Veiled Threat: On being visibly Muslim in Britain by Nadeine Asbali @nadeinewrites
I received my copy of this amazing book through a giveaway by Biteback Publishing.
Honestly what can I say. When I first saw that Nadeine was publishing a book and that too on being a visible Muslim in Britain I was ecstatic. I am an avaunt reader of books that represent Islam, being a Muslim, a hijabi and a woman in the West.
About Veiled Threat
Nadeine put all these areas successfully into a book of 275 pages and presented a comprehensive guide of where we are today. Entwining her life and journey into these pages made the entire book compete. Every subject she spoke about allowed me to recognise a little of me, making me connect to the words typed.
As a writer myself I actually found the way Nadeine expressed herself was very similar to myself. Her passion sprung from the pages. Much of the time the book felt like it was being read aloud to me rather than me reading it. This made the entire experience a very quick read. However this doesn’t mean what was written is easily absorbed. Instead you left each chapter of the book with a completeness that allowed you to carry out further research.
Nadeine unapologetically discusses Islamophobia, the male gaze and the unveiling of the Muslim woman. The hypocrisy of White feminists. Not fitting into society due to the way Muslims visible or not are viewed. She discusses the role of men and the effects of the Andrew-Tates on Muslim men and boys.
As a writer Nadeine pushes the boundaries with her writing and speaks facts about the issues we as Muslims are facing day in day out. Through constant monitoring, from the airports to our daily lives. How our decisions are used to set precedents. Control our communities so we begin to fully assimilate into a society that will never accept us.
‘…A country like Britain dictates absolute acquiescence to its cues and rules, and if hostile domestic politics and aggressive foreign policy tell us anything, it’s that the state fears and despises those who refuse to toe the line.’
Going Forward
This book is a cloth that helps to wrap us – to make us feel less alone. However it is also an encouragement to others who want to be allies and become educated on these topics to take a read.
To say that this book should be read and then left to sit on the shelf is something I wouldn’t recommend. Instead use it as a tool, spread the word, share it, gift it, place it in schools and community areas so everyone can read it. Everyone can begin to understand and communities can connect.
Only with educating ourselves will we see a change in how we are presented in the West and with allies who stand strong with each of us Muslims will we be able to tackle the issues presented in this insightful and passionate book.
‘I no longer apologise for my presence in this nation whose bloody political past bore my very existence…’
If you want to purchase a copy of Veiled Threat take a look at BiteBack Publishing.
For more book reviews take a look a my Book Page. For related articles on the subject discussed in this book, take a look at the Blogs Page.
