imagine a 17 year old girl dressed in black from head to toe converse shoes
black from head to toe converse shoes
black from head to toe converse shoes red tie on with green day blasting
red tie on with green day blasting
red tie on with green day blasting through her Walkman you might be
through her Walkman you might be
through her Walkman you might be imagining a cute punk rocker but there’s
imagining a cute punk rocker but there’s
imagining a cute punk rocker but there’s something different about this girl
something different about this girl
something different about this girl instead of a mohawk this girl is wearing
instead of a mohawk this girl is wearing
instead of a mohawk this girl is wearing a hijab this girl was not just any girl
a hijab this girl was not just any girl
a hijab this girl was not just any girl this girl was me without even being
this girl was me without even being
this girl was me without even being consciously aware with my religion and
consciously aware with my religion and
consciously aware with my religion and my taste in music was breaking
my taste in music was breaking
my taste in music was breaking stereotypes from all angles they said I
stereotypes from all angles they said I
stereotypes from all angles they said I was a walking contradiction but really I
was a walking contradiction but really I
was a walking contradiction but really I was just being Sara a Muslim girl who
was just being Sara a Muslim girl who
was just being Sara a Muslim girl who happens to like punk rock I was born and
happens to like punk rock I was born and
happens to like punk rock I was born and lastly to finish mother and an Iranian
lastly to finish mother and an Iranian
lastly to finish mother and an Iranian father with two older brothers and a
father with two older brothers and a
father with two older brothers and a younger sister I actually never went to
younger sister I actually never went to
younger sister I actually never went to finish speaking school I went to an
finish speaking school I went to an
finish speaking school I went to an international one
international one
international one growing up in an international
growing up in an international
growing up in an international surrounding helped break down my ideas
surrounding helped break down my ideas
surrounding helped break down my ideas of stereotypes from a very young age we
of stereotypes from a very young age we
of stereotypes from a very young age we came from all corners of the world and
came from all corners of the world and
came from all corners of the world and perceived each other through our actions
perceived each other through our actions
perceived each other through our actions not your ethnic or religious background
not your ethnic or religious background
not your ethnic or religious background this ideology has played an important
this ideology has played an important
this ideology has played an important role in shaping up my identity as the
role in shaping up my identity as the
role in shaping up my identity as the woman I am today I began wearing the
woman I am today I began wearing the
woman I am today I began wearing the hijab at the age of 10 out of my own
hijab at the age of 10 out of my own
hijab at the age of 10 out of my own will my parents actually said I was way
will my parents actually said I was way
will my parents actually said I was way too young but I reveled and insisted and
too young but I reveled and insisted and
too young but I reveled and insisted and said this was my choice and although my
said this was my choice and although my
said this was my choice and although my hijab has went through various different
hijab has went through various different
hijab has went through various different styles throughout the years I’ve never
styles throughout the years I’ve never
styles throughout the years I’ve never taken it off since I was
taken it off since I was
taken it off since I was the typical kid with typical problems
the typical kid with typical problems
the typical kid with typical problems until 9/11 overnight from a kid I had to
until 9/11 overnight from a kid I had to
until 9/11 overnight from a kid I had to become an expert my Muslim identity was
become an expert my Muslim identity was
become an expert my Muslim identity was being questioned every day by the news
being questioned every day by the news
being questioned every day by the news by Hollywood movies
by Hollywood movies
by Hollywood movies the scared neighbors and sometimes even
the scared neighbors and sometimes even
the scared neighbors and sometimes even my own relatives the nature of questions
my own relatives the nature of questions
my own relatives the nature of questions changed from naive curiosity of do you
changed from naive curiosity of do you
changed from naive curiosity of do you shower with your hijab on you blame and
shower with your hijab on you blame and
shower with your hijab on you blame and accusations don’t you know that you are
accusations don’t you know that you are
accusations don’t you know that you are being oppressed answering these
being oppressed answering these
being oppressed answering these questions on daily basis for a teenager
questions on daily basis for a teenager
questions on daily basis for a teenager was hard it still can be all of a sudden
was hard it still can be all of a sudden
was hard it still can be all of a sudden I was supposed to be a master of
I was supposed to be a master of
I was supposed to be a master of theology and an expert in the laws of
theology and an expert in the laws of
theology and an expert in the laws of Sharia at the age of 16 I was
Sharia at the age of 16 I was
Sharia at the age of 16 I was interviewed for a TV show asking me
interviewed for a TV show asking me
interviewed for a TV show asking me about beheadings happening somewhere in
about beheadings happening somewhere in
about beheadings happening somewhere in the Middle East and to give my
the Middle East and to give my
the Middle East and to give my interpretations of Quranic scriptures I
