Women‘s Rights in the context of Islam

Structure

1.Islamic Feminism

1.1. Historical Context: Iran 1.2. „Definition of Feminism“ 1.3. Debate on Islamic Feminism 1.4. Outlook

2. The Rhetoric of „Salvation“ 2.1. Historical Context: Afghanistan 2.2. Debate on „Salvation“

Historical Context: IRAN January 1979 : Islamic Revolution

• April 1979: Islamic Republic – Ayatollah Khomeini

• Islamic Law

• Abolishing of Family Protection Law from 1967

Islamic Family Law

• diminishing of legal status and social position of women

• 1980s: Islamic modernization

• September 1980: War with Iraq

• 1990s: increase of women in government

• 1996: 38% women as civil servants

• late 1990s: Reform Movement

Education •literacy of women:

29% in 1976

87% in 2005

• 1998: first time more women in

universities

• 2012: 60% women in

universities

• female doctor‘s increase 269%

Shirin Ebadi• 2012: exclusion from 77

university degree courses in

36 state universities

• to stop women‘s

progresses, return them to

private domain

What is feminism for you? The advocacy of women’s rights on the grounds of political, social, and economic equality to men.

(Oxford Dictionary)

Feminism is both an intellectual commitment and a political movement that seeks justice for women and the end of sexism in all forms. However, there are many different kinds of feminism.

(Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy)

The belief that women should be allowed the same rights, power, and opportunities as men and be treated in the same way, or the set of activities intended to achieve this state.

(Cambridge Dictionary)

What is feminism for you? The advocacy of women’s rights on the grounds of political, social, and economic equality to men.

(Oxford Dictionary)

Feminism is both an intellectual commitment and a political movement that seeks justice for women and the end of sexism in all forms. However, there are many different kinds of feminism.

(Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy)

The belief that women should be allowed the same rights, power, and opportunities as men and be treated in the same way, or the set of activities intended to achieve this state.

(Cambridge Dictionary)

FEMINISM - ZIBA MIR-HOSSEINI

„For me feminism is both, a consciousness that women suffer discrimination at home, at work, in society and in life because of their gender, as well as an action to do something about this. So it is a striving for justice and equality for women in a just world; it is a frame of mind and a way of life, a kind of path that can be followed by everyone.“

WHAT IS ISLAMIC FEMINISM?

Demands● Gender equality and

justice● Women equal to males● Seperating religion from

patriarchy● Rejecting orthodox

views of complementary rights

● Hugely varied

Method● Rereading and

Reinterpretation– return to the Qu'ran

● Expose patriarchy as no natural part of Islam

● Distinction fiqh and Sharia

http://www.islamandfeminism.org/myriam-franccedilois-cerrah.html

THE DEBATE – ACADEMIC DISCOURSE

Najmabadi, Mir-Hosseini

Exploring possibilities that exist within Islam concerning women‘s interests

Haideh Moghissi, Sharzad Mojab, Hammed Shahidian

Against the possibility that activists in Isamic framework should be described as „Islamic feminists“

Defendors Opponents

DEFENDORS - ARGUMENTS● Making visible the question of women● Rereading → improvement, modernization● Dialogue ● New discourses on gender● Repression → resistence and empowerment● Reform possible● Re-negotiation● Public debate, discussion

OPPONENTS - ARGUMENTS● Oxymoron● Not a matter of choice● Exaggeration of gains● Reforms at best very limited● Strengthening legitimacy of Islamic system● Illusory● No reform possible

TENSIONS AND CONFLICTS

● Political Islam● Islamic traditionalism● Secular fundamentalism● Western critique of Islam● Fellow Western feminists

AND NOW?

