Na'eem Jeenah
Encyclopedia
Na'eem Jeenah is a well-known leader in the Muslim community and the anti-capitalist and anti-war movements in South Africa. He is also an academic, author, and journalist.
, South Africa
. He has also taught Political Studies at the University of the Witwatersrand
in Johannesburg
.
Jeenah was born in the coastal city of Durban
on the 8 August 1965. Under South Africa
's Apartheid Population Registration Act
he was classified "Indian". He cut his political in the 1980s when, while he was still in secondary school, the country erupted into almost a decade of nationwide student protests, followed by widespread resistance in trade unions and communities - especially in the African "townships". This was the period when the liberation movement succeeded in making South Africa
"ungovernable".
After school, Jeenah entered the highly-politicized University of Natal Black Section, the medical school (only for Black students) that was attached to the White University of Natal. Through his activities with the Muslim Students Association of South Africa
and the Muslim Youth Movement of South Africa, he was thrust into the political limelight as these organizations became increasingly involved in the anti-Apartheid struggle. His activism, however, was mostly inspired by Islam and was prosecuted through Muslim organizations.
After spending two years at the Medical School and a year at the University of Durban-Westville
, Jeenah dropped out of university to find a job and get married. He married Shamima Shaikh
, who he met for the first time when the couple was arrested during a consumer boycott campaign. Shaikh became one of South Africa
's most well-known Islamic feminists. She died in January 1998, leaving Jeenah with two sons.
Jeenah rose in the ranks of the Muslim Youth Movement of South Africa to become its national General Secretary and, later, its president. He was also, for a period, the editor of the Movement's mouthpiece newspaper, Al-Qalam. He steered the movement in a way that increased its political activism during the anti-Apartheid struggle. He also, along with Shaikh and others, founded the Muslim Youth Movement Gender Desk, the foremost organization of Islamic feminism
in South Africa
. It was also during the 1980s that Jeenah helped his organization and the Muslim community in South Africa
to get involved in inter-faith activities - particularly through the South Africa
n chapter of the World Conference on Religion and Peace. Working with the latter, he was also a member of the drafting committee of a landmark document produced during South Africa
's constitution-drafting period called the Declaration on Religious Rights and Responsibilities.
In 1994, on the eve of South Africa
's first democratic elections, Jeenah's family joined those in South Africa
who had sacrificed family members for the struggle: his brother, Mohseen Jeenah, a student leader and anti-Apartheid activist, was gunned down in the early hours of the morning of the 17th January by Apartheid police.
Jeenah and Shaikh undertook the hajj
pilgrimage in 1997, while Shaikh was already suffering from the effects of breast cancer
, which had affected her severely. On the couple's return the authored a book about their pilgrimage called Journey of Discovery: A South African Hajj. Soon after, they founded the Johannesburg-based Muslim community radio station called The Voice, which exposed radical and progressive Muslim voices to the Muslim community and became a flagship for women's rights, inter-religious tolerance and anti-imperialist rhetoric. It also gave a voice to refugee communities and social movements. Shaikh died just four months after the station went on air.
Jeenah's career has been a checkered one, spanning the NGO sector, academia, religious organizations and journalism. But it is as a progressive Muslim activist and an international solidarity activist that he has made his mark.
Jeenah currently holds the position of Director: Operations at the Freedom of Expression Institute. He is also the Coordinator of a progressive Johannesburg mosque, Masjidul Islam, a steering committee member of an inter-religious organization focusing on women's issues called The Other Voices, a spokesperson for South Africa's Palestine Solidarity Committee and Anti-War Coalition and is a member of the International Coordinating Network for Palestine. He is often interviewed as an expert by various media on issues related to Islam or the Muslim world, Muslims in South Africa, the Middle East, Islamic Feminisms, political Islam, freedom of expression and various other issues. An experienced journalist, he writes for a number of publications and reports for a network of radio stations in the US. He is also a monthly columnist for the South African newspaper Al-Qalam.
Jeenah has various Islamic qualifications through international courses completed at different universities in the Muslim world. He has organized and addressed numerous meetings, seminars, workshops, conferences, and training programs on various issues related to Islam, South Africa, the Middle East, youth development, journalism, information technology and various other issues – in South Africa and internationally. He has co-authored a book and has published articles and papers in journals, magazines, newsletters, newspapers and other publications. These have ranged from news pieces to analyses and opinion pieces.
In June 2005, Jeenah married Melissa Hoole. They now have a daughter.
