raquel saraswati philadelphia

I find interesting that you think you qualify as a Muslim yet your intolerance stink high heavens! But also how she used that false identity to legitimize herself everywhere from those right-wing spaces to the progressive spaces that she ended up infiltrating, and then ultimately gaining the trust of people from marginalized identities.. That will be the next-to-the-last thought hed think. May the new year bring you health & good fortune. Misogyny, xenophobia, racism, and ableism are all issues within our community, which prevent people both from being safe and from thriving within it. And all of this was confirmed by Carol Perone, Saraswatis biological mother, who told the Intercept, Im as white as the driven snow and so is she.. I also commented that "AFSC officials should be used to mere trolling, including partisan political attacks. I have a daughter and I DARE some bastard to even PRETEND that he going to mutilate her. Did AFSC not vet their candidates, like Raquel? she said. you are more dynamic and artist in influence Being LGBTQ2SIA and/or being a person of faith does not mean that a person isnt engaged in the oppression of those with less privilege. I think your readers will find the information very useful. When Oskar Pierre Castro met Saraswati during the AFSC search committees quest for a new DEI officer, he saw someone who touched all the points, as he told the Intercept. 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved, VP Harris backed AP HS course about slaves skills before Florida controversy, NYC health department joins the virtue-signaling and calls for reparations, West Virginia woman who is blind runs 5K race: This is just the beginning, Gerrymandering bid from NY Democrats now in top courts hands. Saraswati said in an email that I hear that people feel hurt and confused, but maintains that she has not misrepresented herself, pointing to the advocacy work she has accomplished in Philadelphia as a Muslim woman. It is both a tremendous honor and an enormous responsibility. The west has alot yo worry about. Salaam! These abuses are carried out by family, partners, community members, and even those who lead our faith communities. She's having a meltdown because her relatives confirmed she's white. Come on Raqi, start writing you are not banned in Turkey for nothing, you know. She also reportedly showed the publication the latters Ancestry profile. She pointed to other interviews, sermons and blog posts she has written to emphasize her faith-based human rights advocacy. While there are certainly things I would articulate differently as a 39-year-old than I did 10 to 15 years ago, I have never perpetuated hate against my own faith, Saraswati wrote in an email to The Inquirer. Ive been blessed to be published both domestically and internationally, and to have had the opportunity to lecture in North America and Europe on issues like gender-based violence and minority rights. The womans impression of Saraswati was that she was kind and generous, but always positioned herself as a person of authority on matters of oppression or injustice. . Fake Muslim Activist Scored Invite to Obama White House and Rubbed He said he was disappointed to learn about Saraswatis misrepresentation, but that the Raquel described in the media is not the one I know., As a self-described Muslim queer woman, she provided one among a number of strong voices in occasional programs at William Way addressing religious pluralism and compassionate response to community trauma, he wrote in an email to The Inquirer. Being critical to some bad practices committed by some Muslims (practices which is not approved by Islam) and then mixing this with your own views that has nothing to do with Islam. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Your email address will not be published. Raquel Evita Saraswati made a name for herself in a number of Philadelphias community and advocacy circles. We've received your submission. And that was it. new Dolezal just dropped : r/redscarepod - Reddit Post-9/11, the government wanted Muslim spokespersons to convince Muslim communities there was something wrong with Islam, and that there was only one way to practice Islam which was a highly secularized version, and one that entailed unconditional cooperation with the government, said Sahar Aziz, a Rutgers Law professor and author of The Racial Muslim: When Racism Quashes Religious Freedom. Yo, She never said anything about Homosexuality on that site, some catholic lady did. Time and again, Saraswati echoed far-right moderators concerns and requests to hear Muslims condemn terrorist attacks, and urged her fellow dissident Muslims to speak out against radicalization and gender violence. If you're a human and see this, please ignore it. If Mikati were to pursue this story, it was important for her to not produce an article that was harmful, especially since race and ethnicity are such complex topics. It didnt really go much more in depth than that, Mikati said. We on the margins are in the middle of battles already begun; standing in the wake of battles already fought, and at the precipice of battles unseen. A judge dismissed a 2020 lawsuit a month after it was filed, writing that the claims within 'rise to the level of the irrational.'