Islamic feminists denounce 'chauvinistic' reading of Koran
By AFP
Published October 31, 2005
The first ever international conference on Islamic feminism, held
this week in Barcelona, denounced on Sunday what it termed as "male
chauvinist" interpretations of the Koran and claimed that Islam could
"liberate" women.
"Islam can liberate women and change their
status," the conference's final statement read. It also called for a more
open interpretation of the Muslim holy book to take into account the
context of twenty-first century societies.
"Islamic feminism is an emerging reality that
must be seen as an alternative to the dominant chauvinist readings [of the
Koran]," the statement said, adding that the Koran "does not justify
patriarchy".
The
October 27 to 29 conference was organized by the Catalonian Islamic Board,
whose secretary Abdennur Prado called for a "gender jihad" to "struggle
against male chauvinistic, homophobic or sexist readings of the sacred
texts" during her presentation to the 400 delegates.
The conference
also saw Amina Wadud, a female Islamic studies professor in the United
States give the Friday jutba (sermon) and lead prayers in front of
a mixed audience.
Wadud caused excitement in March when she led
prayers for men and women in a Manhattan Episcopalian church, after three
mosques refused her permission for the service.
The conference
attracted specialists from 15 countries, including Malaysia's Zainah Anwar
of Sisters in Islam, and the Iranian director of UNESCO's
anti-discrimination campaign, Valentine Moghadma.
The event was
funded by the Spanish work and social affairs ministry's Institute for
Women, as well as the Catalan government.