A Walk Into The Gardens Of My Mind

Hibo Wardere retells the harrowing story of undergoing FGM (Female Genital Mutilation) at just six years old and how she now inspires change as an anti-FGM campaigner to Lilufa Uddin. Hibo Wardere tells her story of undergoing FGM at just six years old "Before the cutting, I had an amazing life, it was beautiful. " I was the centre of all the horrible songs at school that they would sing about how ugly and uncut I was, because my mum didn’t get me cut. She said it was because she thought I was too skinny. So one day I came back home and cried and said I’m not going back to school, unless you cut me. Because I’m thinking whatever they’re so proud of, and actually bullied me with, must be something amazing. And after that, she put in plans for the cut, which involves a huge party where, before the FGM procedure, pre-dominantly your family members, especially female, and all the aunties come. You know the ones your mum forces you to call them auntie...

Donald Trump signed an executive order on Friday, banning immigrants from seven Muslim countries: Syria,Sudan,Libya,Yemen,Somalia,Iraq and Iran. No less than a day later, chaos has emerged as a result of this grave crime against humanity. How have we regressed so much as a society that we now live in a time where someone like Trump can become president of the U.S? And how can such a high flying ex-business man lack the brains to come up with a far better strategy to combat terrorism, than to bully the entire religion of Islam? When I was younger, my dad used to joke and tell us that one day the British would ship us "..back to where we came from". It seemed funny and far-fetched then, not so much now. I keep saying over and over again, what a time to be Muslim. A few hours ago I was ranting, saying if May failed to produce an official statement/speech condemning Trump's Muslim ban, then I would no longer identify as being 'British'. How can I, when my very be...

As a young adult who has previously had depression and now and again falls into the same dark hole, I was more than pleased with Theresa May's speech today. She has promised to have mental health training in all secondary schools, along with changes in the workplace and our communities. "..If you suffer from mental health problems, there's not enough help to hand," she said, with a hint of upset, discussing the injustices faced by our society. She carried on to say that we should "make mental illness an everyday concern for all of us." During my time in secondary school, I was always seen as the 'problem child'. Although I wasn't diagnosed with a mental health issue/illness back then, I knew there was something wrong with me. A deeper underlining layer that would explain my random outbursts of anger, extreme sadness and troublesome behaviour. I remember feeling so angry one day at school, that I was repetitively kicking the stage and pulling a...

Dame Louise's review into integration of minorities has come across very racist and biased. Muslims as always, are repetitively targeted as being in need of some sort of intervention and help. We are seen as outcasts in society, barbaric even. I am sick of this.  What is actually being done to support Muslims and make them feel welcome in a global complex, fixated on maligning Islam?  In my eyes, all I see is continued effort to isolate us with ill attitudes and prejudices towards us, to then complain we aren't 'integrated' enough? David Cameron had commissioned Dame Louise Casey to carry out this review, in a bid to tackle extremism. Rather than reduce extremism, it is likely to cause an uproar in the Muslim community and most likely to have people feeling isolated (and therefore more vulnerable to becoming radical). Radicalism has nothing to do with one's religion, but rather socio-economic and mental health state factors which affects their ability to cause ha...

Growing concern over troublesome students excluded from mainstream schools and then placed in alternative provisions, has sparked huge debate. In Radio 4's Today Programme, head of Ofsted, Sir Michael Wilshaw expressed his irritation and scorn at supposedly 'illegal schools'. Asked by the presenter on the radio show, if illegal schools are 'lucrative business for all' , Wilshaw responded by saying 'The simple answer to that is yes, people like to line their pockets'.  Now although Ofsted along with BBC have led investigations and unearthed a number of alternative-led educational provisions, I believe it wrong to label all of these 'illegal'. The word 'illegal' produces negative connotations of corruption, crime and callousness. Yes several unregistered Islamic schools in addition to Orthodox schools have been found, but using the word illegal to describe them creates further stigma and further alienation of communities. If a parent d...

