s marathon has taken place on the final day with the medalists being presented on the podium at the closing ceremony. Paris was the first Olympics to boast gender parity, and the women’s race was run on the final day meaning the women were presented with their medals at the closing ceremony instead.

While receiving her gold medal in front of fellow athletes and a packed crowd at the Stade de France, Hassan wore a maroon-colored hijab.

The image of her stood on top of the podium struck a chord with fans after the host country controversially banned its own athletes from wearing head coverings at the Olympics.

Social Media Reactions

Viewers took to X to praise Hassan with one user saying: “Sifan Hassan wearing her hijab to her gold medal crowning ceremony for the women’s marathon, after France banned females from wearing hijabs at the 2024 games. She is so powerful. What a woman!”

Another said: “Congrats to Hassan! Love seeing the image of her wearing hijab in the host country that banned its own athletes from wearing it.”

A third user claimed it was an ‘unforgettable moment for her and the entire world’.

Similarly, Instagram users praised her, with one commenting: “The last medalist of Paris 2024 is a woman who chooses to wear hijab. The irony of that being in a host country that bans hijab in sport is incredible.”

A person wrote: “How ironic! A slap in the face of xenophobic France, which prevented its own athletes from participating because of their hijabs. And there stands Sifan proudly receiving her gold medal while wearing her hijab. FANTASTIC!”

“SUCH A STATEMENT WEARING HIJAB THANK YOU SISTER,” a netizen added.

Last September, French Minister of Sports Amelia Oudea-Castera announced athletes representing France would not be allowed to wear the hijab.

Last September, French Minister of Sports Amelie Oudea-Castera announced that athletes representing France at the Paris Games would not be allowed to wear the hijab in line with the country’s secularism principle and rules against displaying religious symbols at sporting events.

The rule was swiftly met with a strong wave of backlash, as The Islamic Solidarity Sports Federation argued: “This ban contradicts the principles of equality, inclusivity, and respect for cultural diversity that the Olympics stand for.”

Amnesty International labeled the Hijab ban as “discriminatory” and “hypocritical,” a week before the Games commenced, and wrote: “French authorities made it emphatically and unashamedly clear… that their proclaimed efforts at improving gender equality and inclusivity in sports do not apply to one group of women and girls – those Muslim women and girls who wear religious head coverings.”

The human rights organization reportedly highlighted how banning the hijab was particularly jarring considering the 2024 Olympics was labeled as the first gender-equal Olympics – yet Muslim women were being discriminated against and singled out.

Source: MSN