Global Arab Network | Women’s meet offers WISE advice

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Women’s meet offers WISE advice

Global Arab Network - - Hannan Taha

Wednesday, 29 July 2009 22:10

An international group of 200 women who attended the 2009 Women’s Islamic Initiative in Spirituality and Equality (WISE) conference in the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur truly inspired a movement for global justice. During the four days of fruitful and constructive sessions, the WISE women debated and discussed global issues of concern to Muslim women today.

Many scholars presented research papers and case studies that portrayed the sorry situation of Muslim women discriminated against in the name of Islam. One of the interesting sessions was an open forum called “chair chai chats” in which participants discussed topics of interest to Muslim women. I was asked to lead one of these forums and share my experiences as a woman journalist in Saudi Arabia dedicated to addressing gender issues, creating awareness about the legal rights of women in Islam and exposing discrimination against women in a male-dominated society.

After an hour-and-a-half of discussions and heated debate, which centered around Saudi culture and lifestyle, the diverse group of Muslim women leaders from Malaysia, Germany, Canada, Pakistan, Morocco, Jordan and the United States remained unconvinced that there is a genuine reform movement in Saudi Arabia, and that many Saudis are indeed moderate and tolerant in nature.

One of the participants in a very apologetic tone told me that I was trying to portray a rosy picture of Saudi society and a more humane picture of the Saudi people; whereas many who have come for Hajj and Umrah have experienced the exact opposite. Some women have been insulted in the Grand Mosque in Mecca; some Saudi men did not treat them with respect.

Another participant was critical of “the adherence to a rigid interpretation of Islam that has harmed the image of Muslims all over the world.” At the end of the session, I felt frustrated because I was unable to defend the intolerant behavior of some in my country, and I could not deny the distorted ideology that many still adhere to in our part of the world.

There was a time when Muslims all over the world felt privileged to make friends or even meet people from Mecca and Madinah. It is unfortunate that we are not living up to the expectations of the global Muslim community.

It is important that we highlight the progressive reforms of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah and focus on his call for women’s participation, dialogue among nations and tolerance among all.

Our media should take a more active role in combating racism and extremism that have crept into our society, and work to reverse this negative image alien to our Muslim nature. We all need to strive to regain our pride and respect in Islam. As guardians of the most sacred places in Islam, we need to confront our demons rather than pretend they don’t exist. We need to separate our tribal heritage from our religious precepts, rejecting the former and embracing the latter to lead our faith to a position reconcilable with modernity and a world containing many different values and beliefs. Another session highlighted case studies from different Muslim communities in which women activists have influenced change and addressed social injustice.

One particular case study of the Muslim women in Mindanao could very well apply to the situation of women in Saudi Arabia — especially in the areas of marriage and family, economic rights, political participation and decision-making. The project was initiated based on an alliance between Muslim women advocates and Muslim religious leaders to clarify the roles of men and women in accordance with the basic teachings of the Holy Quran and the Sunna. It aimed to influence Muslim religious leaders who insisted on retaining traditional, discriminatory and repressive beliefs on women.

Consultations and workshops were conducted by Muslim religious leaders and social scientists to guarantee respect for the basic teachings of the Qur’an and Sunna as well as human rights principles. The project proved to be very effective with 15 drafted khutbas that were more progressive interpretations of the Quran and the Sunna. Ultimately, a handbook was produced for imams to use during Friday sermons and marriage counseling.

For example, the khutbas on early marriages declared that Islam clarifies important requirements before marriage can take place, which include the age of maturity or capacity to distinguish right from wrong, mental capability, emotional preparation, physical grounding, financial capability and, most importantly, the consent of the concerned parties. The khutbas on violence against women affirmed that all forms of violence against women must be eradicated; for so long as women suffer abuses, women cannot achieve their full potential as free and equal members of society.

The project also included training program for “aleemat,” or women religious leaders, giving them initial training on delivery of “nasihat,” (advice) based on the core messages of 15 prepared khutbas on gender-inequality issues. Saudi religious scholars should consider adopting this strategy to create a more tolerant environment for women in this country.

The session on empowering women as peace advocates was the most moving and the most powerful event of the conference. A documentary about the struggle of women in Liberia was heartbreaking but at the same time most inspiring. It delivered a very powerful message of peace and recognized the vital role of women in peacemaking and conflict resolution.

The conference hosted many women from war zones like Palestine, Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan and Kenya who shared the stories of their struggles. Many of them definitely took home an experience that could empower them to act as peacemakers, although the peace they seek may be more difficult to attain.

At the closing session, the participants took a pledge to support a movement of Jihad Against Violence as part of the Muslim women’s struggle for peace, and a group of women scholars and activists formed a global Muslim women’s Shura Council to promote women’s rights within an Islamic framework through education and advocacy.

There are many lessons to be learned from such conferences. I hope that we encourage and host such conference in order to support Muslim women’s initiatives for peace and social justice. Saudi women could also use the support of their sisters in Islam; they can no longer afford to live in isolation from the rest of the global Muslim community.

Moreover, Saudi Arabia is now challenged more than ever before to take a more affirmative role and act as the true leader of the Muslim world.

Global Arab Network

*Published in Saudi's ARAB NEWS on July 29. Samar Fatany is a Saudi radio journalist.

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