interpretations of Quranic scriptures I
interpretations of Quranic scriptures I was 16 and I had never lived in the
was 16 and I had never lived in the
was 16 and I had never lived in the Middle East and yet there I was having
Middle East and yet there I was having
Middle East and yet there I was having to explain it I was asked to defend
to explain it I was asked to defend
to explain it I was asked to defend women’s hijab will showing me borkus I
women’s hijab will showing me borkus I
women’s hijab will showing me borkus I had never worn a broker in my life and
had never worn a broker in my life and
had never worn a broker in my life and yet there I was having to explain it
yet there I was having to explain it
yet there I was having to explain it instead of going on with my mundane
instead of going on with my mundane
instead of going on with my mundane teenage life I was forced to defend my
teenage life I was forced to defend my
teenage life I was forced to defend my existential right what’s the first word
existential right what’s the first word
existential right what’s the first word that comes to mind when I say Muslim
that comes to mind when I say Muslim
that comes to mind when I say Muslim let’s be honest terrorists an image of
let’s be honest terrorists an image of
let’s be honest terrorists an image of me was being sold that I couldn’t
me was being sold that I couldn’t
me was being sold that I couldn’t identify with the media kept telling me
identify with the media kept telling me
identify with the media kept telling me that I was oppressed that I was an
that I was oppressed that I was an
that I was oppressed that I was an extremist an Islamist a terrorist so at
extremist an Islamist a terrorist so at
extremist an Islamist a terrorist so at the age of 17 I began to go through an
the age of 17 I began to go through an
the age of 17 I began to go through an identity crisis that lasted throughout
identity crisis that lasted throughout
identity crisis that lasted throughout some years for a moment in my life
some years for a moment in my life
some years for a moment in my life stop thinking about my religion I never
stop thinking about my religion I never
stop thinking about my religion I never stopped believing but I just didn’t want
stopped believing but I just didn’t want
stopped believing but I just didn’t want to think about it anymore and in
to think about it anymore and in
to think about it anymore and in retrospect that was one of the most
retrospect that was one of the most
retrospect that was one of the most challenging periods of my life because
challenging periods of my life because
challenging periods of my life because my religion had always been something
my religion had always been something
my religion had always been something that I was extremely proud of but the
that I was extremely proud of but the
that I was extremely proud of but the constant defense mode just wanted to
constant defense mode just wanted to
constant defense mode just wanted to make me swept it all under the carpet
make me swept it all under the carpet
make me swept it all under the carpet but the truth was and is that this is my
but the truth was and is that this is my
but the truth was and is that this is my identity it is Who I am
identity it is Who I am
identity it is Who I am and without it I began to feel empty the
and without it I began to feel empty the
and without it I began to feel empty the stereotypes being shoved in my face had
stereotypes being shoved in my face had
stereotypes being shoved in my face had become so strong that they pushed me
become so strong that they pushed me
become so strong that they pushed me away from my true self and for a period
away from my true self and for a period
away from my true self and for a period in my life I closed up about it but as
in my life I closed up about it but as
in my life I closed up about it but as they say it takes darkness to see the
they say it takes darkness to see the
they say it takes darkness to see the light in the 70s
light in the 70s
light in the 70s my mother was studying in London where
my mother was studying in London where
my mother was studying in London where she met my father one day she simply
she met my father one day she simply
she met my father one day she simply picked up the phone called a prayer mom
picked up the phone called a prayer mom
picked up the phone called a prayer mom told her that she had become a Muslim
told her that she had become a Muslim
told her that she had become a Muslim and was now married fast forward a bit
and was now married fast forward a bit
and was now married fast forward a bit she then moved to Iran for 10 years
she then moved to Iran for 10 years
she then moved to Iran for 10 years during the iran-iraq war which my father
during the iran-iraq war which my father
during the iran-iraq war which my father was filming it must have been a
was filming it must have been a
was filming it must have been a challenging time for her and her family
challenging time for her and her family
challenging time for her and her family but my mom had made up her mind and she
but my mom had made up her mind and she
but my mom had made up her mind and she would not but this passion and belief
would not but this passion and belief
would not but this passion and belief has been an inspiration for me until
has been an inspiration for me until
has been an inspiration for me until this this day this is the Muslim woman
this this day this is the Muslim woman
this this day this is the Muslim woman that I have learned to know the
that I have learned to know the
that I have learned to know the strong-willed passionate and sometimes
strong-willed passionate and sometimes
strong-willed passionate and sometimes stubborn and this is the Muslim woman
stubborn and this is the Muslim woman
stubborn and this is the Muslim woman who I was I just spend my days sitting
who I was I just spend my days sitting
who I was I just spend my days sitting at home being oppressed I spent my days
