On Saturday, sociologist Susan Carland wrote a powerful opinion piece for The Saturday Paper.
In the article, Carland argues the recent treatment of Muslim activist and author Yassmin Abdel-Magied feels eerily similar to the way people tested for witches during the Middle Ages.
“If they floated,” she writes, “they were found to be witches and were executed. If they sank, their innocence was proved – but they also generally drowned.”
Carland argues Abdel-Magied has been thrown into the water by the Australian media – and sink or swim – the outcome will be the same.
Of course, the furore began last Monday night, when Abdel-Magied appeared on Q&A alongside Independent Senator Jacqui Lambie. The 25-year-old, who works as an engineer, author, television and radio presenter and advocate, challenged Lambie’s views on Sharia law, and controversially said, “Islam to me, is the most feminist religion.”
Listen to Susan Carland on the Nitty Gritty Committee. (Post continues after audio.)
Ever since, she’s been the centre of intense media criticism, as well as a near-30,000 strong petition to sack her from the ABC.
Given Carland’s powerful defence of Abdel-Magied, and her standing as a significant voice for the local Muslim community, Daily Mail Australia chose to write about her opinion piece.
Personally, I was glad to see more attention being drawn to her argument – but then, I noticed something.
The photo included of Susan Carland looked decidedly unlike Susan Carland.
I did a double take.
The photo was clearly labelled 'Susan Carland.'
However, this woman's name is Anisa Buckley, and she's a Business Development Manager and PhD candidate at the University of Melbourne.
In the comments section below the story, one reader who presumably didn't pick up on the publication's error has written, "Sick of reading academic susan carland. She got a phd in women in islam. Hardly useful to the real world."
Sick of her... but can't recognise her face. Interesting.
It's not the first time the media has confused people of the same ethnic minority. In fact, Carland's husband Waleed Aly was once mistaken for comedian Nazeem Hussain in a TV column announcing the new host of The Project.
Errors like these speak volumes, and this time in particular, the mistake has made it painfully clear that we need to hear and see Muslim women far more often in the media.
Top Comments
Ok we keep seeing these articles by Mamamia, so could you please write an article specifying what sharia law is and how it is enacted in the various countries where it is applied, and how it applies to women. Not an opinion piece but backed up with references so that readers can decide for themselves whether sharia law equals equality for women.
Then also we will be able to compare whether the way sharia law is enacted coincides with the theories of how Susan and Yassmin believe it should be enacted. Because my understanding from the various things I have read from Carland is she is talking about the theory of what she thinks sharia law should be (though I have not read everything that Carland has written) not how it is actually applied.
Then we would need to also have quotes from Islamic hierarchy, such as imams to compare this with because keep in mind that no matter how well educated Susan and Yassmin may be about Islam they can not become imams or a mufti (because they are women) therefore from an Islamic perspective their opinion does not hold as much weight as a leader/imam/mufti's would.
My post was not published in another thread but it was along the lines of this; to these women Islam is the most feminist religion because they are not living in countries where they could be shot for getting an education or stoned to death for adultery. Perhaps if they actively recognised and supported women facing these issues in other countries in the name of Islam people wouldn't feel as if they are hypocritical.