● substantive equality● justice and equality are contested and

relative concepts● global women's movement● re-definition of feminism● Emphasis on practice on action, not on

ideology● feminism should not be an exclusive club,

the ideas should be accessible to everyone

História dos direitos das mulheres no Afeganistão1919-1929 Reino de Khan: expansão dos direitos das mulheres (liberdade em espaços públicos, menor controle pela família, educação, desvelamento, abolimento do casamento forçado e redução da poligamia)

08 de novembro de 1959 Fim do velamento imposto pelo Estado

1964 Nova Constituição democracia moderna: igualdade de direitos e as mulheres podem partecipar na política

1977 "Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan“

1978 Partido Democrático reformas sociais: a separação da religião do governo, a proibição da burca, o aumento da idade mínima para o casamento, educação, trabalho

1996 Os talibãs ao poder:as mulheres devem velar-se plenamente, não podem sair de casa, difícil assistência médica, batimentos, prostituição e escravidão

2001 Intervenção americana para "salvar“ as mulheres

2004 Nova Constituição direitos iguais, as mulheres podem votar.

2009 Governo Karzai "código de conduta"

Human rights Watch 2014 Proteção frágil para mulheres e meninas:

-parentes de acusado não podem testemunhas em processos penais

-não foi abolida a acusação das mulheres para os crimes morais

-série de ataques e assassinatos

-muitos casos de violência - ainda negada a educação, mas melhor acesso aos cuidados médicos e uma assistência médica qualificada

“Do Muslim Women Need Saving?” Lila Abu-Lughod

Explicações culturais para dividir o mundo:

"homens brancos salvam mulheres marrons de homens marrons“(Feminismo Colonial)

Laura Bush: http://solstice.ischool.utexas.edu/projects/index.php/Afghanistan

Cultura como motivo de ataques políticos

Discurso de Laura Bush para justificar a "Guerra ao Terrorismo" no Afeganistão

“mulheres afegãs que estarem regozijantes por sua liberação pelos americanos”

Política do véu

Contra a interpretação reducionista do véu como sinal da falta de liberdade das mulheres

Símbolo de respeitabilidade e modéstia

Reconhecer e respeitar as diferenças

A liberdade total não é possível em qualquer comunidade social

Para além da retórica da salvaçãoSenso de superioridade dos ocidentais

Os movimentos islâmicos surgiram em um mundo moldado pelo intenso engajamento das potências ocidentais na vida do Médio Oriente.

O trabalho missionário eo feminismo colonial pertencem ao passado.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYAM7gMEd1g(Lila Abu- Lughod)

"Salvando as mulheres muçulmanas: feminismo, política dos Estados Unidos e a guerra contra o terrorismo" Janine Rich

Justificação ao colonialismo europeu:erradicar culturas colonizadaspara "salvar" as mulheres

Intervenções americanas pioraram a situação dos direitos das mulheres

Manipulação e simplificação dos fatos e omissão intencional da profunda culpa dos Estados Unidos

“Feminism is local, and has many colors, and isn’t always called ‘feminism’ because ‘feminism’ is owned and run by White women who bring White men in fighter planes” Shabana Mir

Discussion Question

Do you think the West should intervene in Islam‘s women discourses?

Which role should the West take in this debate?

Texts:

http://www.countercurrents.org/gen-badran100206.htm

http://www.iranhrdc.org/english/womens-rights.html

http://www.zeit.de/2015/13/gleichberechtigung-frauen-iran/seite-3

http://ajammc.com/2012/08/22/no-iran-didnt-just-ban-women-from-universities-2/

http://www.zeit.de/gesellschaft/zeitgeschehen/2012-08/frauenrechte-iran-shirin-ebadi

http://www.iranchamber.com/history/islamic_revolution/islamic_revolution.php

http://www.islamandfeminism.org/-start-exploring.html

http://www.countercurrents.org/sikand070210.htm

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/iran/9487761/Anger-as-Iran-bans-women-from-universities.html

Pictures:

http://www-personal.umich.edu/~rraham/khomeini.jpg

http://niemanreports.org/articles/iranian-journalist-a-job-with-few-options/

https://woodturtle.wordpress.com/2010/11/18/gender-jihad/

http://ajammc.com/2012/08/22/no-iran-didnt-just-ban-women-from-universities-2/

http://missionfreeiran.org/2010/12/19/dec-9-2010-npc/

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/afghanistan/8934132/Afghanistans-women-languishing-in-prisons-10-years-after-fall-of-Taliban.html

Obrigada pela vossa atenção