November 20, 2006
FREEING THE OTHER HAND:
Muslim struggle to break stereotypes (MANUELA BADAWY, 11/20/06, REUTERS)
Muslim feminists from around the world vowed to create the first women's council to interpret the Qur'an and overcome two stereotypes about their religion: Muslims are terrorists and Islam oppresses women.The women's council was among the most groundbreaking ideas introduced at a weekend meeting of more than 100 leaders in the fledgling Islamic feminist movement.
Many in the newly formed group, the Women's Islamic Initiative in Spirituality and Equality, said strict sharia law was not divine because it was created by men and should be changed to incorporate women's rights.
"In our societies, men hold power and they decide what Islam should mean and how we can obey that particular understanding of Islam," said Zainab Anwar, executive director of Sisters in Islam, a Malaysian organization working on women's rights within the Islamic framework.
As Ataturk said, one of the main reasons that the Islamic world has fallen behind the West is that, by its treatment of women, it's trying to compete with one hand tied. Posted by Orrin Judd at November 20, 2006 8:32 AM
They said it in NYC, not the majik kingdom.
Posted by: Sandy P at November 20, 2006 9:55 AMI just have missed the Now Gang's press release in support of these women. Did Hillary come out for them? Ooops! Maybe I shouldn't have said "come out" when talking out her!
Posted by: obc at November 20, 2006 10:20 AMWomen's work is never done.
Posted by: erp at November 20, 2006 10:53 AMWomen's work is never done.
Posted by: erp at November 20, 2006 10:57 AMCall it the end of history, call it Reformation, call it der Endsieg.
This is how it comes. To match us, they must have restructuring. To have restructuring, they must have openness. Then the walls fall.
Posted by: Lou Gots at November 20, 2006 12:36 PMSadly for them, stereotypes are invariably correct since they are made based on observation. The supposed reason(s) for the stereotype is often wrong, but the observed behavior is always spot-on.
As soon as Muslims the world over cease to perform terrorism and cease to oppress women, these stereotype will disappear.
Posted by: ray at November 20, 2006 9:06 PM