She graduated from Karachi University with degrees in Psychology and nglish. In 1989, she, her husband and her two sons moved to Toronto.

She lives in Canada at moment.

She is a Pakistani-Canadian journalist, author, public speaker, media consultant, anti-racism activist, and interfaith discussion leader.

Raza has been a human rights activist, and has defended gender equality, particularly for Muslim women. She became the first woman to lead mixed-gender Muslim prayers in Canada, in 2005. She called it a “silent revolution”.

She has received death threats for it.

She said that she hopes to become an imam someday. She also dreams of having a mosque “for women by women”.

Raza opposed congregational Muslin Friday prayers in public schools.

Raza has argued for a public ban in Canada against the hijab and the burqa.

She has condemned the September 11th terrorist attacks and all terrorism and violence in the name of religion, as well as that done in there name of Islam specifically. She says “radicals” have their own interpretation of Islam, and that the Quran does not justify suicide bombings.

She said in an interview that Donald Trump was “an equal opportunity offender.”

Raza has called the Canadian government to suspend all immigration from “terror-producing” countries, like Iran in 2012.

Raza has been criticized for her support and involvement in anti-Muslim groups and policies.

She is the President of the Council for Muslims Facing Tomorrow which works to secure “peace for all people”, oppose extremism and “advance among Muslims the principle of individual rights and freedoms”.

Raza is a freelance writer. She has written for The Globe and Mail, The Toronto Satr, Khallej Times, Gulf News, FrontPage Magazine and The Commentator.

She has also lectured at York University on the portrayal of Muslims in the media.

Raza is the author of books like: Their Jihad, Not My Jihad: a Muslim Canadian woman speaks out, How Can You Possibly be an Anti-Terrorist Muslim?, How Can You Possibly be a Muslim Feminist?.

She is also a poet and a playwright.

Raza participates, together with eight other women’s rights activists, in the documentary film Honor Diaries, which explores the issues of gender-based violence and inequality in Muslim-majority societies.

MARTA BUESA – ENGLISH FOR FUN 3B