MsYiY - Yasmin Choudhury

(A post that was once hosted on the now defunct LSE Sociology website) The loss of a father for many will often spark not just fury, anger and loss, but invite a calling. And that is what happened to me. Not immediately, but slowly. Drip by drip. Made all the more shocking and frightening as this calling meant I chose to embark on a journey of examining international development at grass roots, all on a shoe string budget. Alone. With no previous professional or academic experience. The how, where and who of it all, I hope to share with you not just in my memoirs but also in this series of exclusive blog posts for LSE Sociology. In 2004, when news came of my father having been hit by a truck on his way to morning prayers in Bangladesh, I recall feeling dazed and robot-like. Yet after news of this abrupt accident, I flew out. Within 24 hours I landed in Osmani Airport, 15 minutes drive from my family home in Sylhet City. However, I soon realised I had be...

On the first day of Ramadan, I fasted. Just before I broke my fast, I began my period. During these past few days, while eating as per usual, I observed, thought over life stuff. I reminisced and was reminded of much of the hurt and awful things that are and were happening. I wanted to find a better way to cope. A positive way forward. Ramadan Letters Ta-dah.  During Ramadan 2017.  I am going to try to start writing what I call are Ramadan Letters. Every day if I can. How?  I will kick start it on the seventh day of fasting for Muslims across the day. Besides, 7 is a lucky number in Islam. I will write each day from tomorrow (2 June 2017) a letter on my blog to share words to someone based on themes of FALC: F orgiveness - me forgiving them L ove- me celebrating their love A tonement - me seeking forgiveness C ompassion - me finding compassion Surely these are the best qualities in a human yet the hardest to demonstrate?  I would welc...

I posted this on Twitter yesterday  evening GMT - (25 May 2017)  My thread on what happens to us UK Muslim women trying 2 stop fellow bad Muslims # BritishThreatLevels   # Manchester  #Manchester  # StandTogether (Sorry for the bad numbering) Here's my story. 1. My thread re what us 'Muslims' do 2 protect humanity. After #manchester. Accused by some on my Twitter TL of doing nothing. 2. Go to my bio. Check my website. Before you judge or accuse. For many years fighting my own family. They claim they r good Muslims 3. My family deemed 'modern' Muslims: a solicitor, British teacher, script writer in Hollywood LA. Yet they each uphold tribal law & abuse 4. Since i challenged their bad interpretation of the Quran, reported abuse & bullying of poor folks in Bangladesh, I have suffered much 5. I myself am only too aware how scared institutions are of being seen to criticise British Muslim. So I do it. Yet got punished by...

(I provided a separate edited extract to British newspaper Independent on Monday 23 November) - here ,  Me With My Muslim British Bangladesh family on Umra Hajj - part of my religious induction I just read Labour Party’s Mayor of London candidate Sadiq Khan’s astonishingly, accurate but highly expedient speech on how nearly 2.7 million of British Muslims have a ‘special role to play in combatting radicalisation as well as of course societal integration. I read it. And then pondered sadly.  Why? First, the biggest threat to our society is in fact Islamaphobia.  Next, all my tears are spent having tried to tackle communities like mine who refuse to progress and expel bad ideology. With no avail. I also smiled, as I don’t think Mr Khan’s campaign office has informed him of the countless many times that I, as a ‘new to Labour’ and ‘new to politics grassroots woman’ have tried to contact his office to discuss this matter of stamping out bad ideology. Not to...