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Queer Shahada and the Resurgence of Islamically-Mediated Desire in Twenty-First Century Life Writing

  • Author / Creator
    Soleymani Yazdi, Sajad
  • This dissertation investigates the intersection of religious faith and gender/sexual identity with a particular focus on the feminist social and academic movements of the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) region, such as the “Woman, Life, Freedom” movement in 2022 and Jineolojî as a Kurdish ‘science of women and life’. It delves into the broader implications of these feminist movements, highlighting their transethnic and transnational effects on questions of liberation for gender and sexually marginalized groups in Muslim epistemologies. The study employs a post-Islamist lens to explore how the emancipation of Muslim women can signify a broader liberation for all marginalized groups (and vice versa).
    The methodology combines literary analysis, field research, and theoretical exploration across various disciplines, including autobiography studies, feminism, queer studies, and Islamic studies. It emphasizes the importance of a trauma-informed, survivor-driven approach to understanding the narratives of Muslim queer individuals. The dissertation critically examines the impact of neoliberalism, religious fundamentalism, and Orientalist perspectives on Muslim queer identities, proposing a new framework for Muslim queer relationality that challenges prevailing power structures and investigates several alternative interpretations of Islamic texts from Muslim feminists.
    Significant findings include the identification of shahada (witnessness) as a cultural and religious practice that fosters socio-political reform and empowerment. The work of queer Muslim authors, especially through autobiographical narratives, emerges as a potent form of resistance and reclamation of identity, challenging the incompatibility often perceived between Islam and queer identities. The analysis of Lamya H’s memoir Hijab Butch Blues provides a nuanced critique of traditional Islamic exegeses, advocating for a queer Muslim theology that intertwines the personal and political in the struggle for liberation.
    The dissertation concludes by situating the Woman, Life, Freedom movement and Jineolojî within a broader context of resistance against systemic oppression in the Middle East, suggesting that the intersections of gender, faith, and ethnicity offer a unique perspective on the region’s socio-political dynamics. It calls for further research into the role of Muslim queer literature and its potential to inform and inspire resistance movements within and beyond the MENA region, emphasizing the importance of inclusive and intersectional approaches in addressing the challenges faced by marginalized communities.

  • Subjects / Keywords
  • Graduation date
    Fall 2024
  • Type of Item
    Thesis
  • Degree
    Doctor of Philosophy
  • DOI
    https://doi.org/10.7939/r3-zwa5-5j43
  • License
    This thesis is made available by the University of Alberta Library with permission of the copyright owner solely for non-commercial purposes. This thesis, or any portion thereof, may not otherwise be copied or reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner, except to the extent permitted by Canadian copyright law.