Shamima Shaikh facts for kids

Shamima Shaikh (born 14 September 1960, died 8 January 1998) was a well-known South African Muslim activist. She worked hard for women's rights and was also a journalist. She is remembered as an important voice for Islamic feminism.

Biography

Shamima Shaikh was born on 14 September 1960, in Louis Trichardt. This town is in what is now South Africa's Limpopo Province. She was the second of six children born to Salahuddin and Mariam Shaikh.

She went to school in Louis Trichardt for her early years. Later, her family moved to Pietersburg, which is now called Polokwane. This town is about 100 kilometres south of Louis Trichardt.

University Life

After finishing school in 1978, Shamima studied at the University of Durban-Westville. During South Africa's apartheid era, this university was only for students of Indian descent. In 1984, she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree. She focused on Arabic and Psychology.

Her university years were a time of big political changes. Shamima became involved with the Azanian People's Organisation (AZAPO). This group worked to fight against the unfair apartheid laws.

In 1985, Shamima was chosen to be on the main committee of the Islamic Society at her university. On 4 September 1985, she was arrested. She had been giving out flyers that asked people to stop buying from white-owned shops in Durban. This protest was supported by a large group of workers called the Federation of South African Trade Unions (Fosatu).

Shamima spent a few hours at the Durban police station. She was with Na'eem Jeenah, who was the president of the Muslim Students Association of South Africa. This was their first meeting, and they got married two years later.

Early Career and Family

After finishing her degree in 1985, Shamima taught at Taxila Primary and Secondary school. This was in her hometown of Pietersburg. She married Na'eem Jeenah on 20 December 1987. After their marriage, she moved to Johannesburg. She had her first child, Minhaj, in September 1988. Her daughter, Shir'a, was born in 1990.

Work and Activism

In 1989, Shamima started working with al-Qalam, a Muslim community newspaper. Her husband was the editor of this newspaper. She also became more and more involved with the Muslim Youth Movement of South Africa (MYM).

Political Involvement

In 1989 and 1990, Shamima and other MYM activists were very active in Durban. They protested against the unfair Tricameral Parliament elections. These elections were only for "Indian" and "Coloured" race groups, leaving out most South Africans. They also joined marches, demonstrations, and large rallies. These actions were part of the Mass Democratic Movement, which fought for a fair and equal South Africa.

In 1993, Shamima was elected as the regional chairperson for the Muslim Youth Movement in Transvaal. This made her a member of the MYM's national leadership team. She was only the second woman to hold such an important position.

Women's Rights Campaigns

That same year, Shamima became widely known for her "women in the mosque" campaign. During Ramadan, she and other women from the MYM encouraged women to attend evening prayers at the 23rd Street Mosque in Fietas, Johannesburg. This led to some disagreements with members of the mosque committee. This event brought her into the public eye.

Later in 1993, she became the first national coordinator of the Muslim Youth Movement Gender Desk. This role also placed her on the MYM's national leadership. She held this position until mid-1996. Under Shamima's leadership, the MYM Gender Desk became a leading voice. It spoke out about Muslim women's rights and gender issues within the Muslim community. It also helped define Islamic feminism in South Africa.

As the gender desk coordinator, Shamima organized many workshops, seminars, and campaigns. She led the MYM's "Campaign for a Just Muslim Personal Law." She also spearheaded the "Equal Access to Mosques" campaign and many others.

Democratic Elections and Media

Shamima was very involved in the Muslim Forum on Elections. This group encouraged the Muslim community to vote in South Africa's first democratic elections in April 1994. They asked people to vote for parties that had fought against apartheid, like the African National Congress (ANC).

Also in 1994, Shamima helped create the Muslim Community Broadcasting Trust. She became its first chairperson. This trust applied for and received a license for a community radio station in Johannesburg. She remained the chair until her death.

From 1994, she also helped set up the Muslim Personal Law Board of South Africa. She was a member of this board until it was closed down.

Battling Cancer

In 1994, Shamima was diagnosed with breast cancer. She had surgery and radiation therapy. A year later, doctors found that the cancer had spread. She received strong chemotherapy treatment. After the cancer disappeared, she decided not to have chemotherapy again if it returned. She wanted to live with dignity and continue her work.

While battling cancer, she was appointed Managing Editor of Al-Qalam. Under her leadership, Al-Qalam became a very important newspaper. It showed a modern and progressive view of Islam in South Africa.

In April 1997, Shamima performed the hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca) for the first time. After returning, she and her husband wrote a book about their experiences. It was called "Journey of Discovery: A South African Hajj" and was published in 2000. In August 1997, a Muslim community radio station called The Voice was launched, with Shamima leading it.

On 22 December 1997, Shamima gave her last public speech. She spoke about "Women & Islam – The Gender Struggle in South Africa: The Ideological Struggle." This was at a program of the Muslim Youth Movement. Seventeen days later, on 8 January 1998, Shamima Shaikh passed away.

Death

Shamima Shaikh died on 8 January 1998, at her home in Mayfair, Johannesburg. One of her funeral prayers was led by her close friend, Farhana Ismail. Both women and men followed the prayer, as Shamima had wished. Many women also attended her funeral services at a Johannesburg Mosque and the Claremont Main Road Mosque in Cape Town. In Polokwane, dozens of women were present at her burial. She is survived by her husband and two children.