- Negla Abdalla
Muslim Woman's Eye | All I ask...
The media interest in Islam has put Muslim women in the spotlight. Negla Abdullah contrasts life before and after she became the centre of attention.

All I ask is simple
All I ask for is peace
All I ask for is to walk free
To walk uninterrupted
To walk without fear
To walk without facing prejudice
For I have been ignored for more than half my life
You never noticed me before
You never knew where the colour of my skin originated from
The dark pigments matched with long wavy hair confused you
You were so sure that I was a mixed breed
And gasped in surprise when I told you I was not
I was a single breed
I was an African
A Sudanese
But that meant nothing to you
You did not know why my hair was hidden
You did not understand why my body was suddenly covered
You did not care
It did not faze you
But now
Now all you do is notice me
All you do is stare
Why?
Because the media has made me something
Because I am now something of significance
You would think I should be happy
You would think I should be relieved that I am finally being seen
But I'm being seen for all the wrong reasons
You do not see the same girl who wondered peacefully
Simply living her life the same way you did
Going to school
Graduating
Getting a job
Paying my way
No!
You see a Muslim
When you see a Muslim you see an opposite
You see the other
You see a breed you are unfamiliar with
You see an enemy
I was not your enemy
And I am still not the enemy
All I ask is simple
All I ask is peace
All I ask is to walk free
Negla Abdalla is a spirited journalist, sharing her passion of tackling issues of a religious, political and societal nature through poetry.

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