Choose Nearest City

  • Calgary
  • Ottawa
  • Edmonton
  • Regina
  • Halifax
  • Saskatoon
  • Hamilton
  • Toronto GTA
  • Kingston
  • Vancouver
  • Kitchener
  • Waterloo
  • London
  • Windsor
  • Montreal
  • Winnipeg
  • Outside of Canada

Choose your city (or nearest city)

  • Calgary
  • Montreal
  • Edmonton
  • Ottawa
  • Regina
  • Saskatoon
  • Halifax
  • Toronto GTA
  • Hamilton
  • Vancouver
  • Kingston
  • Waterloo
  • Kitchener
  • Windsor
  • London
  • Winnipeg
  • Outside of Canada
  • Events
  • Directory
  • PatronsPatrons

Enter your login credentials

Forgot username?

Forgot password?

Remember Me
Register
Facebook Login Google Login
loading
Please wait, logging in...

Register Details

[Form copy_BFRegistration not found!]
Have an account? Login

Forgot Username

[Form forgot_username not found!]

Forgot Password

[Form forgot_password not found!]

How would you like to proceed?

LOG IN / SIGN UP allows you to:
  • Have a record of all events you've been to.
  • Request cancellation if you cannot make it to an event.
  • Post an event of your own.
  • Add your business/organization listing to the online directory.
  • Add an opportunity (job, volunteer, petition, survey, etc.).

Please login to continue

LOG IN / SIGN UP allows you to:
  • Have a record of all events you've been to.
  • Request cancellation if you cannot make it to an event.
  • Post an event of your own.
  • Add your business/organization listing to the online directory.
  • Add an opportunity (job, volunteer, petition, survey, etc.).
Muslim Link is Ottawa Muslims' Online Community Newspaper. The site includes an up-to-date Events Listing and Business and Community Directory for Ottawa Muslims.
.
ML Directory
ML Directory
  • Home
  • Events
    • Ottawa
    • Montreal
    • Toronto GTA
    • Edmonton
    • Calgary
    • Vancouver
    • London
    • Windsor
    • Hamilton
    • Halifax
    • Winnipeg
    • Kingston
    • Kitchener/Waterloo
    • Regina/Saskatoon
    • Event Table
  • Directory
    • Ottawa
    • Montreal
    • Toronto GTA
    • Edmonton
    • Calgary
    • Vancouver
    • London
    • Windsor
    • Hamilton
    • Halifax
    • Winnipeg
    • Kingston
    • Kitchener/Waterloo
    • Regina/Saskatoon
  • News
  • Stories
  • Islamic Finance
  • Classifieds
    • Opportunities
      • Volunteer Opportunities
      • Job Opportunities
      • Crowdfunding
      • Bazaar Vendors Wanted
      • Call for Donations
      • ​​Scholarships / Bursaries
      • ​​Petitions
      • Nominations
      • ​​Call for Participants
      • ​​Call for Submissions
      • Call for Abstracts
      • Grants
      • ​​Surveys
      • ​​Invitation to Dialogue
      • Sponsorships
      • Contests
    • Locations
      • Jumaa Locations
      • Full-Time Islamic Schools
      • Part-Time Islamic Schools
      • Hifz Programs
      • Iftar Locations
      • Taraweeh Prayers
      • I'tikaf Locations
      • Eid Prayers
      • Eid Festival Locations
      • Camps Locations
    • Rentals
      • Add Rental
    • Find a Place
    • Find a Tenant
  • Opportunities
  • Locations
  • Rentals
  • Blog
  • Action Alerts
  • Home
  • Stories
  • Shireen Ahmed – Sports, Women & Activism
Interview with sports activist Shireen Ahmed Interview with sports activist Shireen Ahmed Noor Al-Mosawi
02
Jan
2017

Shireen Ahmed – Sports, Women & Activism

Written by  Muslims Actually
Published in Stories
  • Add to Facebook
  • Like this? Tweet it to your followers!

Shireen Ahmed is a writer, public speaker and Sports Activist focusing on Muslim women in Sports. She is an athlete, advocate, community organizer, and works with Youth of Colour on empowerment projects and is an avid sports coach and mentor. She is a regular contributor to Muslimah Media Watch, a Global Sports Correspondent for Safe World For Women and works on the Muslim Women in Sports website.

Her work has been featured and discussed in various media outlets.

Shireen’s blog “Tales from a Hijabi Footballer”, where her passion for sport, politics and women’s issues collide, has been recognized by Sports Media for its candid discussions. She is currently working on her first book and drinks a lot of coffee. Shireen lives in Toronto, Canada with her family.

.

Where were you born and raised?

I was born and raised in Halifax, Nova Scotia. I moved to Toronto for University.