at home being oppressed I spent my days
at home being oppressed I spent my days going to concerts hanging out with
going to concerts hanging out with
going to concerts hanging out with friends studying working enjoying good
friends studying working enjoying good
friends studying working enjoying good food with good company super normal
food with good company super normal
food with good company super normal sometimes even boring things that just
sometimes even boring things that just
sometimes even boring things that just seem to be a myth when it comes down to
seem to be a myth when it comes down to
seem to be a myth when it comes down to the Muslim image in the mainstream I
the Muslim image in the mainstream I
the Muslim image in the mainstream I knew that I had to be true to myself and
knew that I had to be true to myself and
knew that I had to be true to myself and if I wanted to change the Muslim image
if I wanted to change the Muslim image
if I wanted to change the Muslim image in the
in the
in the stream I had to become more vocal we are
stream I had to become more vocal we are
stream I had to become more vocal we are not oppressed we are strong and
not oppressed we are strong and
not oppressed we are strong and determined we are free spirits
determined we are free spirits
determined we are free spirits intelligent enough to acquire our own
intelligent enough to acquire our own
intelligent enough to acquire our own knowledge and make our own decisions so
knowledge and make our own decisions so
knowledge and make our own decisions so I began to fight these three types and
I began to fight these three types and
I began to fight these three types and the only way that I was able to do this
the only way that I was able to do this
the only way that I was able to do this was by staying true to myself and taking
was by staying true to myself and taking
was by staying true to myself and taking action one of the main reasons to why I
action one of the main reasons to why I
action one of the main reasons to why I faced an identity crisis was for the
faced an identity crisis was for the
faced an identity crisis was for the fact that I never really had any role
fact that I never really had any role
fact that I never really had any role models in the mainstream that I could
models in the mainstream that I could
models in the mainstream that I could relate to I never saw another hijab’
relate to I never saw another hijab’
relate to I never saw another hijab’ rocking the guitar on MTV does that mean
rocking the guitar on MTV does that mean
rocking the guitar on MTV does that mean that we don’t exist we do exist we just
that we don’t exist we do exist we just
that we don’t exist we do exist we just needed to be more vocal about it and
needed to be more vocal about it and
needed to be more vocal about it and instead of letting others speak on our
instead of letting others speak on our
instead of letting others speak on our behalf we had to take a hold of the
behalf we had to take a hold of the
behalf we had to take a hold of the narrative and share our stories I found
narrative and share our stories I found
narrative and share our stories I found out that the best way that I could
out that the best way that I could
out that the best way that I could approach this to help break down
approach this to help break down
approach this to help break down stereotypes was for others to start
stereotypes was for others to start
stereotypes was for others to start seeing Muslims as consumers okay hold on
seeing Muslims as consumers okay hold on
seeing Muslims as consumers okay hold on consumers let me explain
Muslims stereotypes of Muslims have
Muslims stereotypes of Muslims have become so black and white that we even
become so black and white that we even
become so black and white that we even need to fight for our right to be seen
need to fight for our right to be seen
need to fight for our right to be seen as consumers as ordinary people who
as consumers as ordinary people who
as consumers as ordinary people who enjoy we see hundreds of ads on a daily
enjoy we see hundreds of ads on a daily
enjoy we see hundreds of ads on a daily basis and I realized that none of them
basis and I realized that none of them
basis and I realized that none of them had ever spoken to me directly and I
had ever spoken to me directly and I
had ever spoken to me directly and I wanted to change that because
wanted to change that because
wanted to change that because recognition in the ad and marketing
recognition in the ad and marketing
recognition in the ad and marketing world initiates acceptance and speaks or
world initiates acceptance and speaks or
world initiates acceptance and speaks or coexistence and we as well are included
coexistence and we as well are included
coexistence and we as well are included and have a place in this society that’s
and have a place in this society that’s
and have a place in this society that’s me
me
me inside of shopping center it is creating
inside of shopping center it is creating
inside of shopping center it is creating the first Ramadan and Eid campaign in
the first Ramadan and Eid campaign in
the first Ramadan and Eid campaign in Finland the campaign ended with a Big
Finland the campaign ended with a Big
Finland the campaign ended with a Big East celebration commemorating the end
East celebration commemorating the end
East celebration commemorating the end of Ramadan which is a holy fasting month
of Ramadan which is a holy fasting month
of Ramadan which is a holy fasting month for Muslims it was the first time that a
for Muslims it was the first time that a
for Muslims it was the first time that a major company took a stand and
major company took a stand and
major company took a stand and recognized Muslims as consumers and
recognized Muslims as consumers and
recognized Muslims as consumers and although it was a commercial opportunity
although it was a commercial opportunity
although it was a commercial opportunity at first it really had an impact that we
at first it really had an impact that we
