Akeela Ahmed | |
|---|---|
| Born | London, England |
| Education | King's College London (MSc) |
| Occupation | Activist |
| Known for | Founder of She Speaks We Hear |
| Website | akeelaahmed |
Akeela Ahmed MBE is a British activist who supports Muslim women and combats Islamophobia. She is the founder of the online platform She Speaks We Hear, and was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire in 2018.
Ahmed was born and raised in London. While working in a law firm as a teenager, Ahmed recalls encountering stereotypes and was criticized for dressing unprofessionally. [1]
Ahmed graduated from the Institute of Psychiatry at King's College London with a Master of Science in Mental Health Studies. [2]
Ahmed joined the Anti-Muslim Hatred Working Group in 2012. [3] She has worked to get anti-Muslim crime recognized as a hate crime within the United Kingdom, [4] earning recognition from Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth who said she "is a great role model doing excellent work". [5] Ahmed has worked to challenge the social prejudice linking Muslim culture to terrorism, [6] especially after notable shooting events such as the Charlie Hebdo shooting. [7]
In 2014, Ahmed founded the online platform She Speaks We Hear, [8] which aims to both boost women of all faith and provide a counter-narrative to negative stereotypes of Muslim women. [9] As a step to further counter Islamophobia, Ahmed added the ability for women to record and anonymously share any experiences of mistreatment or bigotry on She Speaks We Hear. [1] Ahmed also works with the nonprofit Seaside CIC, which offers aid and assistance to homeless people in Brighton. [9]
In 2025, Ahmed co-founded the British Muslim Network, along with Syima Aslam, Julie Siddiqi, and Imam Asim Hafiz. [10] Ahmed has stated that the new organization aims to improve both British policymaking and help Muslim communities progress throughout the country. [11] Ahmed has also stated that the new group will work alongside existing organizations like the Muslim Council of Britain. [10]