Tehreem Azeem

May 25, 2024 | thenews.com.pk | Tehreem Azeem

alha*, a 19-year-old medical student, arrived in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, in February this year. In the months that followed, he found the locals friendly and quickly adjusted to the life in Kyrgyzstan. He would often go out with his local friends and enjoy his evenings in their company. Bishkek felt safe to him until last week when a brawl between Kyrgyz and Egyptian students escalated into mob violence targeting international students residing in the city.

May 24, 2024 | freethinker.co.uk | Tehreem Azeem

In 2018, a group of feminists in Karachi, the largest city in Pakistan, decided to march for gender justice on 8 March, International Women’s Day. They named it Aurat March (Women’s March). Hundreds marched with colourful placards demanding immediate social change in the country. The march kept growing and in subsequent years marches were held in various other cities including Lahore, Islamabad, Hyderabad, Multan, Larkana, Faisalabad, and Sukkur.

Feb 18, 2024 | freethinker.co.uk | Tehreem Azeem

It is hard to tell the story of my transformation from a practising Muslim to a freethinker. It did not happen in a day or two. It took almost a decade. I was born and raised in a moderately religious family in Pakistan. I was taught religion even before I could understand words. I was Muslim. I knew the greatest of all was Allah. I was supposed to worship Allah and do good deeds to make Him happy. When I turned seven, my parents told me that I had to pray five times a day daily.

Sep 29, 2023 | freethinker.co.uk | Tehreem Azeem

The recent burning of the Quran in the Swedish city of Malmo by an Iraqi refugee, Salwan Momika, has caused outrage in many Muslim countries. Pakistan, Iraq, Iran, Indonesia, Malaysia, Turkey and others have issued condemning the action and have asked Sweden to reconsider its laws protecting freedom of expression. There have been public protests in several cities in these countries, demanding the severance of diplomatic ties with Sweden.

Aug 17, 2023 | tinyurl.com | Tehreem Azeem

It’s a U.S. app that is accessible in China and is supposed to be for finding dates, but 37-year-old Beijinger Grace uses it for something else. The app’s “BFF” feature in particular is the tech worker’s favorite, using it to discreetly locate other feminists and turn her online matches into online friendships. These lead to offline meetings in cafes, parks, and sometimes her apartment. Grace and her friends share their ordeals with each other and provide emotional support to one another.