Daughters of Eve
The inaugural Daughters of Eve Conference was held in partnership with Islamic Society of Britain from 6th to 8th May 2011, entitled ‘Muslim Women: Critically Thinking the Past, Present Future’. Speakers included Dr Riffat Hassan (Professor Emerita at the University of Louisville, USA), Sarah Joseph (CEO Emel Magazine), Ustaad Ahtsham Ali (National Muslim Advisor to HM Prison Service), Shahien Taj (Executive Director of Henna Foundation), Julie Siddiqi (Executive Director of Islamic Society of Britain), Henna Szovati (Founder of Barefoot Institute) and Farkhanda Chaudhry (Scotland’s first Muslim woman Justice of the Peace).
The second conference in May 2015 was entitled ‘Human Rights, Human Wrongs: Muslim Women creating a new narrative’. Our workshops featured topics such as Sharia and family law, & political Islam in the UK. The attendees from all over the UK also enjoyed a bazaar, beauty rooms and an evening of entertainment, featuring the female hip hop duo ‘Poetic Pilgrimage’ and a karaoke/quiz night.
The Daughters of Eve 2016 conference was held in partnership with Rawiya Foundation, based in the USA, and featured a number of Shaykhas (Female Scholars) as part of the Rawiya Foundation’s Shaykha Fest. The programme consisted of high calibre internationally renowned speakers participating in panel discussions and intensive workshops. There was also a chance to relax and unwind with stand-up comedy and a glamour night featuring live musical entertainment as well as a bazaar.
Discussion topics included ‘Status of Women in Islam’, ‘Muslim Women and Religious Authority’, ‘Purpose of the Human Being’, ‘The Challenges facing Muslim Women in the 21st Century’.
Our fantastic line up of speakers included Shaykha Reima Yosif (President of Rawiya Foundation and Rawiya College, New Jersey, USA), Shaykha Safia Shahid (a leading UK based scholar), as well as Sarah Joseph (Editor of EMEL, Muslim Lifestyle Magazine), Sherin Khankan (Lecturer, published author, columnist, activist, TV-Hostess and public educator), Henrietta Szovati (Life Strategist and Leadership Coach) and Yasmin Amin (Doctoral Student researching Humour in Islam). Musical entertainment was provided by the wonderful singer Shabnam Khan from Halifax.
The Daughters of Eve conference 2017 was held in the heart of Bradford at the Mercure, Bankfield Hotel. Over 250 women from across the UK including Glasgow, Wales, Leicester, Doncaster, Halifax, Rotherham, Middlesbrough, Newcastle, Blackburn, Manchester and London attended the conference alongside a delegation from Germany.
The conference took place over a three day period: 6th, 7th and 8th October. Over the years the conference has exclusively been a women’s only event. However, the first day of this year’s conference was also opened up to men in order to get a variety of opinions on a range of topics.
Our incredible line up of speakers included Salma Yaqoob (Campaigner, Public Speaker and Media Spokesperson), Dr Riffat Hassan (Professor Emerita at the University of Louisville, USA), Dr Shuruq Naguib (Lecturer in Islamic Studies at the University of Lancaster), Yasmin Amin (Doctoral Student researching Humour in Islam), Carla Power (Author and Journalist), Gillian Holding (artist and writer), and Revd Jenny Ramsden (priest and interfaith worker). This was followed by an evening of shopping and entertainment by world renowned singer Shabnam Khan.
The first day's themes included; Muslim responses to extremism alongside the Legitimisation of Islamophobia in the Mainstream. The second day's panel discussions were on topics such as Connecting Divided Worlds, Shared Heritage: Reimagining Our World and a post play panel discussion. The final day's intensive teach in with Dr. Riffat Hassan and Dr Shuruq Naguib explored the following themes: Muslim Women; a paradigm shift and Muslim Women; Sacred Texts & Religious Authority.
