Content Note: In this episode you will encounter mention of adverse mental health, depression, suicidality, homophobia and Islamophobia. Whilst not discussed in detail, we acknowledge that these instances could be distressing for audiences, and ask that you take care if you choose to engage. We've put together some resources of support in our notes here. 

Mohammad Awad is a Queer, Arab, Muslim artist and mental health worker whose work traverses poetry, playwriting, advocacy and Queer-Muslim centred mental health support. To coincide with the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan, he joined Darren and Sara for a Queer Muslim Ramadan special to honor the messiness and complexity this time can hold for queer Muslim communities - regardless of your understanding of faith and identity. They chatted about reframing faith and ritual, reclaiming pre-colonial queer ancestry, poetry as a life force and the legacy of queer Muslim communities creating spaces by and for each other. 

If some themes in this episode were challenging or distressing, here are some places that can offer free, anonymous and immediate support. 
Qlife 1800 184 527 
BeyondBlue 1300 22 4636
Lifeline13 11 14
Safe Haven 02 9113 2981
Islamophobia Register - Information for reporting and knowing your rights if you have experienced Islamophobia in so-called Australia

This episode was hosted by Darren Lesaguis and Sara Khan, with special guest Mohammad Awad. It was produced and edited by Shareeka Helaluddin. Cover image: a photo of Mohammad Awad courtesy of the artist. 

Content Note: In this episode you will encounter mention of adverse mental health, depression, suicidality, homophobia and Islamophobia. Whilst not discussed in detail, we acknowledge that these instances could be distressing for audiences, and ask that you take care if you choose to engage. We've put together some resources of support in our notes here.&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/_3awadi/">Mohammad Awad</a> is a Queer, Arab, Muslim artist and mental health worker whose work traverses poetry, playwriting, advocacy and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/muslim_peers_project/?hl=en">Queer-Muslim centred mental health support.</a> To coincide with the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan, he joined Darren and Sara for a Queer Muslim Ramadan special to honor the messiness and complexity this time can hold for queer Muslim communities - regardless of your understanding of faith and identity. They chatted about reframing faith and ritual, reclaiming pre-colonial queer ancestry, poetry as a life force and the legacy of queer Muslim communities creating spaces by and for each other.&nbsp;
If some themes in this episode were challenging or distressing, here are some places that can offer free, anonymous and immediate support.&nbsp;
<ul>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://qlife.org.au/">Qlife</a> 1800 184 527&nbsp;</li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.beyondblue.org.au/the-facts/depression?gclid=CjwKCAjwi6WSBhA-EiwA6Niok4ewR3PESUfCg0SZTxpALJx4UBfNXuJZkVeUtNxL6EpBXErCNuwaahoCh3UQAvD_BwE">BeyondBlue</a> 1300 22 4636</li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.lifeline.org.au/">Lifeline</a> 13 11 14</li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.seslhd.health.nsw.gov.au/safehaven">Safe Haven</a> 02 9113 2981</li>
<li><a href="https://www.islamophobia.com.au/">Islamophobia Register</a> - Information for reporting and knowing your rights if you have experienced Islamophobia in so-called Australia</li>
</ul>
This episode was hosted by Darren Lesaguis and Sara Khan, with special guest Mohammad Awad. It was produced and edited by Shareeka Helaluddin. Cover image: a photo of Mohammad Awad courtesy of the artist.&nbsp;

Race Matters is an anti-racist show that explores the values and complexities of race, culture and identity. In-depth interviews and unique story telling and spanning arts, music, politics, global and local events, plus experimental audio and community takeovers.

Listen back to all our episodes on fbi.radio including radio exclusives, and stay up to date on our instagram 

Listen to our Solidarity Syndicate series - sharing across airwaves and borders and our Liquid Homelands series - an experimental, queer audio offering

We honor all hosts, producers, storytellers that have made this work possible as well as the long tradition of storytelling, resistance and resilience that has taken place on Gadigal Country, where fbi.radio broadcasts out of.  

Our logo design by Jessica Mulet, our theme songs was composed by Mateo Baskaran 

Race Matters is made possible thanks to the Community Broadcasting Foundation

Race Matters is an anti-racist&nbsp;show that explores the values and complexities of race, culture and identity. In-depth interviews and unique story telling and spanning arts, music, politics, global and local events, plus experimental audio and community takeovers.
Listen back to <a href="https://www.fbi.radio/programs/race-matters">all our episodes on fbi.radio</a> including radio exclusives, and stay up to date on our&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/race_matters/">instagram</a>&nbsp;
<a href="https://soundcloud.com/fbiradiosydney/sets/race-matters-sol-dar-ty-synd">Listen to our Solidarity Syndicate series</a> - sharing across airwaves and borders and our&nbsp;<a href="https://soundcloud.com/fbiradiosydney/sets/racematters_liquid-homelands">Liquid Homelands</a> series - an experimental, queer audio offering
We honor all hosts, producers, storytellers that have made this work possible as well as the long tradition of storytelling, resistance and resilience that has taken place on Gadigal Country, where fbi.radio broadcasts out of.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Our logo design by Jessica Mulet, our theme songs was composed by Mateo Baskaran&nbsp;
Race Matters is made possible thanks to the&nbsp;<a href="https://cbf.org.au/">Community Broadcasting Foundation</a>

Conversations about the values and complexities of race, culture, identity

Race Matters

Beyond representation. Anti-racist radio with in-depth interviews and unique story telling spanning arts, music, global politics, local events + more

Beyond representation. Anti-racist radio with in-depth interviews and unique story telling spanning arts, music, global politics, local events + more