"Malta, June 2006,

Dear Ayaan,

My name is Irene Canovari. I’m an artist and a mother of two young children, living in Malta with my husband-to-be, who works for the British Council here. I’ve been reading your remarkable book Infidel in one sitting—completely captivated. Your courageous life story resonates deeply with me, particularly as I reflect on my own travels through Kenya and Tanzania.

Malta isn’t the most likely place to encounter women in burkas, but when I take the children to the local playground, I occasionally come across a group of mothers fully covered from head to toe. They generally avoid interaction with other mothers, even in this communal space where parents naturally gather. My children, aged 4 and 2, are often puzzled by the sight. They ask—loudly—about the “things in black.” I try to respond thoughtfully, explaining first and foremost that these are women, and that in some parts of the world, women dress this way. I choose not to offer further commentary, out of respect for their innocence, allowing them the freedom to form their own thoughts.

The sketches I’m sending you were not premeditated. They emerged as a spontaneous flow of expression during the heated public debate following the publication of the controversial Danish cartoons, which many considered anti-Islamic. These are incomplete works—at the time, I was fully immersed in breastfeeding and changing nappies—and I thought I’d return to the theme someday.

What prompted me to share them with you now is your idea that modern Islam is also about image: about symbols, simplicity, and familiar techniques. You suggested that those who seek to reform Islam must engage with the same tools that fundamentalists use.

So I’m sending these sketches to you. If they might serve a broader purpose, please feel free to use them. But the main reason I’m reaching out is more personal: when my children ask about the women in burkas, I want to be able to tell them that behind those austere coverings, there might be beautiful smiles. And at least in my drawings, I can be sure that’s true.

Warm regards,

Irene Canovari