M. Hasna Maznavi

M. Hasna Maznavi
Maznavi in 2015
Born(1985-10-02)October 2, 1985
Long Beach, California, U.S.
DiedApril 2, 2025(2025-04-02) (aged 39)
Alma materUniversity of California, Berkeley (B.A.)
University of Southern California (M.F.A.)
Occupations
  • Writer
  • filmmaker
  • activist
Known forInvolvement in the Women's Mosque of America

M. Hasna Maznavi (October 2, 1985 – April 2, 2025) was an American writer, filmmaker and activist. She founded the Women's Mosque of America (the first female-led Muslim house of worship in the United States) in 2014. Maznavi was a member of the WGA, and she committed herself to changing the way Islam and Muslims are represented in mainstream American media.[1]

Background

Maznavi was born on October 2, 1985, in Long Beach, California.[2][3] She was the president of the Women's Mosque of America.

She was a filmmaker and comedy writer, having received an MFA in Film and TV Production from University of Southern California's School of Cinematic Arts and her BAs in Art and Mass Communications from University of California, Berkeley.[1]

Maznavi died of complications from diabetes on April 2, 2025, at the age of 39.[4]

Women's Mosque of America

Maznavi founded the Women's Mosque of America on August 23, 2014, at the age of 28.[5][3] The Women's Mosque of America had precedents in other countries in Muslim-majority nations and elsewhere,[6] but this was the first such space in the United States.[7] Muslim women meet at the mosque monthly on Fridays to pray. It has other programming during the week.[8] The mosque is led by women and housed in rented interfaith spaces in downtown Los Angeles.[9]

References

  1. ^ a b "MEET OUR TEAM". The Women's Mosque of America. Retrieved July 8, 2019.
  2. ^ Shofianur, Ovi (August 20, 2016). "M. Hasna Maznavi, Pendiri Masjid Khusus Perempuan di Amerika". Farah Magazine (in Indonesian). Retrieved April 4, 2025.
  3. ^ a b "M. Hasna M." Arts Council for Long Beach. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
  4. ^ Farzan, Yusra (April 4, 2025). "Hasna Maznavi, the LA-based founder of the first all women's mosque in the US, dies at 39". LAist. Retrieved April 4, 2025.
  5. ^ "Women's Mosque of America: In the Founder's Own Words". Muslim Girl. February 10, 2015. Retrieved July 8, 2019.
  6. ^ "China's proud 300-year history of female-led mosques is an inspiration to the west | Letters". The Guardian. August 29, 2016. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved July 8, 2019.
  7. ^ Kornelis, Chris (May 17–18, 2025). "Co-Founder of the First Women-Only Mosque in the U.S". The Wall Street Journal. pp. C6.
  8. ^ "ABOUT". The Women's Mosque of America. Retrieved November 2, 2016.
  9. ^ "Inside first US women-only 'mosque'". BBC News. Retrieved July 8, 2019.
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