Posted on 01/04/2006 2:32:37 AM PST by RWR8189
America's first Islamic sorority is more about God than being Greek.
There will be no beer at Gamma Gamma Chi functions, in obedience to Islamic law, nor will there be group fraternizing with the opposite sex.
"Partying is allowed in Islam, but it's how you party," said Althia Collins, an Alexandria businesswoman who has helped create it. "You can have fun with girls and it doesn't have to include men."
Thirteen women at the University of Kentucky will form the sorority's first college chapter this spring, and another group is waiting to start at the University of Maryland's Baltimore campus. A citywide chapter in the District, made up of women from several local universities, is also in the works.
Along with pledges, there will be prayer to Allah. Instead of hazing, there's hijab, the scarf some devout Muslim women wear. Covering one's hair is not mandated within Gamma Gamma Chi; in fact, four out of the five board members do not wear one.
Mrs. Collins' daughter, Imani Abdul-Haqq, came up with concept for Gamma Gamma Chi while rushing sororities at Guilford College in Greensboro, N.C.
As Mrs. Abdul-Haqq entered the room wearing her scarf, "They looked at her like she had three heads," Mrs. Collins said.
Plus, a lot of sororities had Christian roots or began meetings with a Christian prayer, which discomfited the daughter, who converted to Islam in 1999. Since then, she has designed a line of Islamic wear, including T-shirts for women with slogans like "Real Women Pray" and "NO, I am not oppressed."
(Excerpt) Read more at washtimes.com ...
Right--but the bit I quoted could be taken to imply that there will be same-sex fraternization... which is why I offered the snarky observation that it sounds like nothing new.
Ok.......
roger that
It's safe to say this sorority won't get invited to too many keggers.
"NO, I am not oppressed", comes the voice from deep within the burka.
Those look like stored furniture.
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