The world must stop trying to 'rescue' Muslim women

In an opinion piece published in September 2026, author Soumaya Ghannoushi argues against the global tendency to intervene in the lives of Muslim women under the guise of rescue. The commentary contends that such external efforts often impose Western-centric standards of liberation rather than respecting the agency and self-determination of the women themselves.

The piece posits that true freedom should not be measured by how closely an individual conforms to external perceptions of progress. By challenging the narrative of the 'rescued' Muslim woman, the author calls for a shift in perspective that prioritizes the autonomy of these women within their own cultural and religious contexts.