Jeenah was named in December 2000 on the Mail & Guardian’s “Hot Shit 100 List” of people “Making their mark in the new millennium” and, in 2006, he was included on that newspaper's "100 young people you must take out to lunch".
Biography
Na'eem Jeenah is currently the Director of the Afro-Middle East Centre, a research institute dedicated to studying the Middle East and relations between that region and Africa. He previously worked as Director: Operations for the Freedom of Expression Institute in JohannesburgJohannesburg
Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. He has also taught Political Studies at the University of the Witwatersrand
University of the Witwatersrand
The University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg is a South African university situated in the northern areas of central Johannesburg. It is more commonly known as Wits University...
in Johannesburg
Johannesburg
Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
.
Jeenah was born in the coastal city of Durban
Durban
Durban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
on the 8 August 1965. Under South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
's Apartheid Population Registration Act
Population Registration Act
The Population Registration Act of 1950 required that each inhabitant of South Africa be classified and registered in accordance with their racial characteristics as part of the system of apartheid. Social rights, political rights, educational opportunities, and economic status were largely...
he was classified "Indian". He cut his political in the 1980s when, while he was still in secondary school, the country erupted into almost a decade of nationwide student protests, followed by widespread resistance in trade unions and communities - especially in the African "townships". This was the period when the liberation movement succeeded in making South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
"ungovernable".
After school, Jeenah entered the highly-politicized University of Natal Black Section, the medical school (only for Black students) that was attached to the White University of Natal. Through his activities with the Muslim Students Association of South Africa
Muslim Students Association of South Africa
The Muslim Students Association of South Africa is a representative collective of the various Muslim Students Association chapters which can be found in the different tertiary institutions throughout South Africa.- History :...
and the Muslim Youth Movement of South Africa, he was thrust into the political limelight as these organizations became increasingly involved in the anti-Apartheid struggle. His activism, however, was mostly inspired by Islam and was prosecuted through Muslim organizations.
After spending two years at the Medical School and a year at the University of Durban-Westville
University of Durban-Westville
The University of Durban-Westville was formerly a university situated in Westville, Durban opened 1972. It now forms part of the campus of the University of KwaZulu-Natal. Known as UDW, it was initially established for Indians as during apartheid there were few universities that admitted non-White...
, Jeenah dropped out of university to find a job and get married. He married Shamima Shaikh
Shamima Shaikh
Shamima Shaikh was South Africa's best known Muslim women's rights activist, notable Islamic feminist and journalist.-Biography:...
, who he met for the first time when the couple was arrested during a consumer boycott campaign. Shaikh became one of South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
's most well-known Islamic feminists. She died in January 1998, leaving Jeenah with two sons.
Jeenah rose in the ranks of the Muslim Youth Movement of South Africa to become its national General Secretary and, later, its president. He was also, for a period, the editor of the Movement's mouthpiece newspaper, Al-Qalam. He steered the movement in a way that increased its political activism during the anti-Apartheid struggle. He also, along with Shaikh and others, founded the Muslim Youth Movement Gender Desk, the foremost organization of Islamic feminism
Islamic feminism
Islamic feminism is a form of feminism concerned with the role of women in Islam. It aims for the full equality of all Muslims, regardless of gender, in public and private life. Islamic feminists advocate women's rights, gender equality, and social justice grounded in an Islamic framework...
in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. It was also during the 1980s that Jeenah helped his organization and the Muslim community in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
to get involved in inter-faith activities - particularly through the South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n chapter of the World Conference on Religion and Peace. Working with the latter, he was also a member of the drafting committee of a landmark document produced during South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
's constitution-drafting period called the Declaration on Religious Rights and Responsibilities.
In 1994, on the eve of South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
's first democratic elections, Jeenah's family joined those in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
who had sacrificed family members for the struggle: his brother, Mohseen Jeenah, a student leader and anti-Apartheid activist, was gunned down in the early hours of the morning of the 17th January by Apartheid police.
Jeenah and Shaikh undertook the hajj
Hajj
The Hajj is the pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia. It is one of the largest pilgrimages in the world, and is the fifth pillar of Islam, a religious duty that must be carried out at least once in their lifetime by every able-bodied Muslim who can afford to do so...
pilgrimage in 1997, while Shaikh was already suffering from the effects of breast cancer
Breast cancer
Breast cancer is cancer originating from breast tissue, most commonly from the inner lining of milk ducts or the lobules that supply the ducts with milk. Cancers originating from ducts are known as ductal carcinomas; those originating from lobules are known as lobular carcinomas...