Donald Trump's series of lewd remarks in addition to numerous sexual assault allegations made against him have undoubtedly cast a shadow over Hilary Clinton. What I'm getting at it is this - Clinton knew all along about the US allies investing in ISIS. And what did she do about it? NOTHING! Trump has taken it upon himself to demand that Clinton releases the thousands of emails she had deleted. Clinton had been using a private email server, when she had been secretary of state. Lately, a batch of emails has been leaked to and from Clinton. One of these emails is a US state department memo dating back to the 17th of August 2014 relating to the funding of ISIS. The memo reads, "We need to use our diplomatic and more traditional intelligence assets to bring pressure on the governments of Qatar and Saudi Arabia, which are providing clandestine financial and logistic support to ISIS and other radical groups in the region." Since 9/11, one would have thought t...

Women of various professions, both ordinary citizens and authoritative figures have faced verbal abuse from Donald Trump. The misogynist has caused controversy with his most recent comments, in which he admits to misusing his position and power to sexually insult and harm women. I already despise Trump for his racist attitude towards migrants, his prejudice and harsh nature towards Muslims, but hearing him in a video openly talk about groping women makes me angry. He may have apologised, but this is all a show and his apology is far from sincere. It is not a risk worth taking, by giving Trump hope of winning the presidential race or still keeping him in a position of power. He has done things which are immoral and crimes too, he should be locked up. Had he been Muslim, all hell would of broke loose, with allegations of Muslim men being oppressive and perverted towards women. How is it the Republican Party have not dismissed him yet- he is a liability and a threat to society. Yes,...

As this week witnessed the highly important cabinet meeting at chequers led by Theresa May, it has become even more apparent that the Brexit process is even more shakier than normal. Since the referendum took place, there has been great anxiety of the possibility of Britain loosing trading relationships with the EU, which can have a knock on effect on our economy. Therefore, it is hugely significant that May reinforces that Britain should maintain its access to the EU single market to maximise our full potential as a country, to be one that serves the majority, not the rich minority. She has been both admired and criticised for the following quote in one of her previous speeches, "Brexit means Brexit". This vague phrase does not do much in either conjuring up one's imagination about future outcomes of finally triggering Article 50. There should be most definitely a second referendum, especially as May is reluctant to engaging with MPs regarding the complex process of ...

In this week's prison review, it has been recommend by the current and new Justice Secretary, Elizabeth Truss, that jailed terrorists should be placed in secure units, away from other prisoners.                                                             Insert from BBC News Guantanamo Bay has been the source of propaganda and much violent protest for radicalists, and now after 15 years, it is about to be shut down by Barack Obama. But the UK wants to almost create its own Guantanamo Bay, by enforcing the segregation of jailed terrorists and extremists from other prisoners. This in my opinion, will cause further and deeper rooted problems both in and outside jail. Some of the prisons which will include a 'prison within a prison' include the following : Frankland , Long Lartin and Belmarsh . There are some obvious and real danger...

It has taken me a while to make time for writing about this awful experience, but nonetheless I wanted to portray my shock horror at the sweep-under the carpet racism we know too good about. Last Friday gone, I sat on the bus, on the phone talking to a friend about some quite sensitive issues. I was very upset and using the phone conversation as a venting mechanism. Now naturally as a loud and outgoing person, I haven't yet developed or rather mastered the art of talking quietly in public and being discreet about personal issues which might be gold dust to a stranger's ears'. So there I was rambling away, when I heard someone mumble something and suddenly I saw everyone on the bus staring at me. It became apparent to me straight away that the person who had spoke had said something inappropriate/harmful to me. I followed the glance of the people on the bus (the people implying that it was this the person who was talking about me) and it came to an elderly white woman, w...

Boris Johnson's appointment as Foreign Secretary by Theresa May, has left not just an ordinary citizen like myself, but more than half of the world's influential governmental figures and leaders incredulous and in laughter and scepticism.  I cannot quite comprehend how such an unreliable and mischievous individual could be trusted to support Brexit and our reputation abroad. How is he supposed to forge new relations and maintain existing ties if he has a tendency to insult renowned people, be it presidents or other very important people. What I find particularly frustrating must I say, is his previous dig at U.S president Barack Obama, claiming that the Obama, being part-Kenyan, dislikes the British empire due to his ancestral dislike. If so was the case, why would Obama have been elected by a ridiculous amount of White people to become the U.S's first Black president? Why would Obama be so dedicated to protect and honour police officers, despite the constant targeting ...