What did you study and what do you currently do for a profession?

I studied Political Science with a specialization in Canadian Politics and a minor in Women’s Studies. I am a writer, public speaker, Sports Activist and community advocate.

Tell us about what you love to do!

I feel really fortunate that I get to combine my passions of women’s sports and discussions of Islamophobia, racism, misogyny and homophobia in sports.

.

What inspired you to do all that you do? (i.e. sports, writing and activism)?

My writing just started from personal experiences and Twitter commentary. There aren’t a lot of people discussing these topics but an absolute need for this perspective and to share academic research on this topic. I connected with an incredible woman, Sertac Sehlikoglu who did her PhD at Cambridge University). She is curator of the Muslim Women in Sports blog. I started writing for them and also started writing for various blog and websites who were interested in the stories of Muslim women and Women of Colour (WoC) athletes. Biggest blessing was being a part of Muslimah Media Watch team. That gave me tremendous confidence. Being a part of such an important collaboration of brilliant women was huge.

Then started to connect with women’s sports groups and agencies working with women all over the world. I get a lot of support from women in Toronto as well. I work with Outburst! and that has been so important in shaping my work.

I started my own website this summer and Alhumdullilah things are starting to move a little more. I am a freelance writer and working on several projects. I also comment on Candian Political issues. I don’t think that will ever stop.

What inspires you to keep going?

.

The fact that so many people are interested in the work I do. I have been approached by academics, agencies and people who are interested in the voice of a Muslim woman on topics like violent culture in sports and how it affects communities.

I strongly believe that media needs to be accountable for the way they present Muslimah athletes. Sports media is 85% male. Stories often use the typical uncreative tropes about women – particularly on the subject of Middle Eastern, South Asian or Muslim women.

I love what I get to do. I have met and been inspired by so many people, Alhumdullilah. I want my work to matter and have integrity.

As a hijabi have you feel any backlash or islamophobia post 9/11?

To an extent. It was systemic and so widespread in society, but I definitely experienced micro-aggressions (ie name calling and other verbal assaults). Tremendous amount of xenophobia spreading through society more recently. Number of incidents of gendered Islamophobia have risen even in Toronto. Alarming because it is Canada’s most diverse city. I helped co-ordinate and amplify the self-defense classes that were organized as a result of concerns that Muslim women had for their safety.

.

What role has family played in your success?

My family, my husband in particular, is very supportive of my work. Family is often about logistics and balance. We have a shared family Google calendar because they all have their own commitments and interests.

My eldest son (in grade 10) once Re-Tweeted a piece I wrote and I felt like that was the most amazing validation I could receive Alhumdullilah.

How does it feel being the mother of teenage children?

It comes with different joys and challenges. Lots of opportunities for laughter. I enjoy them tremendously, masha’Allah. We tease each other a lot. They are growing so fast and have opinions of their own. It’s fascinating to see how much that they’ve witnessed as children shapes their characters and personalities.

.

What values are you trying to instill in them?

To be proud of who they are but also to be someone they should be proud to be. A strong sense of justice, a sense of being unapologetic of their identity and supportive of marginalized people with less privilege. They have a lot of blessings. We constantly remind them of this. How to use their skills and talents to help people who need it.

How do you balance life and community activism?

Community activism is a part of my life. They are inextricably linked. I balance the same way everyone would, taking family commitments and scheduling into account. I don’t attend half the things I would like to support. And I am also very cognizant of my own self-care. I used to have a hard time saying “no” and that was problematic. Now I am able to ask myself, what am I able to handle and how will it affect my life? Most importantly, can I give this the attention and time it deserves?

Sometimes being able to write about it and amplify is an important way to support something and draw attention to it.

Where do you see yourself in 5-10 years? 

Not totally sure. I have a five year plan but only Allah SWT knows. If you asked me five years ago (I was working frontline in Social Services with Newcomers to Canada) I could have never predicted what I am doing now.

Maybe Law school insha’Allah. Maybe publishing another book (writing one now). Or working in a Think-Tank or with a Sports Organization. I honestly have no idea. One thing I am sure of insha’Allah is that I will still be picking up socks from around my house and yelling at my kids to do their homework.

This article was produced exclusively for Muslim Link and should not be copied without prior permission from the site. For permission, please write to info@muslimlink.ca.

Read 10460 times Last modified on Thu, 05 Jan 2017 18:55
Rate this item
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
(0 votes)
Tagged under
  • Muslim Women
  • Muslim Canadian
  • Muslim Women & Sports
  • Muslims Actually

Muslims Actually

Muslims Actually began as a project of the Uniting Muslims and Allies for Humanity (UMAH), led by Toronto-based community organizer Farheen Khan. People who identify as Muslim from Canada and the US were profiled to showcase the accomplishments of those who, in various ways, are working to counter Islamophobia and negative stereotypes about Muslims in North America. Muslims Actually has now been incorporated into Muslim Link's website. Following Muslim Link's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Policy, we recognize the contributions of the diversity of people who identify as Muslim.

