Ghadir Shafie

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Ghadir Shafie, also known as Ghadir Al Shafie, is an Arab Israeli activist and feminist who serves as co-director of Aswat, an organization for queer Palestinian and Arab Israeli women. She has spoken out against what she calls pinkwashing by Israel, arguing that Israeli efforts to promote LGBT rights among Palestinians are condescending and fail to respect cultural and linguistic differences. Shafie believes that when queer Palestinians speak openly about politics, their voices are dismissed, and that Israel seeks to portray them as victims in need of rescue from their own communities.

She supports the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement, viewing it as the only initiative that fully recognizes Palestinian rights. Shafie has also opposed performances by Arab artists in Israel and the Palestinian territories, linking them to the Brand Israel campaign.

Her activism is rooted in anti-Zionism. Shafie was born and raised in Acre, where she lives with her son Jude. She identifies as queer and has experienced racism from Jewish Israelis.

Activity

In 2011, Sarah Schulman organized a speaking tour in the United States with Shafie as well as Haneen Maikey and one other queer Palestinian activist. The speakers held events in six cities in February 2011.

In March 2015, Shafie attended a conference titled 'Sexualities and Queer Imaginaries in the Middle East/North Africa' held by the Middle East Studies program of the Watson Institute for International Studies at Brown University. She spoke as part of a panel focused on Palestine. In May 2016, Shafie was one of the signers of a statement by Palestinian feminist activists supporting the decision of the National Women's Studies Association to support the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement.

Did You Know?

• In 2011, she participated in a six-city US speaking tour organized by Sarah Schulman, alongside Haneen Maikey and one other queer Palestinian activist.
• She was a signer of a May 2016 statement by Palestinian feminist activists supporting the National Women's Studies Association's endorsement of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement.