Heraa Hashmi (born August 25, 1997) is an Indian American Muslim author and activist known as the creator of the Muslims Condemn list which collects instances of Muslims speaking out against bad actions "done falsely in the name of Islam".[1][2]
Heraa Hashmi | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1997 |
| Nationality | American |
| Known for | Student organizer |
Muslims Condemn
edit | |
| Available in | English |
|---|---|
| URL | muslimscondemn |
| Commercial | No |
| Launched | March 2017 |
| Current status | Defunct |
Responding to criticism online, Hashmi, then a 19-year-old student at the university of Colorado, created a 712-page online spreadsheet with specific examples of Muslims condemning terrorist actions.[1][3][4] It took three weeks for Hashmi to create the spread sheet after she engaged in a discussion with a classmate asking why Muslims did not "condemn violence when perpetrators committed such acts in the name of Islam."[5][6] She posted the list to Twitter where it was shared 15,000 times within 24 hours.[1] As of November 2018, the spreadsheet had over 6000 entries and was still available and editable online.[7] With the help of Nigerian developers Ire Aderinokun and Timi Ajiboye, she turned it into a website named Muslims Condemn.[8][9] The website won her the Yaqeen Institute for Islamic Research's Muhammad Ali Confident Muslim Award in 2017.[10][11]
Content
editMuslims Condemn was an interactive website containing lists of Muslims who condemn negative things[1] such as terrorism, climate change, discrimination against women, and more.[3] The website was designed to show that Muslims are constantly condemning terrorism and also to demonstrate how ridiculous it is that Muslims are constantly expected to apologise for terrorist acts. Muslims “held to a different standard than other minorities: 1.6 billion people are expected to apologise and condemn [terrorism] on behalf of a couple of dozen lunatics. It makes no sense,” Hashmi said.[1]
Activism
editHashmi sees her faith as complementary to her activism stating "Social justice is a huge part of being a Muslim, but it also doesn't affect the actions I have to take as a Muslim, when it comes to prayer and fasting and going to the pilgrimage."[12]
Hashmi has also been involved in organizing real-life events. These include a 200-person protest at the Denver International Airport following the signing of an executive order by Donald Trump banning citizens of seven primarily Muslim countries from entering the United States, as well as a silent walkout when Ann Coulter came to speak on campus and an interfaith Walk for Unity.[13] [14] In 2017 she was the co-president of the Muslim Student Association at the University of Colorado in Boulder where she studies molecular biology. She is also a contributor for Traversing Tradition, a blog run by a group of young Muslims that strives to provide varied perspectives on modern society through the lenses of Islamic theology, Eastern and Western philosophy, and historical analysis.[15][16][17]
Personal life
editHashmi grew up in Superior, Colorado. She was born in Bihar, India.[18] Her parents are of Indian descent.[19]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e Mahdawi, Arwa (March 26, 2017). "The 712-page Google doc that proves Muslims do condemn terrorism". the Guardian. Retrieved November 15, 2018.
- ^ "Muslims Condemn". Retrieved 15 November 2018.
A collection of all the cases where Muslims have condemned wrongdoings done falsely in the name of Islam.
- ^ a b Orenstein, Hannah (November 17, 2016). "When a Classmate Made an Ignorant Comment About Muslims, This Teen Shut Him Down in the Best Way Possible". seventeen.com. Retrieved November 15, 2018.
- ^ Yukich, Grace (2018). "Muslim American Activism in the Age of Trump". Sociology of Religion. 79 (2). Oxford University Press (OUP): 220–247. doi:10.1093/socrel/sry004. ISSN 1069-4404.
- ^ Soldani, Bianca. "Teen compiles 700-page list for anyone who thinks Muslims don't condemn terrorism". Special Broadcasting Service. Retrieved 27 March 2017.
- ^ Lim, Clarissa-Jan (20 November 2016). "This Muslim Teen Had A Sublime Rebuttal To A Classmate Asking Her To Defend Her Religion". A Plus. Retrieved 27 March 2017.
- ^ Odufuwa, Damilola. "Meet The Nigerian Developers Fighting Islamophobia One Code At A Time". Konbini Nigeria. Retrieved 15 November 2018.
- ^ Eaton, Joshua (November 14, 2016). "This Teen Was Told Muslims Never Denounce Acts of Terrorism — So She Gathered the RECEIPTS". Teen Vogue. Retrieved November 15, 2018.
- ^ "Looking for where muslims have condemned acts of terrorism? There's a site for that now | TechCabal". 14 November 2016. Retrieved 2018-11-15.
- ^ "ICNA-MAS Confident Muslim – Heera Hashmi | Confident Muslim". confidentmuslim.com. Retrieved 15 November 2018.
- ^ Aysha Khan (September 10, 2018). "Seventeen years after 9/11, Muslims are still 'presumed guilty' - Religion News Service". Religion News Service. Retrieved 15 November 2018.
- ^ Ore, Johnathan (October 26, 2018). "Some Muslims feel conflicted about going to Saudi Arabia for hajj after Khashoggi's death | CBC Radio". CBC. Retrieved November 15, 2018.
- ^ Julig, Carina (19 September 2017). "Walk for Unity brings Boulder religious communities together". CU Independent. Retrieved 15 November 2018.
Hashm
- ^ Rentsch, Julia (30 January 2017). "After Trump issues travel restrictions, three CSU students trapped abroad, protesters respond at DIA - The Rocky Mountain Collegian". The Rocky Mountain Collegian. Retrieved 15 November 2018.
- ^ "Meet Our Contributors". Traversing Tradition. Retrieved 15 November 2018.
- ^ "Muslim Student Association offers friendship, community service". Graduate School. March 27, 2017. Retrieved November 15, 2018.
- ^ Folsom, Richard (April 5, 2018). "Boulder protests Coulter's hate". SocialistWorker.org. Retrieved November 15, 2018.
- ^ Zehra Kazmi (April 2017). "Yes, Muslims condemn terror: This woman proves it with 712-page Google doc". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
- ^ Vanessa Miller (August 27, 2010). "Fire chief: Superior condo blaze not suspicious". dailycamera.com. Retrieved 15 November 2018.
External links
edit- MuslimsCondemn Archived 2018-11-24 at the Wayback Machine
- The Bridge Initiative
- Hashmi's original spreadsheet