Challenging gender discrimination: activism for Muslim women
Hind Elhinnawy, Senior Lecturer
As an unmarried, pregnant Muslim woman in Egypt, I faced legal battles, societal stigma and denial of my daughter’s identity. By challenging entrenched Sharia laws, I fought for her rights, sparking national debate, shattering taboos and drawing global attention to injustice against women.
My research journey
In 2004, I faced an unplanned pregnancy. My ex-partner denied the relationship, refusing to acknowledge paternity. Under Egyptian law, which is rooted in Sharia, children can only be registered under their father's name if a marriage is legally proven. Without this recognition, my daughter had no legal identity. Determined to fight for her rights, I took my case to court. The battle was long and public, and I faced immense scrutiny and condemnation.
The media labelled me ‘disgraceful’ for becoming a mother outside of a legally recognised marriage. Friends, colleagues even extended family distanced themselves. But my parents stood by me, and I refused to back down. I won every legal case I fought, setting precedents that helped reform paternity laws in Egypt. Still, the backlash didn’t stop – challenging societal norms and Sharia law came at a cost. I was branded ‘Western,’ ‘anti-Muslim,’ and even ‘promiscuous’ for simply wanting the same rights and recognition for my child that any mother would expect.
This experience changed everything. I left my career as an interior architect and devoted myself to gender equality. I pursued a master’s in Gender and Women’s Studies at the American University in Cairo, worked with NGOs and spoke at conferences across the Middle East.
Redefining Muslim feminism
Today, I am a researcher and activist, exploring the intersection of gender, politics and culture in the Middle East. My work highlights the stories of exiled feminists and women forced to leave their homelands due to their activism, yet continuing to resist and build transnational networks.
My research challenges oversimplified portrayals of Muslim women, exposing how both Western and Islamist narratives reinforce oppression and victimhood. I critique the selective glorification of religious agency and the co-optation of secular Muslim feminism, highlighting how these dynamics can sustain patriarchal ideologies. Through my work, I advocate for a decolonised, anti-racist feminist politics that amplifies Muslim women’s diverse experiences and advances gender equality and social justice.
Being a researcher isn’t just a job; it’s who I am. My work is personal, political and deeply rooted in a fight for justice. Research isn’t just about uncovering knowledge, it’s about reshaping narratives, changing laws and ultimately making the world a fairer place for women.
Follow my story
My story doesn’t end here. Keep up to date with me and my research by keeping an eye on my academic profile.
Dr Hind Elhinnawy
Hind is a Senior Lecturer in Criminology and Criminal Justice at Nottingham Trent University. Her work focuses on gender and social policy, critical criminology and secular Muslim feminism, with a particular interest in the status of Muslim women and the activism of secular Muslim women.
Hind's research examines the harms faced by marginalised groups through global, social and cultural processes, and their efforts to shape and control their futures.
Meet our researchers
Forget lab coats and research papers. It's time to get personal. Meet the people behind the research and uncover fascinating truths about their experiences.
Felipe Melo
Protecting biocultural diversity
Learn how Felipe works with indigenous communities to restore ecosystems
Kirsty Welsh
The law and domestic abuse
Learn how Kirsty is challenging policies to better protect victims