, which had affected her severely. On the couple's return the authored a book about their pilgrimage called Journey of Discovery: A South African Hajj. Soon after, they founded the Johannesburg-based Muslim community radio station called The Voice, which exposed radical and progressive Muslim voices to the Muslim community and became a flagship for women's rights, inter-religious tolerance and anti-imperialist rhetoric. It also gave a voice to refugee communities and social movements. Shaikh died just four months after the station went on air.
Jeenah's career has been a checkered one, spanning the NGO sector, academia, religious organizations and journalism. But it is as a progressive Muslim activist and an international solidarity activist that he has made his mark.
Jeenah currently holds the position of Director: Operations at the Freedom of Expression Institute. He is also the Coordinator of a progressive Johannesburg mosque, Masjidul Islam, a steering committee member of an inter-religious organization focusing on women's issues called The Other Voices, a spokesperson for South Africa's Palestine Solidarity Committee and Anti-War Coalition and is a member of the International Coordinating Network for Palestine. He is often interviewed as an expert by various media on issues related to Islam or the Muslim world, Muslims in South Africa, the Middle East, Islamic Feminisms, political Islam, freedom of expression and various other issues. An experienced journalist, he writes for a number of publications and reports for a network of radio stations in the US. He is also a monthly columnist for the South African newspaper Al-Qalam.
Jeenah has various Islamic qualifications through international courses completed at different universities in the Muslim world. He has organized and addressed numerous meetings, seminars, workshops, conferences, and training programs on various issues related to Islam, South Africa, the Middle East, youth development, journalism, information technology and various other issues – in South Africa and internationally. He has co-authored a book and has published articles and papers in journals, magazines, newsletters, newspapers and other publications. These have ranged from news pieces to analyses and opinion pieces.
In June 2005, Jeenah married Melissa Hoole. They now have a daughter.
Jeenah was named in December 2000 on the Mail & Guardian’s “Hot Shit 100 List” of people “Making their mark in the new millennium” and, in 2006, he was included on that newspaper's "100 young people you must take out to lunch".
Books
- Religion and Schools (2005), Wits University Education Policy Unit. (Booklet)
- Co-authored with Shamima Shaikh, (2000). Journey of Discovery: A South African Hajj. Cape Town: Full Moon Press
Some journal Articles and chapters
- "The National Liberation Struggle and Islamic Feminisms in South Africa", Women’s Studies International Forum, Vol. 29(1), 2006, 27-41.
- “Hajj: Only at this Sacred Time and Place”, (2005), Leiden: ISIM Review, Number 16, 50-51.
- “Seeing Through Tears in Rwanda”, New York: Fellowship, September/October 2004, Vol.70 No 9-10, 25-26.
- “Bilqis – A Qur'anic model for leadership and for Islamic feminists”, (2004). Pretoria: Journal of Semitic Studies, Vol 13 No I, 47-58.
- “Apartheid Israel Continued”, Alternatives, Cape Town: AIDC, Vol. 2 No. 8, 2004, 19.
- “Towards an Islamic feminist hermeneutic”, (2001). Journal for Islamic Studies, Vol 21, Cape Town: Centre for Contemporary Islam, 36-70.
- “South Africa’s Anti-War Movements: Towards an Assessment”, (2003). debate: voices from the South African left, Johannesburg, 10-12.
- “Apartheid Israel?”, (2002). Annual Review of Islam in South Africa, Issue 5, Cape Town: Centre for Contemporary Islam, 31-35.
- "2001 – A New Form of Palestinian Solidarity in South Africa" (2001). Annual Review of Islam in South Africa, Issue 4, Cape Town: Centre for Contemporary Islam, 31-34.
- "Whose Enduring Freedoms?: An Analysis of Muslim Responses to September 11 and the War against Afghanistan", (2001). Annual Review of Islam in South Africa, Issue 4, Cape Town: Centre for Contemporary Islam, 52-54.
- “Pagad: Fighting fire with fire”, (1996). Impact International, 26 (9).
- Review: Symbolic Confrontations: Muslims Imagining the State in Africa by Donal B. Cruise O’Brien, (2005). Journal for Contemporary African Studies, 23,3, 434-437.
- "Pagad: Aluta Continua" (1996). In: Galant, R. & Gamieldien, F., Drugs, Gangs, People's Power: Exploring the Pagad phenomenon, Cape Town, Claremont Main Road Masjid.