Latest from Muslims Actually

  • Fatima Garsi: Shattering Stereotypes Through Sisterhood and Martial Arts Fatima Garsi: Shattering Stereotypes Through Sisterhood and Martial Arts
  • Timaj Garad: Using Poetry and Theatre To Bring Stories To Life Timaj Garad: Using Poetry and Theatre To Bring Stories To Life
  • Asmaa Hussein: Moving from Pain to Purpose Asmaa Hussein: Moving from Pain to Purpose

Related items

  • Statistics Canada Releases Infographic on Muslim Population in Canada Statistics Canada Releases Infographic on Muslim Population in Canada
  • Maliha Jabeen Khan What do you assume about the hijab? at TEDxRegina 2024 Maliha Jabeen Khan What do you assume about the hijab? at TEDxRegina 2024
  • Learn more about the results of the 2021 Canadian Census from Statistics Canada Learn more about the results of the 2021 Canadian Census from Statistics Canada
back to top
.
.
.
.
.

Subscribe to Mailing List

Sign up for our free Muslim Link Snapshot and get our events listing and latest articles sent to your inbox weekly.

Please enter a name
Please enter a valid email address
Please enter a city

Ottawa Events
View More Events
Celebrate Eid Prayer & Festival Featured
Fri, Jun 06, 2025 09:00am EST/EDT
Festivals
Muslim Association of Canada (MAC) Ottawa Eid Al Adha Prayer and Festival
Fri, Jun 06, 2025 07:00am EST/EDT
Festivals
Assunnah Muslim Association Eid Al Adha Festival
Fri, Jun 06, 2025 02:00pm EST/EDT
Festivals
Ottawa Eagles Wrestling SUMMER Program - 16+ Grappling Program
Sat, Jun 07, 2025 all day
Courses
Online Event
Muslim Legal Support Centre (MLSC) Workplace Harassment: How to Recognize and Report It
Tue, Jun 10, 2025 06:00pm EST/EDT
Educational

Featured Articles

  • Calgary Eid al Adha Prayer Locations 2025 Calgary Eid al Adha Prayer Locations 2025
  • Greater Toronto Area Eid al Adha Prayer Locations 2025 Greater Toronto Area Eid al Adha Prayer Locations 2025
  • Ottawa Gatineau Eid al Adha Prayer Locations 2025 Ottawa Gatineau Eid al Adha Prayer Locations 2025

About us

  • About Muslim Link
    Our Team
    About Eye Media
    Contact Us
    Diversity & Inclusion Policy
  • Events & Directory Disclaimer
  • Project: A Muslim History of Ottawa

How To

  • How to Advertise on Muslim Link?
    How to View / Edit Your Advertisement Campaign?
    How to Add a Directory Listing on the Directory?
    How to Claim a Directory Listing?
    How to Add an Event?
    How to Add an Opportunity?
    How to Add a Rental Listing?

Event Listings

  •  - Ottawa
  •  - Toronto GTA
  •  - Montreal
  •  - Edmonton
  •  - Calgary
  •  - Vancouver
  •  - London
  •  - Windsor
  •  - Hamilton
  •  - Kitchener/Waterloo
  •  - Halifax
  •  - Winnipeg
  •  - Kingston
  •  - Regina/Saskatoon

Business & Community Directory

  •  - Ottawa
  •  - Toronto GTA
  •  - Montreal
  •  - Edmonton
  •  - Calgary
  •  - Vancouver
  •  - London
  •  - Windsor
  •  - Hamilton
  •  - Kitchener/Waterloo
  •  - Halifax
  •  - Winnipeg
  •  - Kingston
  •  - Regina/Saskatoon

Advertisers

  • Advertise Online
  • Become a Patron
  • Sponsorships
  • Join Snapshot e-Newsletter
  • Snapshot Publishing Dates

ML Team

  • Writers Workshops
  • Content Policy
  • Staff Payment System
  • Join the team

Social Media

Follow us on our pages!

Facebook Twitter Youtube LinkedIn Pinterest

Copyright © 2025 Muslim Link. All Rights Reserved. All articles, photos, graphics and images on this site remain the copyright of Muslim Link, unless otherwise noted, and should not be copied without prior permission. Designed by Eye Media Solutions
Top
Copyright © Muslim Link. All articles, photos, graphics and images on this site remain the copyright of Muslim Link, unless otherwise noted, and should not be copied without prior permission. 2025 All rights reserved. Custom Design by Youjoomla.com