Disiarkan di Merdeka Review, tanggal 14 Februari 2012. Pertembungan pandangan berbeza tentang sambutan Hari Kekasih telah lama wujud dan akan terus kekal sampai bila-bila. Yang membuatkan penulis hairan adalah perkara yang paling ditentang keras oleh PAS, badan keagamaan seperti JAKIM dan yang sewaktu dengannya jarang diutarakan sama sekali. Bahkan perkara itulah yang dilihat menembus jambakan… Continue reading Kelompok anti-Hari Kekasih patut hentikan fikiran lucah mereka
Category: Religion
Seksualiti Merdeka dan pengaruh homofobia Melayu
This is an article I wrote for Merdeka Review, published on 9th November 2011, commenting on the murkier aspects of the Malaysian public discourse surrounding the banning of Seksualiti Merdeka. Pengharaman Seksualiti Merdeka yang diumumkan secara tiba-tiba pada 3 November dan kecaman terhadap perasminya, Ambiga Sreenevasan, adalah satu lagi sejarah hitam dalam perjalanan Malaysia ke… Continue reading Seksualiti Merdeka dan pengaruh homofobia Melayu
More thoughts on femininities in Indonesian Islamically-themed cinema
Empowered femininities? It is worth exploring the relationship between women and film religi in which female characters assume the role of boundary markers of nation and religion. The reference to women as markers of the boundaries of national ideology is a common theme in post-colonial nations-states, serving as symbolic representations in the rhetoric of inclusion… Continue reading More thoughts on femininities in Indonesian Islamically-themed cinema
Is there an emergence of new masculinities in Indonesia’s Islamic cinema?
When new femininities are introduced in the new wave of religious film-making, different strands of masculinities also emerge albeit in more implicit ways. Like heterosexuality, non-disability, and whiteness, masculinity is often referred to as ‘unmarked’ social category in which male dominance has been historically treated as the ‘norm’ while ‘gender’ is often taken to be… Continue reading Is there an emergence of new masculinities in Indonesia’s Islamic cinema?
Does Ustazah Pilihan have the X-factor?
On 1st October, Islamic lifestyle Astro channel, Oasis, is launching the first episode of Ustazah Pilihan (Ideal Ustazah). Similar in format to the reality talent show Imam Muda (Young Imam), a woman will have to jump through various hoops to prove that she’s the most qualified religious teacher of the land. Each contestant will be… Continue reading Does Ustazah Pilihan have the X-factor?
A brief note on Islamic film-making in Indonesia
The ways in which cinema and religion are intertwined are not unique to Indonesia nor to Islam. The rise of Pentecostal “video-films” in Ghana, the Hollywood mainstreaming of ‘Ben Hur’ and Mel Gibson’s ‘The passion of Christ’, and the popular reception of ‘Karunamayudu’, a Telegu retelling of the story of Jesus, watched by over 100… Continue reading A brief note on Islamic film-making in Indonesia
The gender politics of conversion narratives in film religi
Ayat-ayat cinta (Verses of love, 2008, dir. Hanung Bramantyo) and Syahadat cinta (Shahada of love, 2008, dir. Gunawan Panggaru) portray the religious conversion of two Christian female characters, Maria and Pricilia respectively, to Islam after developing an intimate relationship with the Muslim male protagonists. The women convert to Islam for different reasons. For Maria, it… Continue reading The gender politics of conversion narratives in film religi
On sexual slavery and the question of what makes something ‘Islamic’
Salwa al-Mutairi, a Kuwaiti politican, gave a cold-blooded proposal for Muslim men to take female slaves, especially non-Muslim female prisoners of war, for sexual use (or rather rape). It has rather unpredictably come under fire. Slavery is one of the most abhorrent forms of abuse of power in this modern age. But the basic principles… Continue reading On sexual slavery and the question of what makes something ‘Islamic’
Sex reassignment surgery is “not allowed” in Islam because Muslims in Malaysia are easily confused
The re-instated word on the legal status of sex reassignment surgery (SRS) within Islam continues to stand as “not allowed” on all counts except for hermaphrodite people. The ban on SRS was first introduced in 1983 but occasionally a re-issue of the fatwa is necessary mainly as a reminder to Muslim Malaysians that they’re being… Continue reading Sex reassignment surgery is “not allowed” in Islam because Muslims in Malaysia are easily confused
On sexual slavery and the question of what makes something ‘Islamic’
First published on Muslimah Media Watch, on June 28th 2011. Salwa al-Mutairi, a Kuwaiti politican, gave a cold-blooded proposal for Muslim men to take female slaves, especially non-Muslim female prisoners of war, for sexual use (or rather rape). It has rather unpredictably come under fire. Slavery is one of the most abhorrent forms of abuse… Continue reading On sexual slavery and the question of what makes something ‘Islamic’
Alicia Izharuddin 