Ever wondered if speaking out for what’s right could cost you your job and everything you’ve worked for?
Sarah Jama, Somali-Canadian activist and newly elected MPP, joins Boona Mohammed on the latest Muslimi podcast to reflect on the backlash she faced for standing up. She unapologetically paid the price. She spoke out when few dared to, and she’d do it all over again.
Refusing to Stay Silent
When Israel began its bombardment of Gaza on October 7th, food trucks were blocked, the Rafah border closed, and Gazans were left with no way out. In the midst of media narratives justifying Israel’s actions as “self-defence,” Jama refused to remain silent.
“I can compromise on a lot of things, but not on human rights,” she said, just three days into her new role in parliament.
She boldly confronted her own party leadership, saying:
“I am actually more afraid of Allah (SWT) than I am of the leader of this party.”
This wasn’t just a statement. It was a line in the sand.
Silenced for Speaking the Truth
Her words were met with swift consequences. The provincial government barred her from speaking again in parliament. She later received an email informing her that she was kicked out of the party, not for breaking rules or policy, but simply because she refused to apologize.
As death threats escalated, Sarah sought refuge in a mosque, fearing for her life. Yet rather than stepping back, she turned inward, drawing closer to her faith. It became clear that for her, deen outweighed duniya, and the cost of truth was a price she was willing to pay.
Holding On to Faith
Though not always known as practicing, Sarah Jama began reconnecting with Islam. She started learning Arabic and deepening her understanding of the deen. Her journey became more than political. It became spiritual.
“We’re not going to be in full control,” she reminds us. “Allah is.”
These aren’t just words. They reflect the quiet power of someone who has surrendered the outcome but refuses to surrender the truth.
A Call to the Muslim Community
Sarah Jama’s story holds an important message for Muslims in the West. While organizations like NCCM Canada continue to push for rights and representation, the truth is, we may not always win, at least not in worldly terms. But we still show up.
If we want protection for our religious and civil rights, we need to unite across masajid, backgrounds, and institutions. We must build real power through organization and funding.
What Can We Do?
Watch the full podcast with Sarah Jama to hear her reflections and suggestions on what we, as a community, can do. First for ourselves, and then for Muslims across the world facing oppression.
Because the silence is loud. But so is the truth when someone dares to speak it.