. And now all of a sudden, its a white woman with a right-wing history. She deeply connected to the experience of people who are oppressed around their gender, their sexuality and religious background, Muhammad said in Mikatis story. Raquel Saraswati: 'White Woman' Faked Being Person Of Color - NewsOne Transcultural? Activist Raquel Evita Saraswati has faked her 'Arab and Latin' racial Saraswati had been mentioned as someone the journalist should connect with. Watch your own soul. I cannot respect women who submit to the male claim that women are dangerous and must be covered in order for the muslim man to control his sexual urges. We all need to check are hearts we live in interesting times and going against the ijma of the uluma on homosexuality is a dangerous move. And although the values she presented and advocated did not necessarily raise red flags among those who knew her, the fact that she took up space and opportunities as a white woman is harmful in and of itself. White woman caught lying about her race resigns as equity and inclusion Saraswati was reportedly born as Rachel Elizabeth Seidel and is currently 39 years old. I think how women are treated under sharia is herendous.that woman Kristine baker was decieving.when asked about muslims that woman talked about how young muslims rise up!!!!! Note that clicking the link below will block access to this site for 24 hours. We need you speaking out. Muslimfishing? 191 55 comments Add a Comment EnterEgregore Saraswati is a major Hindu goddess. And now its just waiting to see what develops and what comes to this, because theres going to be more and more fallout.. May peace continue to be on you and continue to do what you do , Dear Raquel, girl you were so awesome in high school and youre still so active and inspiring. Shes disenfranchised and positioned herself in a place where other people who actually have that lived experience should be., Saraswati has had a consistent rallying cry in her right-wing media appearances: It would be useful to have Muslims willing to speak out against the theopolitical ideology that seeks the subjugation and oppression of all of us.. And, of course, all people of faith who wish to be sincere in their commitment to social justice must support freedom of conscience including the choice to leave or change ones religion. As Amber Hikes, the newly appointed director of the Office of LGBT Affairs, has repeatedly said: The communitys frustrations, struggles, and hurts have been heard. Perone even shared photos that allegedly showed Saraswati having a much lighter complexion when she was a child. How we get more men to speak up and fight for our women, and children is still a mystery to my husband, and I. I wanted to ask if its possible to be included in an upcoming article on your blog. Her Caucasian parents presented her birth certificate and a stack of blond, green-eyed childhood photos as proof of her true racial identity. Raquel Evita Saraswati - About - Raquel Evita Saraswati Get the Poynter newsletter that's right for you. Saraswati was a white woman, they said, of German and Italian descent. She deeply connected to the experience of people who are oppressed around their gender, their sexuality and religious background, Muhammad said. Please reach out to your commissioners. What a beautiful AND enlightened sister. I call her Rachel. You wear fashionable hidjab like the new breed of Sharia-Babes that has appeared these last couple of years in western countries. We chatted with her on. Btw, once again, nice to know you. These things are in every aspect of who I am, how I live, how I speak, how I feel, how I love, and how I persist. I feel deceived, he added. I just wanted to leave a comment here telling you how much I admire what you do and the courage you have masha`Allaah. From your viewpoint, are there opportunities for solidarity that can be shared among faith-based queer communities citywide?Peoples experience of faith can be that of liberation or of oppression and, for some, even both. Vourvoulias added that the newspapers Communities & Engagement Desk is very aware of how frequently people who are racialized or come from racialized and marginalized communities are sometimes held to a different level of scrutiny than those who arent. Raquel Saraswati: Race Faker Dubbed 'Raquel Dolezal' Quits Social Shes also received nasty emails from more conservative people who had a bone to pick with progressives and leftists., I think that I answered all the main questions that I did have, and that I could have had at the beginning, Mikati said. Mikati said many of the stories that followed her resignation were framed around the fact that Saraswati lied about her race. ago Raquel Dolezal Her real name is Rachel too lmao Bigfanofurs 5 mo. In my mind it was, Great, a person of color, a queer person of color, who happens to be a Muslim, its a woman, all these things, and someone who seemed to get it, Castro told the news organization, going on to say that he felt duped by Saraswatis lies. I didn`t want to leave another fire-breathing comment there because it seems like a blog about hijab has exploded into the religious police?! Experiencing Thomas Kelly in Free Verse You inspire me to help you create a more peaceful world. When the journalist saw the email, the name rang a bell. The Clarion Project, a D.C.