Muslim women’s conference set to draw a crowd

National Coordinator for the Islamic Women’s Council of New Zealand, Allyn “Aliya” Danzeisen believes it’s almost time to pass on the mantel of leadership to the younger generations but she’s still helping her community navigate grief, anxiety and discrimination. 

By Benji Allen Journalism Student – Wintec | Te Pūkenga

Muslim women are rushing to register for an annual conference happening in Palmerston North this year, which will focus on the ‘Essence of Time’. 

Over half the tickets have been sold for the event that will take place over three days from 21 July. Early bird ticket sales end 1 June.

The National Coordinator for the Islamic Women’s Council of New Zealand, Allyn “Aliya” Danzeisen said, “It’s a highlight of my year.”

This year the theme of the IWCNZ National Conference is Time. “Taking the ‘time’ that you need to resolve long-term traumas and issues and the ‘time’ to achieve your dreams and take advantage of your youth,” Danzeisen said.

Danzeisen is keeping her lips sealed on who exactly the keynote speaker is at this stage but it will be announced in the coming weeks.

While her focus since the Christchurch terrorist attacks has been helping her community cope with grief, anxiety, and discrimination she’s keen to see the younger generation of women step up and take on more responsibility.

The Christchurch terrorist attacks on March 15, 2019, altered the idea that Aotearoa was free from the more horrific acts of discriminate violence and thrust IWCNZ into the spotlight. 

Its members were pivotal in the Royal Commission of Inquiry regarding the attacks. Danzeisen said their input was essential because they had consistently reported their worry about rising hate crimes to the government before the attacks.

“Those issues we had prior to the attacks weren’t just happening in Christchurch, they were happening nationally,” Danzeisen said.

“Our girls don’t walk to the bus stop alone and we can’t say that’s an irrational fear,” She said. “We’ve been building since then to address the issues our community faces as a whole.”

The IWCNZ received increased funding to employ two support workers in 2021. This is part of a larger, more future-focused support system for all Muslim women in Aotearoa. The National Conference is an example of this support network growing. 

Danzeisen assists with the Woman In Leadership (WIL) program, which seeks to promote 70 trained women into leadership roles in the next two years. The Waikato cohort will complete the programme in June with Auckland following.

“I hope to retire” Danzeisen said referring to the promise the next generations have and the potential for exponentially growing support.

When the IWCNZ started there were 150 Muslim women in Aotearoa, now there are over 30,000. “It’s the same concept. We’re coming together to build a network to support each other,” she said.

“I came to New Zealand to rest, […] I expected to be living quite chill and gardening a lot.”

Danzeisen

While rest may be on the cards sometime soon, Danzeisen is still a busy woman.

Danzeisen converted to Islam four months before 9/11. She was a lawyer based in Miami at the time and said “It was an interesting time to become Muslim.” 

During Danzeisen’s first month in Aotearoa New Zealand in 2006, she drove down Tramway Road in Hamilton and was astounded to see young tamariki walking themselves to school. When she asked her friends what was happening she was told they were “safe” or “that’s just what happens here”. A sentiment that she then passed on to Muslim children before the attacks.

While there’s no clear end to the work she’s begun for her community Danzeisen does appreciate the continued friendly faces from Aotearoa’s wider population who continue to show warmth with their reassuring smiles.