The life of a politician is often an adventurous and rewarding profession, but one that can come with some ghastly costs too. The bright side of entering such a line of work includes the prestige that comes along with it, the title, status, power and money. Downfalls can be anything from having to face the backlash of a thoughtless law you came up with, or like Mr.David Cameron himself, resigning from office, because despite your ascribed status, the country is not travelling in the political or economical direction you want it to. Last week, former British prime minister, Tony Blair, was held to account seven years later in regards to the aftermath of the Iraq War. His reputation has spiralled and portrayed him to be the foolish and mischievous man he is, since the emergence of the Chilcot report into the Iraq War has been revealed. It has symbolised the flaws and Blair's lack of morality and initiative in protecting our country's best interests. What I don't understand...

Female leadership is very different to male leadership, female leadership is both revolutionary and necessary. Women create the workforce of the world and therefore they deserve to lead decisions in authoritative positions and voicing their opinions and sharing their expertise and wisdom. About two days ago, I sat with my partner on the train home one evening and told him I believe Theresa May will win the contest and become our new prime minister. My partner started laughing and joked, " A woman prime minister, that's all we need" and we both erupted into laughter. He was joking of course, but I couldn't help but sing May's praise. I told my partner May is a confident contender with years of experience in all influential sectors such as banking and finance, education and politics. Although rivals Andrea Leadsom and Michael Gove are well-educated, well-rounded people, both of them couldn't come an inch near to May. For one, Leadsom seems a bit deceiving,...

Ade Adepitan is by far one of the most admirable and inspiring sportsman and television personality in London. Adepitan,43, former basketball player and Paralympic champion shares his innermost thoughts on his childhood, his travels, British politicians, diversity schemes and the upcoming Paralympic games in Rio, September 2016. We met in Whiteley's shopping centre, and decided to go upstairs to the top ,where the Princess Studios are located, for a less busier and quieter environment. I am automatically stunned at how Adepitan rolled himself up on to the escalator whilst sitting on his wheelchair in a fair amount of speed and no sign of a yearning for sympathy. I couldn't help but feel proud of him at that moment and also ask myself, had I been in that situation, would I have been so happy and bubbly, at the face of such physical adversity? Only Allah knows. When we had reached the top floor, he told me that he needs to go get something, and disappeared into thin air, befo...

Sir Mark Allen, previous MI6 officer will no longer face charges over Libyan renditions.   Abdelhakim Belhaj - victim of torture and rendition in Libya as a result of MI6 senior officer Sir Mark Allen's involvement with the Libyan regime Abdelhakim Belhaj, former head of the Libyan Islamist fighting collective, detained as a suspect during the "war on terror", was granted asylum to the UK surprisingly. I say surprisingly, because thereafter, British officials plotted together with the CIA to fly Belhaj and his wife, who was pregnant at the time along with their children to Muammar Gaddafi's interrogation and torture cells in Tripoli. I now pose the question, 'Are MI6 above the law?'How can the abduction of a preganant woman along with her children, the imprisonment of an innocent women and her young children ever be justifiable? It is because they're Muslims?' Why am I even asking this question, of course its because they're Muslims,...

More than just a international sports-star, Muhammad Ali will be remembered for a very long time, for not just his successful career, but his outspoken and amazing personality. He is a man who has inspired mankind in ways other sporting figures can only aspire to achieve. Originally born Cassius Marcellus Clay in Louiseville, Kentucky, and then converting to Islam and becoming world-renowned boxer Muhammad Al i, he has touched the hearts of Black, White, Asian, Muslim, Christian, Agnostic and everything in between. To the Black man, he is an emblem of hope and sheer determination to overthrow what was and arguably now, a racially prejudiced system. To Muslims, Ali is someone we take pride in for representing us - Muslims globally have contributed so much to our culture and enrichment, however are dismissed occasionally due to rise of anti-Islam attitudes and propaganda. However, Ali has raised the flag for Muslims, with his conscious talks about religion and God and particularly abo...