-based nonprofit that claims to expose violent extremism, was even spotlighted for its bigotry by the Southern Poverty Law Center. Former NAACP Spokane chapter president Dolezal was accused of faking her African-American ancestry despite being allegedly Caucasian. It also mentions the anonymous letter from Saraswatis colleagues and how she always ambiguously presented herself as a woman of color of Latino, Arab and/or South Asian descent., And so while her lying about her race is certainly part of the story, to me the bigger parts of the stories were her right-wing past and her ability to infiltrate prominent spaces regardless of that past, Mikati said. National Church Investigating Former Delco Pastor David Zandstra, Excessive Heat Warning In Effect for Philly Region, 17 Big Ideas to Make Philly a Kid-Friendly City. She spoke with people about covering Philadelphias Muslim community and how to make sure she covered all of its diversity, including queer Muslims. Salaams Justin Case from StopIslamaphobia.Blogspot.Com: Thank you for your comment. BOOoooo ! She called herself Raquel Evita Saraswati. Femininity and womanhood are erased, while masculinity is framed as neutral and normative.. Open Letter Saraswati.pdf - SlideShare Raquel Evita Saraswati, an equity and inclusion officer hired by a social justice organization based in Philadelphia, confirmed to Fox News Digital that she resigned Tuesday after her family. Willie Daniely, a broadcast journalist, put together a short video primer on best practices for multimedia journalism. It is under-discussed and under-addressed. Im so moved by you, and your wonderful representation of how beautiful I believe Islam to be. Race faking white Muslim Raquel Saraswati, 39, has resigned from her role as the chief equity and inclusion officer for the American Friends Service Committee She lied about being 'Arab, Latin. The revelations about not only her race, but also her history of participating in anti-Muslim dialogue on far-right platforms, has raised questions about the shortcomings of diversity, equity and inclusion work in white institutions including the vetting of applicants for spots on the Mayors commission. Femininity, as well as womanhood, are constantly surveilled, policed, hurt and controlled making it important to claim and protect these aspects of ourselves. We opted to do a very considered look at this by talking to community members and seeing what the level of harms that were created by this might be, she said. But depending on whom she was talking to, her background fluctuated from Indian to Egyptian to Lebanese to Colombian, according to those who knew her. A longtime friend of Saraswatis, whom The Inquirer is not identifying because of potential personal impact, met Saraswati through progressive Muslim circles about six years ago. She was a token Muslim voice in that milieu. Please also check out DoubleBind Magazine, where she has been invited to be a contributor. We hope that this will catalyze further truth-telling and accountability, the letter reportedly states, calling for the AFSC to investigate whether there are external entities with whom Saraswati is collaborating., A top AFSC official told the Intercept that people are concerned, adding that theres a fear that she could be an agent, because she started her career right-wing. "Raquel Saraswati, . But her mother, Carol Perone, said Saraswati is actually of British, German and Italian descent. When they do that, they are making it clear that they are not our allies, they are actively creating unsafe spaces, and they are not listening. Ive been interviewed by networks like the BBC, France24, Voice of the Cape (South Africas Muslim radio network), Al-Jazeera and others, and in publications like The Root, International Business Times, and Salon. Shes also the creator of Bodega Stories and a, All Rights Reserved Poynter Institute 2023, The Poynter Institute for Media Studies, Inc. is a non-profit 501(c)3. They connected on multiple fronts: being Muslim, being queer and being people of color. Raquel Saraswati, 39, has been accused of lying about her alleged 'Latin, South Asian, Arab' descent - her biological mother confirming that she is in fact 'British, German and Italian.' The. What she did will further marginalize people.. The woman reportedly changed her name sometime around the publication of the article and reportedly performed belly dancing under the new name. Youre very insightful and informative. The anonymous authors of the letter identify . I am now officially following you. On March 20, the Inquirer published Mikatis story, titled Raquel Evita Saraswati pretended to be a woman of color. I think that Hamas is the one who actually really fight for the Palestinians rights to live. But I want more of the rock. We LGBTQ2SIA people of faith are more visible than we have been in a long time and are uniquely positioned to both understand and advocate for the most vulnerable of those on societys margins. AFSC was founded in 1917 to create alternatives to military service during World War I. I think it is you that Arundhati heard breathing. Raquel Saraswati, has been misrepresenting her identity." Raquel Evita Saraswati (born Rachel Elizabeth Seidel), pictured in . Reflecting on her history, Saraswati said that there are appearances she made then that she wouldnt repeat today, but that she thinks the scrutiny she is being placed under is harsher because she is a queer woman. Muslim Latina inclusion activist's mom says she's lying about ethnicity LGBTQ&A: Raquel Evita Saraswati - Philadelphia Magazine This white woman clearly spent hrs in the tanning salon before meetings & somehow no one raised questions?! What she did will further marginalize people, because now no one is going to be willing to gather that space because of the concern of people lying like this.. Womanism is about being willful, intentional, committed to the survival and wholeness of people, celebrating emotional expansiveness and flexibility, being a seeker of knowledge, a lover of the Spirit and a believer in womens strength. 