Personal Info
- Country of residence: Australia
Information
Randa Abdel-Fattah (born 6 June
1979) is an Australian Muslim writer. Born in Australia, Randa published her
first novel, “Does My Head Look Big on This?” in 2005.
her life and education
Randa Abdel-Fattah was born in
Sydney, Australia on June 6, 1979. She grew up in Melbourne and attended a
Roman Catholic church and then an Islamic college, earning an International
Baccalaureate degree. She wrote her first novel, based on Roald Dahl's
Mathilde, when she was in the sixth grade. As a teenager, she wrote short
stories and produced the first draft of Does My Head Look Big on This? At about
the age of 18.
Randa Abdel-Fattah holds a Bachelor
of Arts and a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Melbourne. During
this time, she was the Media Liaison Officer for the Muslim Council of
Victoria, a role that provided her with the opportunity to write for newspapers
and engage with media organizations about their representation of Muslims and
Islam. She completed her PhD in "Islamophobia". Randa Abdel-Fattah
was a passionate human rights advocate who stood in the 1998 federal elections
as a member of the Unity Party (under the slogan: Say No to Pauline Hanson).
She was also keenly interested in interfaith dialogue and was a member of
interfaith networks. Randa Abdel-Fattah has also volunteered with several human
rights and immigrant organizations, including the Australian Arab Council, the
Victorian Migrant Resource Centre, the Muslim Women's Welfare Council, the
Palestinian Human Rights Campaign and the Asylum Seekers Resource Centre.
her job
Randa Abdel-Fattah is frequently
asked to comment in the media on issues relating to Palestine, Islam or
Australian Muslims. On Australian television, she has appeared on: SBS Insight,
Sunrise - Seven Network and 9am (Network Ten). She is a guest speaker at
schools in Australia addressing students about her books and the social justice
issues they raise. She has been a guest at book festivals in Sweden (Gothenburg
2007; Lund's LitteraLund 2008) and Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur 2008). She also
toured Brunei and the United Kingdom.
Randa Abdel-Fattah described herself
as interested in writing about women and has written important articles on the
status of women in Saudi Arabia. In the issue of the veil, she said,
"Women must reserve the right to wear whatever they want."
her personal life
Randa Abdel Fattah lives in Sydney
with her husband and four children.
written by
Does My Head Look Big in This (2005)
Ten Things You Hate About Me (2006)
When the Streets Had Names (2008)
Noah's Law (2010)
The Friend Maker (2011)
No Sex in the City (2012)
When Mina Met Michael (2016)
source
Achievements and Awards
- Years in active
: From
To