Last September, a new study indicated that anti-Muslim attacks in Britain had risen 70% in the last year. Reports said that Muslim women were being spat upon and called ugly names. Vice News reports that many women are starting to take back their power and are signing up for self-defense classes like the ones Khadijah Safari teaches who is a boxing instructor.
“One of my students asked me to go to the shop with her to get milk because she was wearing a niqab and was scared,” says Safari. “People threaten them, pull veils from their heads. Imagine how many women are experiencing that, every time they go out?”
Safari is a black belt in Muay Thai, and has plans to create Safari Martial Arts Association — the first halal martial arts organization — which would service the needs of Muslim women and men (who would train separately).