5. for my coming to find it. Raquel Saraswati resigns after allegedly faking racial identity And the other half of the job is to build nonextractive, nontransactional trusting relationships with community members. thanks a lot for your attention r/philadelphia on Reddit: Raquel Evita Saraswati pretended to be a The latest: a woman known as Raquel Evita Saraswati, who last month resigned from her position as chief equity, inclusion and culture officer of the American Friends Service Committee, an advocacy . We chatted with her on advocacy work and what it means to be a femme womanist. And what was the motivation of her former colleagues in publishing the open letter? I watched the documentary on tv today and was blown away by your voice and passion! Unclear, however, is her intention in the process, and why she halted roughly five years of such appearances and discourse after a final Newsmax appearance in 2015. Unfortunately, this process did not disclose Raquels media appearances, or else she would not have been appointed to the commission, they emailed The Inquirer. Raquel Evita Saraswati pretended to be a woman of color. Her deception Some thanked her and asked if she was going to look into it further. And, on a quiet day, if you listen very carefully you can hear her breathe.. This search result is here to prevent scraping, Jason Kelce Grills His Brother Travis About Taylor Swift. Saraswati had told Muhammad she was Arab. Asalamu alykum wa rahmatullah, Youre work is inspiring to say the least =), Another world is not only possible, shes on the way. Diversity exec Saraswati resigns amid claims she lied about her race Anyway! Out of the limelight, out of any position of authority.. At the same time, people of faith have always been among those at the forefront of meaningful and effective movements for liberation; and all faith traditions have adherents who have sought out traditions and interpretations of their faiths centered on liberation and inclusivity. She also accessed mutual aid funds in which everyday people get together to meet the immediate needs of their communities that were designated for Black and brown folks. The senior inclusion officer of a Philadelphia-based social justice group has been lying about her ethnic identity for years claiming she is a woman of color despite being as white as the driven snow, her mother alleges. The controversy surrounding Raquel Evita Saraswatis heritage also sparked immediate backlash online, with some social media users dubbing her the new Rachel Dolezal.. I think the best thing she can do is to try to live out the remainder of her days with some sort of integrity. That is indeed something I do on a regular basis. I recently stumbled across your site and want to say I am amazed by what you do! In an email sent to USA Today before Saraswati's resignation, AFSC spokesperson Layne Mullett confirmed that . You are an amazing woman who humbles herself with the grace that God has given you.You were created for a purpose and as a Muslim woman have a powerful voice.THANK YOU FOR YOUR INSPIRATION! We both believe more men need to get involved in womens rights, and speak up about the abuse and torture. No alarm bells whatsoever? Ive been active for awhile; but just started blogging. Saraswatis mother told the outlet that she was as white as the driven snow, and so was Saraswati. I just cant think anyone who really knows Islam would connect the mass murderers and the terrorist with Islam. Through tears and laughter, theyve processed and attempted to heal together over the last month, piecing together who the person they thought was their best friend actually was. An email landed in Massarah Mikatis inbox on Feb. 13. But Saraswatis media appearances dont require much digging, particularly around the time she was appointed to the Mayors commission in 2017 which raises skepticism about how much vetting was actually done by Philly-based organizations, and concerns about the level of awareness around what anti-Muslim rhetoric looks like. Read my comment above more of the rock! ALL SUPPOT FROM SHARIA LAW STUDENT AT ALAZHAR UNIVERSTY, NEVER GIVE UP . But I think the bigger story here is how someone with her particular and recent background of being involved with far-right and right-wing organizations and platforms was able to successfully become a part of a very progressive local movement, as well as a very progressive organizations such as AFSC.. good job raquel keep going wish you all the best Everything You Need to Know Before the 76ers Enter the NBA Playoffs, Philadelphia Mayoral Candidate Guide: Allan Domb. Salam and Peace- I understand all the reactions youre having. Saraswatis media appearances ranged from Fox News to Newsmax to the Clarion Project, all far-right platforms known for their anti-Muslim bigotry. Mark Graham, chief marketing and communications officer of AFSC, said the situation has prompted them to review their internal processes, including vetting. Her deception traumatized the communities. Mikatis article went in depth about the ways Saraswatis deception caused harm to former friends who confided in her, as well as Saraswatis history of participating in anti-Muslim dialogue on far-right platforms. While outright bigotry is absolutely a problem, so is the ignorance of those with good intentions and that ignorance might even be more dangerous. She served as chair of the Mayors Commission on LGBT Affairs, won a RAD girl of the year award and, most recently, was appointed the