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Project Resist mourns the loss of Marieme Hélie-Lucas, the great feminist and secularist. Marieme helped build an international feminist politics capable of confronting religious fundamentalism without capitulating to racism, and defending universal rights without forgetting colonial history.
Born in Algiers in 1939, Marieme’s world view was shaped by the Algerian struggle against French colonialism and the war of independence. She experienced both the enormous hope that national liberation brings but also the reality that women’s liberation can quickly become subordinated or postponed. She later witnessed the growing power of Islamic fundamentalism and the dangers it posed to women, minorities, dissenters and civilians. Marieme refused to accept that fundamentalist movements can be defended merely because they oppose imperialism or Western powers. She challenged the Left to oppose colonialism and imperialism while also confronting the Religious Right. She never accepted the false choice between fighting racism or fighting fundamentalism. Marieme worked tirelessly to support feminist struggles worldwide and encouraged others to do the same.
For the full tribute by Pragna Patel, our co-director, and Maryam Namazie(Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain) go here