Your name is Zahra, and you are a terrorist

My name is Zahra and I am a muslim

You have wear the niqaab

I choose to dress modestly

You wear a headscarf, you are oppressed

I wear a headscarf, it is my choice

You are 17, youll be forced into marriage soon

I am 17, I am going to college soon

Youll end up a housewife

I plan to study law

You have to be submissive,

I take control

You live in a misogynistic community

I am a strong and liberated woman

I am not subdued
I am not sadistic
I am not subjugated
I am not the girl that the media portrays
I am not abused
I am not affable
I am not afraid
I am not the girl that the media portrays
I am not helpless
I am not hostile
I am not harmful
I am not the girl that the media portrays
I am not confined
I am not complex
I am not conservative
I am not the girl that the media portrays
I am not unaware
I am not unkind
I am not uneducated
I am not the girl that the media portrays
I am not incompetent
I am not inferior
I am not isolated
I am not the girl that the media portrays
I am not deprived
I am not dependent
I am not diabolic
I am not the girl that the media portrays
I am not fearful
I am not frightening
I am not fiendish

I am not who you think I am

I am my own person

I am strong
I am independent
I am educated
I am courageous
I am friendly
I am compassionate
I am unafraid
I am conscientious
I am empowered
I am caring
I am approachable
I am altruistic
I am open-minded
I am human
I am just another girl
I am me.

Dear People of the world

Do you not see that I am a victim of these labels
Dont you know It hurts me too,
To stand up here and defend myself from things I dont do
So, Media, this one is for you.
My name is Zahra and I am me.