The Middle Eastern Feminist (TMEF) was created by Hawzhin Azeez on the 15th of December, 2013. Hawzhin is a Kurd from Northern Iraq, with her Kurdishness and identity being colored by her early experiences of genocide, war and displacment. Born in the 1980’s during the Iran-Iraq war as well as the Saddam regime’s brutal Anfal Campaign, her early fromative years were influenced by an awareness of otherness as a result of her Kurdishness but also doubly so as a woman from a deeply oppressed, stateless nation.

As a result of the War Hawzhin and her family were survivors of the chemical bombardments used by the Saddam regime against the Kurds in 1988, and where they relocated across the border to Iran. Hawzhin and her family lived in Iran for almost 8 years in poverty and where she and her siblings lacked access to education as refugees and second class citizens. Hawzhin eventually moved to Australia as refugees through the UNHCR program.

Since then, Hawzhin has completed an undergraduate Art’s degree from University of Western Sydney specialising in Politics and International Relations, a Master’s from Macquarie University in International Relations and a PhD in Sociology and Anthropology from University of Newcastle. In 2014 when ISIS rose to power across Iraq and the Levant, Hawzhin moved to Europe where she engaged in humaniterian work and activism to raise awarenss of the plight of Yezidi, Christian, Kurdish, Armenian, Syriac and other marginalised communities being targeted by the brutal terror organisation. She was part of the Kobane Reconstuction Board where she moved to Kobane, North Syria in 2015 until 2019 and engaged in post-ISIS reconstruction of the historic city which had so spectacularly defeated ISIS. In witnessing the Rojava Revolution closely and first hand she was deeply influenced by the empowered and visible role of womena cross the region who were active in creating a radical new democracy under the banner of Democratic Confederalism. The revolutionary role of the Women’s protection Units (YPJ) who were actively fighting on the front lines was deeply inluential. In 2019 Hawzhin moved to Basur, Northern Iraq, where she was a visiting scholar at The American University of Iraq (AUIS), Sulaimaniyah, at the Gender and Development Center in 2019. She also taught as a lecturer at AUIS until 2022.

Soon on completing her PhD Hawzhin established TMEF as a result of the rising influence of social media and its capacity to raise awareness of causes that have been historically marginalised and silenced. For many, the concept of the Middle East and North African region being feminist or pro-feminist is seen as a paradox by many. Yet, one of the works that TMEF aspires to do is highlight the ongoing feminist work and pro human rights and ecological work that women, girls and many marginalised communities and identities across the Middle East engage in. TMEF is intended to be an awareness raising organisation that provides a platform based on a pro-intersectional lense by raising awareness of issues such as FGM, child and forced marriages, self-immolation, discriminatory laws and cultural practices across the region and more. The

TMEF is created with a deep hope for humanity and its capacity to envision a brighter, better and more inclusive world in which people are not judged or discriminated against due to their gender, race, religion or creed.

The Middle Eastern Feminist

TMEF can be found on Facebook here. It can be found on Instagram here, and on X (formerly twitter) here.

To get in touch with Hawzhin about contributing to or supporting TMEF please contact her on Hawzhin.azeez11@gmail.com