Nadia Ali Featured In Article On The Daily Beast

CYBERSPACE—Pakistani adult performer Nadia Ali was interviewed by Aurora Snow for the article “Banned in Pakistan: A Muslim Porn Star’s Crusade,” which is now live on TheDailyBeast.com.  The 24-year-old, first-generation American from Pakistan has made a name for herself by pushing religious boundaries in the name of adult entertainment in the short time she has been performing. “Ali is often filmed wearing her hijab—and little else—while engaged in various hardcore sexual activities,” Snow write int eh piece. “Hijabs, or veils worn by many Muslim women to cover their bodies in the presence of males outside of their immediate family, are deeply rooted in Islamic culture and religion. Tied to the Quranic concept of female modesty, they’re also viewed by detractors as a way to subjugate and silence women. For Ali, donning a hijab in porn is empowerment. Determined to break down the barriers of this age-old taboo, she doesn’t think of her work as anti-hijab porn, but in a culture where it is conceivable for a cleric to ban women from touching bananas and cucumbers due to their phallic resemblance, she hopes to inspire change.” In the piece, Nadia Ali shares her religious background, her journey into the adult industry, and if, in fact, she is banned from Pakistan as a result of performing in adult films. She also discusses death threats, her family, culture vs religion, feminism (particularly for Islamic women), and more. “If I were to set foot in Pakistan, and people were to recognize me, there would be consequences—and I’d rather not take my chances. Being banned won’t stop me from talking,” Ali said. To read Ali’s complete interview, visit The Daily Beast. Follow Nadia Ali on Twitter.