Western societies are often criticized for stereotyping Islamic culture, especially the Muslim women, who are often judged by the media based on their dress code. But where do these stereotypes come from? Perhaps Muslim societies themselves are responsible for strengthening these stereotypes. 

I was once talking to an Afghan man about living in Europe and America, about the advantages and disadvantages. Very unexpectedly, he said something which surprised me. He said, “I would never choose to live in a foreign country together with my wife because I’d lose all control over her.”

Marina Zaffari talks about her search for her identity as a woman and a wife in Afghanistan.

Ladies and Gentlemen, it’s time to party. Our blogger Ronaq Zahoor is celebrating Eid ul Zuha, which literally means the “Festival of sacrifice.” Ronaq’s been busy cooking for the feast , so we asked her to send us the recipe for Rogan Josh, a tasty mutton preparation from her birthplace, Kashmir. Enjoy!

In 1982, the film “Nikah” was released in India. It was a story of a muslim woman whose marriage is dissolved when her husband says “Talaq, Talaq, Talaq.” Talaq literally means divorce. This film focused on the way in which divorce takes place in a Muslim marriage.

How does one find the right partner? Bhawna, an avid blogger herself, tells us her many experiences with traditional and modern ways  of finding the right partner.

One of our readers, Ridhi Rajpal, is very upset about how men treat her at the workplace. And no, it’s not sexual harassment she is complaining about. Women colleagues in the cinema industry are often considered “softer” than their male colleagues, their abilities are questioned constantly, but they are also pampered.

Khadija Hashmi’s “two-faced” woman

Crisis and conflict in Afghanistan often overshadows the innumerable achievements of men and women, who are striving to promote art and culture in their country. Until some time back, girls were not allowed to pick up a pen and write a single word, but now they hold painting brushes and use their imagination to express their feelings.

Marina Zaffari profiles some promising women artists from her country.