The teacher looked at him sternly. Pupils needed to apply themselves. She herself had gotten where she was through strict self-discipline.
Ayan spent most of her time on the computer in her room, Sadiq went on.
“Yeah, exactly, she has the computer on in class too,” the teacher exclaimed.
At times she had to go over to Ayan and close it. “There’s nothing on there of relevance to this class!” she had told her once when Ayan had an Islam Net web page open.
* * *
The minutes of the next organizing committee meeting warned of an even more rigid regime.
“Madia and I have experienced communication problems with the committee. People are not answering e-mails, are not taking responsibility and things are not getting done. This cannot go on if we are to reach the goals we have for Islam Net.” Fahad Qureshi emphasized that the committee was supposed to operate as the right hand of the board. He had hit upon an idea. “As of today we are implementing a system of fines. Every assignment will have a deadline and failure to carry it out within the time limit will incur a penalty. Everyone needs to respond to e-mails from me and the other board members within 24 hours or face a fine. Status reports have to be sent in before 3 a.m. on Saturday every week. If they are late there will be a fine and deadline number two is Sunday at noon. Fine number one will be 100 kroner and fine number two 200 kroner, a total of 300 kroner if neither deadline is met. A new deadline and fresh fine will be determined in each individual case.”
Sanctions were the new whip.
There were only a handful of rank-and-file members on the committee, so each individual had a lot resting on his or her shoulders. Ayan was assigned the task of directing fund-raising for the Peace Conference 2012. She was given a deadline of two weeks to collect 50,000 kroner and place advertisements in two local newspapers, send in the logos, and get contracts with a mobile phone company signed. The committee was still looking for somewhere to hold the conference. Unfortunately many of the places had the “drawback of not being allowed to actively separate men and women.”
Emira was given the job of applying for public funding for the conference. “By next Wednesday she needs to have found relevant subsidies and started on the application process as well as learned how to keep accounts,” the minutes stated.
At the end of September, Ayan received her first fine. She had failed to place an advertisement in one of the local newspapers and the minutes drily recorded: “Deadline not met, Ayan fined 100 kroner, has this been paid?”
The committee was planning an event involving the Egyptian preacher Fadel Soliman. Its aim was to improve Islam Net’s missionary work. “Presentation skills, public speaking skills, presenting Islamic beliefs & rituals, questions of non-Muslims” would all be looked at. Admission was free for members of Islam Net. “Fahad organizes brothers to volunteer, Ayan organizes sisters,” the minutes stated.
Soliman was controversial. He had said that it was “fine to hit a wife who doesn’t please you.” A slap was okay, as was a stick, a small stick, mind you. His views were acceptable as far as Islam Net was concerned, but the leader was not happy with the preparations for his visit. “Ayan was to arrange sisters to work. Madia needs to know who they are beforehand, not on the day itself. She also feels the people Ayan has gotten hold of are not competent. Ayan is fined due to my not receiving a list of the forums Emira has promoted the event on. New deadline: tomorrow!”
* * *
The form teacher noticed that Ayan was wearing a new ring, a thin band of golden metal, which she fidgeted with in class. Was it an engagement ring? The teacher called her parents in again. Her father came.
“What are your plans for Ayan?”
When Sadiq hesitated, the teacher spoke plainly. “Are you marrying her off?”
“Nononono,” Sadiq replied, adding, “We are not radicals.”
The thought that they were extremists had not crossed the teacher’s mind; she was merely concerned that they were pressuring Ayan into a cloistered, traditional woman’s role.
As autumn went on, the teacher found herself driven to distraction by Ayan’s failure to pay attention in class. One morning she was explaining the concept of supply and demand in economics when she noticed Ayan’s lips moving rapidly and silently while her fingers counted invisible prayer beads. She had a contemplative look in her eyes.
The teacher slammed her hand down on Ayan’s desk. “You cannot do this in front of me!”
It was not the first time she had told Ayan to refrain from praying during lessons. In addition to viewing it as an affront, it ruined her concentration and demonstrated a lack of respect. She asked Ayan to leave the classroom if she wanted to pray.
The following day the teacher decided it was time for a serious chat. She wanted to find out what exactly was going on in her pupil’s life. The teacher inquired about the lack of effort Ayan was putting into her schoolwork.
“You are so far behind! The whole year will be wasted. Pull yourself together,” she implored.
The program was demanding. Perhaps Ayan wanted to transfer to the normal course of study to have a chance of making up lost ground?
“I’ll think about it,” Ayan replied.
It was early November and morning frost lay white over Bærum as the first class of the day was starting. Ayan was wrapped in several layers of clothing, both on top of and beneath her cloak. When she tried to remove the outer layer, the shawls bunched up, trapping her arms over her head. A classmate came to her aid and Ayan eventually
