Sakeenah is a safe space for Muslim women in Canada. By offering self‑defence workshops, it empowers them to protect themselves from Islamophobic attacks.
A growing initiative amid rising Islamophobic incidents
In response to increasing Islamophobic violence in Western countries, a centre dedicated to Muslim women in Canada called Sakeenah has been operating for several years. Sakeenah protects Muslim women in Canada and has launched self‑defence workshops in Ontario and Mississauga.
New training programme designed for Muslim women
Esraa Hafez, the organisation’s Marketing Director, told Radio International Tenda in an interview that the initiative is part of a new training programme to enable Muslim women to defend themselves against Islamophobic attacks. She added that the programme addresses the rise in violent acts, particularly targeting women who wear hijab.
Samiya Mahmoud, her colleague, emphasised that the aim of the initiative is the empowerment of women.
Workshop structure: practical tools for protection
The self‑defence workshop is aimed at providing practical tools for women and girls to protect themselves from violent assaults. According to reports, these sessions are both educational and hands‑on.
A portion of the workshop—approximately 45 minutes—is devoted to teaching a variety of physical techniques and movements for self‑defence. In addition to that, participants receive education about different forms of sexual violence, including practical guidance on how to support a friend who may be experiencing sexual assault.
These two‑hour workshops serve as a tool to raise awareness among women. The organisation hopes participants can build on these skills further afterwards.
Hate‑crime statistics highlight urgent need
The two women from Sakeenah underscore the importance of this initiative in combating racist hate crimes in Canada. They note that while statistics on Muslim women are under‑reported and precise figures are hard to obtain, there is no doubt Muslim women face particular risks.
The Government of Canada has reported a 94 percent increase in hate crimes targeting Muslims, with women constituting over half of the victims.
A powerful skill set: expanding reach
Mahmoud and Hafez agree that self‑defence skills are a powerful tool that everyone should have. They advocate for starting self‑defence training for girls and boys from a very young age. They even propose incorporating self‑defence into school physical education curricula.
The origins of Sakeenah
Sakeenah is a Canadian organisation founded in 2018 to support Muslim women and children across Canada. It was inspired by the personal experience of one of its founders, Zainab Shadi, who fled her home due to violence and realized there were no spaces addressing the specific needs of Muslim women—items ranging from halal food access to women‑only facilities made her feel unsafe elsewhere, prompting the creation of a centre dedicated specifically to Muslim women.
From: shabestan