Shelina Zahra Janmohamed
Shelina Zahra Janmohamed (born 13 April 1974) is a British writer. She is the author of "Love in a Headscarf" (2009), a memoir of growing up as a British Muslim woman. Her new book titled "Generation M: Young Muslims Changing the World" was published in August 2016. "Generation M", as The Guardian puts it, "is the first detailed portrait" of the influential segment of the world’s "fastest growing religion", Islam. She is also a blogger: her blog is called "Spirit 21". Early life and education. Janmohamed was born on 13 April 1974. She is of East -African and South-Asian origin. Her parents emigrated from Tanzania in 1964. She grew up in North London and was educated at Haberdashers' Aske's School for Girls, Elstree, subsequently graduating from New College, Oxford. Career. Janmohamed is a regular contributor and writer for several news outlets and magazines, including the "BBC," "ITV," "The Times", "The Guardian", "The National", "The Muslim News," "Emel" magazine, "The Independent" and "The Telegraph." focusing on Islam and current affairs. She has a particular interest in Muslim women and Islam in the West. Her blog, Spirit21, has won several awards, including the Brass Crescent Award  for Best Blog. Janmohamed lives in London and has appeared on numerous British television networks. She has travelled with the British Foreign and Commonwealth office to Darfur, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Qatar and Turkey under its programme to build links with British Muslims and encourage dialogue. She is a creator and organizer of social and cultural events for young British Muslims, as part of creating a new British Muslim culture and identity, and the host of the annual ‘Eid in the Square’ event which is held in Trafalgar Square. She is a trustee of the Windsor Fellowship which encourages minority  ethnic students to excel in education and employment. She is serving as a Vice President of Ogilvy Noor, world's first Islamic Branding & marketing consultancy agency. Personal life. She is married and currently lives in London with her two children. Views. Janmohamed has stated the need for brands to improve their marketing aimed at Muslim consumers, urging them to conduct better research and to work harder at 'humanising' Muslims by treating them the same as they would any other demographic, saying: Janmohamed has criticised the current Home Secretary Sajid Javid for dismissing a request made by the Muslim Council of  Britain for the Conservative party to carry out an independent inquiry into Islamophobia. In an article for "The National", she wrote: