Gender Across Cultures: An Interview with Nonie Darwish

Abstract

'Nonie Darwish grew up in Gaza and Cairo. When she was 8 years old her father, a high-ranking military officer, was killed in an act of terrorism, making him a' shahid, 'or martyr for jihad. Darwish came to America when she was 30 and was struck by the freedoms enjoyed in her new country; she has felt compelled to speak out for tolerance since 9/11. She is the author of' Now They Call Me Infidel: Why I Renounced Jihad for America, Israel, and the War on Terror 'and the originator of the group Arabs for Israel (www.arabsforisrael.com). Darwish’s second book', Cruel and Usual Punishment, 'about the conditions of Muslim women under Sharia (Islamic law), will be published in 2008. Darwish spoke with our editor on February 29, 2008'.