Muslim Women Gather for Muslim Feminists Conference (in Barcelona)

voanews.com ^ | 10/3/2006 | Lisa Bryant

[Dark Skies]

Muslim women from around the world are gathering in Spain Friday for a three-day conference focusing on the problems of Islamic law and family codes in the Islamic world. The Muslim Feminists meeting aim is to promote the rights of Muslim women.

The Barcelona meeting marks the second international conference of what organizers are calling Islamic Feminism.

The participants come from around the world, and many of them are well-educated women, versed in the Koran. They argue that the Muslim holy book and Islamic sharia laws do not put women on a lower footing than men. Rather, they argue, the religious doctrines have been misinterpreted by men, who offer a chauvinistic take on the texts.

The participants are particularly concerned about acts against women, such as domestic violence, discriminatory family laws and polygamy, which they argue have no place in the Muslim world. They will also talk about restrictive dress codes, family planning and female leadership.

Participants such as one woman, interviewed by France Info Radio in Barcelona, say the cause is all the more powerful, because these feminists are coming from the Islamic world - rather than the West.

The woman said the discourse of Muslim feminists like herself scares traditionalists far more than that of Western feminists, whose calls for equal rights can be dismissed by some Muslims as coming from another culture. Its more disquieting she says, when Muslim women are calling for fairer treatment.

[Hegemony Cricket]

Wow, are they in for a beating...

[Holicheese]

Muslim Women Gather for Muslim Feminists Conference (in Barcelona)and were quickly beaten into submission by muslim men for being outside without a male escort from their families.

[kinoxi]

Surprised their masters let them out of their rooms to attend.

[Catholic Canadian]

Someone's been putting stupid pills in the world's water supply, methinks.

[Dallas59]

Burka Burning?

[dforest]

I worry these will will have short lives. The muzzie men are probably already plotting.

[LIConFem]

Muslim feminists??

[Rummyfan]

They argue that the Muslim holy book and Islamic sharia laws do not put women on a lower footing than men. Rather, they argue, the religious doctrines have been misinterpreted by men, who offer a chauvinistic take on the texts.

islam, where women are treated as livestock and vice versa!

I do belive that at the heart of islam's conflicts with the world is a deep-seated misogyny.

Will they be discussing new more humane methodologies of clitorectomy? Modern stoning and gang-rape practices? The lack of female jihadis and suicide bombers?

Why is this conference taking place in Barcelona? Why don't the hijab-wearers meet in Riyadh, or Khartoum, or Tehran, or even Jakarta?

Bunch of hypocrites, and stupid hypocrites at that!

[Lady Jag]

[Kimmers]

"Muslim feminists??"

"Contradiction in terms", I would think.

[LIConFem]

Yeah, kinda like "Jumbo Shrimp".

[BossLady]

At this point...Feminism to these women means they want to be able to drive a car and stay out after dusk! LOL!

[Mrs Ivan]

Islamic Feminism

That is too sporfle-worthy for words.

[quantim]

They will also talk about restrictive dress codes,

The Muslim Feminists?

[Rummyfan]

Registration at the Expo Center!!!!

[synbad600]

Burkas can hide a lot of bruises.

[Mrs.Z]

Or like:

Democratic commitment
Liberal intelligence
Clinton (either one) marital fidelity

[agere_contra]

The woman said the discourse of Muslim feminists like herself scares traditionalists far more than that of Western feminists, whose calls for equal rights can be dismissed by some Muslims as coming from another culture. Its more disquieting she says, when Muslim women are calling for fairer treatment.

A good point, well made. These are feminists we can get behind - I hope Freepers get what a big deal this movement is

[Ghost of Philip Marlowe]

Islamonazis are totalitarian. Feminazis are totalitarian. How can you tell Muslim feminists from totalitarians?

I say in ten years they'll be just like the American feminazis.

Leftism is our most dangerous export.