chief equity, inclusion and culture officer with the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC). I am a co-founder and co-chair of a new interfaith group called Sacred Justice, and we believe that the greatest of divinity lies on the margins created by man. Imagine the trauma of people who confided in her, trusted her, and shared sensitive information about their work and about their lives, thinking that shes a fellow person of color, the leader told the outlet. Real nice blog, Ill be reading this on the regular. She was a bronze-hued, Jersey-born spokesperson for Muslim and LGBTQ causes in fashionable hijabs, an. Another family member, who asked not to be identified, confirmed to the Intercept that Saraswati is white. She was a bronze-hued, Jersey-born spokesperson for Muslim and LGBTQ causes in fashionable hijabs, an. 'She's white as driven snow', says mother of diversity officer who Mikati, a reporter for The Philadelphia Inquirer, noticed that the sender was anonymous. Shes chosen to live a lie, and I find that very, very sad.. If Saraswati made a living through things such as consulting jobs or news gigs that gave her publicity, she could have simply been following the money as progressive circles searched for more Muslim representation. Recently per the US state department data about 90% of the people who were killed by the terrorists in the past 5 years were Muslims. It was one of their close friends, who was calling to ask whether Muhammad knew Saraswati. But she was able to interview a longtime friend of Saraswatis who was not identified by name in the story, and Abdul-Aliy Muhammad, a Philly-based writer and organizer, and a former friend of Saraswatis. Saraswati currently serves as the organization's Chief Equity, Inclusion, and . A wise young Muslim woman has told me more than once during our brief acquaintance , And Allah invites to the Home of Peace and guides whom He wills to a straight path. (10:25). Race Race Faker Dubbed 'Raquel Dolezal' Quits Philly-Based Social Justice Charity 'CULTURAL VULTURISM' Raquel Saraswati, a white woman born Rachel Seidel, has been caught posing as Latina,. Her deception traumatized the communities., A century-old publication goes dark in West Virginia, Multimedia journalists have a workflow guide thanks to one MMJs video project, Beyonc is not a defendant in a human trafficking case. She attended and helped organize protests, including a vigil in West Philadelphia after the mass shootings at Christchurch mosques in 2019, and a jummah prayer at City Hall after George Floyds murder. Because of the storys sensitive nature, the journalist took her time with it. Individuals and institutions who oppress LGBTQ2SIA people rely on the conspicuous silences of those who directly witness and are aware of these abuses, but who arent willing to stand in real solidarity. I aspire to be a human rights lawyer and activist and reading yor blog gives me a lot fo inspiration. She asked the outlet not to publish the images. Mikatis role is part of the newspapers Communities & Engagement Desk, which focuses on elevating community voices. With this goal in mind, Mikati had set out to try to build relationships with residents in the city, with a focus on members from the South West Asian/North African diaspora (also known as SWANA). I maintain that the response I am receiving is significantly more critical and harsh than that received by many men and those who have not identified as LGBTQ+. New Rachel Dolezal just dropped: Raquel Evita Saraswati heritage controversy explained amid rising backlash. The Inquirer also quoted Saraswati in 2019, when she served as chair of the Mayors Commission on LGBT Affairs. In 2007,Raquelreceived the prestigious Colin Higgins Youth Courage Award, granted to those individuals who have endured overwhelming hostility and hate, yet have handled themselves with the utmost grace.. How did this happen?. If you're a scraper, please click the link below :-) It may just be that she got the memo a little bit late, and matured in her thinking about her politics, said Sofia Ali-Khan, former Philly resident and author of A Good Country, noting that Saraswati converted to Islam in high school. And through all her work and relationship-building, Saraswati always ambiguously presented herself as a woman of color of Latino, Arab and/or South Asian descent. . Support responsible news and fact-based information today! I thought at the time we had points of connection around a shared spiritual identity.. Subhanallah you do some amazing things it seems, Keep doing what your doing you truly are an inspiration.. if only there were mpre sister with your passion and drive inshAllah, macha lah can you contact me at my E-Mail. There is power and beauty in this reality, and this is the place from which I aim to operate. Race Faker Dubbed 'Raquel Dolezal' Quits Philly-Based Social Justice I check every day for new post and I get disapointed. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to avoid retaliation. We have established committees focusing on issues deemed priorities to our community, including youth and families, race relations, transgender equality, immigration, health, and others. It speaks about how Allah (swt) destroyed the homosexuals. Raquel Evita Saraswati made a name for herself in a number of Philadelphia's community and advocacy circles. For example, one of my most recent assignments for MEMINI was to write the memorial of a Sikh girl who was brutally killed by her father.

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