Shada Islam
“I am a mother, a professional, a journalist, an analyst and a founder of my own company; I do come from a Muslim background. However, it does not define my identity.”
Shada Islam is an influential Brussels-based specialist on European Union affairs who works independently as a commentator, advisor, analyst and strategist on Europe, Asia, Africa, Geopolitics, Trade, Migration, Inclusion, Diversity and Women’s Empowerement. In an interview with Humans in the EU, Shada spoke about her work, her personal and professional growth, her journey from Pakistan to Brussels and what inspires her to do the things she does for Europe today.
When asked about her surname ‘Islam’, Shada said it didn’t define her personality.
“I am a mother, a professional, a journalist, an analyst and a founder of my own company; I do come from a Muslim background. However, it does not define my identity.”
“When I came to Europe as a young woman, I escaped what was expected of a woman in those days in Pakistan: marriage, children and if it was a professional role, one which was away from the spotlight. However, I didn’t believe in conforming and I was lucky to have a family and especially a father who supported me in this choice. My father was a brilliant, very authentic and genuine man who in his own professional life always spoke truth to power and believed that education was the key to changing things. Even today, whenever I hesitate about something, I can hear my father’s voice telling me “when you have something important to say, never worry, never fear, just say it, write it”. His belief in me was an exceptional gift.
Back in Pakistan, I lived through two wars between my country and India. So, when I arrived in Europe, I was inspired by the message of peace and reconciliation of the European Union. This message made me fall in love with the EU.
I truly believe in cooperation among countries, of nations working together to face difficult global challenges. I also love to write and so I studied journalism at the ULB in Brussels and then started working as a reporter, covering the EU’s external relations, trade and development policies. I am not afraid to stand up for what I believe in: international solidarity and cooperation.
I also research and write about race, diversity, inclusion and inequality in Europe and the unfortunate shortcomings in how the EU tends to treat its minorities.
I am part of campaigns such as #BrusselsSoWhite and #BlackLivesMatter. I write about these issues because they need to be talked about, so that people like myself, people who trace their origins to different parts of the world are no longer under-represented, so that we are actually part of the EU conversation - and the policy-making. Europe is our home, this is where we belong.
My background and my belief in equality of rights drew me to the issue of Muslims in Europe. European Muslims are full-fledged EU citizens and they should be considered as such, they shouldn’t be treated as second class citizens or perpetual outsiders. This is unfortunately happening in many parts of Europe. Muslim Europeans do face discrimination and this has worsened since the so-called “war on terror” that followed the horror of the 9/11 terrorist attacks in the US. The securitization of the European agenda has also made it more difficult to be a Muslim in Europe, because much too often the entire Muslim community is contantly targeted due to the crimes of a few extremists. Corrosive public narratives have unfortunately led to collective negative perceptions of all Muslims. This simple, toxic narrative needs to be changed in order to protect the values of the Europe I believe in.
Part of my work is focused on Geopolitics as well. Sometimes I think I have a rather Sufi-inspired view of Geopolitics because I believe that countries can and should live in harmony and cooperate with each other despite their differences. Such views were also passed on by my father. He taught me a lot. He taught me that following the leader or following orders isn’t always the right thing to do, that you can and should stand up for yourself and what you believe in. These lessons have remained with me and help and reassure me whenever I am criticised or come under pressure about something I have written or said. These pressures often come from those who do not want to hear views that they disagree with. I write about topics that many might find uncomfortable, because they don’t want to escape the comfort of the little bubble they live in. Others might be afraid of change and the difficulties that brings. However, I try not to give in and conform. Especially when I hear European leaders talk about Muslims or migrants or refugees as a “European problem”. Or that creating a fenced-in all white and Christian Europe would end all of our problems. This really goes against my views of creating and celebrating a multicultural and diverse Europe.
This is where storytelling comes in. Telling a compelling story is key to changing this narrative of “Muslims or the “other” are the problem”. When you bring emotion and empathy to a conversation, I feel that listeners can sense your sincerity and are more open to hear your story. The current narrative on Muslims has been hijacked by extremists and the Far Right but also by many - too many - mainstream politicians. I am one of those who questions that. Stories are what make us and are what inspire us. Europe is a fantastic story of different countries that came together for the common good. It would be such a tragedy if Europe’s values were betrayed by self-seeking and irresponsible politicians.
Shada does a lot of things, but the underlying message of what she does is simple, “speak truth to power, have a good narrative about different topics and do not shy away from tackling difficult things.”
Story by Soundous Boualam.
