User:Zahrakhimji/sandbox

Early Life
Khankan was born in Denmark in 1974 to a Finnish mother and a Syrian father. Her father was a political refugee and an enthusiastic feminist. Khankan studied in Damascus and returned to Denmark in 2000.

She holds an MA in Sociology of Religion and Philosophy from the University of Copenhagen.

Career
Khankan had led the foundation of a Mariam Mosque in Copenhagen. The mosque differs from other Danish mosques because it is led by women. Normally women would watch religious ceremonies from a balcony. Similar mosques exist in the US, Canada and Germany but in Denmark this was novel. Khankan founded an organisation called Critical Muslims  who were interested in the link between religion and politics. In 2007 she published a book titled Islam and Reconciliation - A Public Matter.

Khankan notes that Christianity, Jewish and Muslim institutions have become patriarchal, and she sees women-run mosques as a challenge to this tradition. She has had some moderate opposition but in general she says the reception has been supportive. The mosque opened in February but it did not have a formal service until August 2016. Khankar sang the call to prayer and 60 women gathered above a fast food shop. Another imam Saliha Marie Fetteh took the service where she spoke on the subject of women and Islam. The new mosque has conducted several weddings. The mosque marries couples of different religions which some mosques will not allow.

She stood for parliament as a candidate for the Radical Left Party.