That's what you say. With a simple reading of the Bible, those prohibitions sound a lot like law to me. What, are you allowed to pick and choose now? Do you cover your head and not speak in church? Out of style now, huh? Okay, I think the 10 Commandments were custom and not law, so let's do away with obeying those too.
There is no choosing by thse women in Afghanistan or saudi Arabia.
Interestingly, this is exactly what you described between custom and law. Women covering themselves is considered by many Muslims to be custom, plus the fact that a woman cannot be forced by anyone to wear it -- punishment for not wearing is done by Allah after she dies. You are talking about male-dominated misogynistic implementations, kind of like what Christianity had back when organized religion was in power.
Your analysis merely serves to delineate the difference between Christianity and Islam, in that Christianity is a faith of freedom of conscience, not forced conversion and forced adherence to their Sharia laws, as is Islam.
That freedom for the average woman has existed only since organized Christianity lost its political power over the people through the governments it controlled. I don't believe you would enjoy your status under law and custom 500 years ago. The problem isn't that Islam is suppressing these women, as that will happen with any theocracy dominated by men.
Your limitations are telling.
the fact that a woman cannot be forced by anyone to wear it
Tell that to the burkha-wearers in Afghanistan or Saudi Arabia.. Young women died in SA because the religious police would not let them escape a fire without their full-dress burkhas.
that will happen with any theocracy dominated by men.
Where is the reform movement in Isalm ? This has been discussed extensively here on FR and in analysis by those writing about Islam.
It is not enough to plead the excuses of misogyny.
I don't believe you would enjoy your status under law and custom 500 years ago.
The status of the average woman in the West even 500 years ago compares favorably with the status of Muslim women in the Middle East today. Whereever changes and improvements occurred, they occurred on appeal by Western woman to the equality named in the scriptures, of which it is evident that you have only a passing acquaintance.
In comparison, women in Middle Eastern Islamic countries have the status of women in the West with which to compare their own situation, which is lacking by comparison.