at first it really had an impact that we did not see coming when we first started
did not see coming when we first started
did not see coming when we first started there were protests lasting for months
there were protests lasting for months
there were protests lasting for months calling for the stop of Islamization but
calling for the stop of Islamization but
calling for the stop of Islamization but there are also thousands of people
there are also thousands of people
there are also thousands of people positively impacted because they finally
positively impacted because they finally
positively impacted because they finally felt like they belong it served as a
felt like they belong it served as a
felt like they belong it served as a meeting point for for people from all
meeting point for for people from all
meeting point for for people from all backgrounds join together simply to
backgrounds join together simply to
backgrounds join together simply to celebrate this was more than about
celebrate this was more than about
celebrate this was more than about consumption or a campaign I’ll never
consumption or a campaign I’ll never
consumption or a campaign I’ll never forget that 15 year old boy who came up
forget that 15 year old boy who came up
forget that 15 year old boy who came up to me he had lived his whole life in
to me he had lived his whole life in
to me he had lived his whole life in Finland he came up to me and said it
Finland he came up to me and said it
Finland he came up to me and said it feels like Eid for the first time in my
feels like Eid for the first time in my
feels like Eid for the first time in my life imagine someone coming up to you
life imagine someone coming up to you
life imagine someone coming up to you and saying it feels like Christmas for
and saying it feels like Christmas for
and saying it feels like Christmas for the first time this is Halima Aden she
the first time this is Halima Aden she
the first time this is Halima Aden she is the first a job’ model to walk the
is the first a job’ model to walk the
is the first a job’ model to walk the New York Fashion Week runway this is
New York Fashion Week runway this is
New York Fashion Week runway this is empty Haj Mohammed she is an Olympic
empty Haj Mohammed she is an Olympic
empty Haj Mohammed she is an Olympic bronze medal winner for fencing this is
bronze medal winner for fencing this is
bronze medal winner for fencing this is Yuna known for recording with superstars
Yuna known for recording with superstars
Yuna known for recording with superstars like Usher and this is Malala winning
like Usher and this is Malala winning
like Usher and this is Malala winning the Nobel Peace Prize at the age of 17
the Nobel Peace Prize at the age of 17
the Nobel Peace Prize at the age of 17 these are only handful of the millions
these are only handful of the millions
these are only handful of the millions of Muslim women who are changing the
of Muslim women who are changing the
of Muslim women who are changing the game breaking stereotypes and being role
game breaking stereotypes and being role
game breaking stereotypes and being role models for young Muslim girls and this
models for young Muslim girls and this
models for young Muslim girls and this here is Nike announcing the launch of
here is Nike announcing the launch of
here is Nike announcing the launch of pro hitch up sportswear designed for
pro hitch up sportswear designed for
pro hitch up sportswear designed for most
most
most women this is only one brand of the many
women this is only one brand of the many
women this is only one brand of the many currently aspiring to recognize Muslims
currently aspiring to recognize Muslims
currently aspiring to recognize Muslims as consumers and I can say it’s all
as consumers and I can say it’s all
as consumers and I can say it’s all thanks to the hard work of Muslim women
thanks to the hard work of Muslim women
thanks to the hard work of Muslim women themselves for taking hold of the
themselves for taking hold of the
themselves for taking hold of the narrative it hasn’t been an easy road
narrative it hasn’t been an easy road
narrative it hasn’t been an easy road and we still have a long way to go but I
and we still have a long way to go but I
and we still have a long way to go but I say it with confidence that the future
say it with confidence that the future
say it with confidence that the future looks bright I may have grown up in my
looks bright I may have grown up in my
looks bright I may have grown up in my teens without a role model in the
teens without a role model in the
teens without a role model in the mainstream but I had a role model that
mainstream but I had a role model that
mainstream but I had a role model that nurtured me from the start my role model
nurtured me from the start my role model
nurtured me from the start my role model was and still is my mother and like my
was and still is my mother and like my
was and still is my mother and like my mother was to me I know that I’ll be a
mother was to me I know that I’ll be a
mother was to me I know that I’ll be a role model to my daughter and I know
role model to my daughter and I know
role model to my daughter and I know that by staying true to herself she will
that by staying true to herself she will
that by staying true to herself she will break down every stereotype that comes
break down every stereotype that comes
break down every stereotype that comes down her path and when my time comes I
down her path and when my time comes I
down her path and when my time comes I will rest in peace knowing that a hijabi
will rest in peace knowing that a hijabi
will rest in peace knowing that a hijabi punk-rock girl is no longer breaking
punk-rock girl is no longer breaking
punk-rock girl is no longer breaking stereotypes but she’s just a girl with
stereotypes but she’s just a girl with
stereotypes but she’s just a girl with great taste in music
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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