Muslim experts call for gender equality
Regional, Politics, 3/24/2000

Muslim experts, who attended a conference in Fez on "Muslim Women and Science," called on national and international bodies to ensure gender equality in Muslim societies.

Participants recommended in a final statement equal opportunities in employment, salaries and promotion for women.

They urged governments to allow women have access to decision-making process and called on the media to contribute to encouraging women's participation in socioeconomic development.

The experts deplored women's poor participation in scientific and technological fields. They noted that even in western countries, where women reached a high level of freedom, women still face difficulty to have access to certain spheres of power.

Ms. Fatima Ahmed Ibrahim from Sudan insisted that Islam cannot be held accountable for women's situation. "Women have suffered from serious injustice due to a sexist segregation." "To say that Islam advocates segregation between women and men is totally erroneous and reflects a lack of understanding of this religion," she said.

For Ms. Ibrahim, politics and the elite, who monopolize the right to make laws, are the only accountable for this situation.

Dr. Aida Al-Aqeel from Saudi Arabia insisted that the Quran (Islam's holy book) includes verses clearly encouraging women to seek knowledge.

In a message to the meeting, King Mohammed VI had said that in most Islamic societies women do not enjoy the rights granted by the Sharia (Islamic law).

Islam grants women a distinguished rank and makes them equal to men. Islam opens the door wide for women to seek scientific knowledge without restriction whatsoever, the sovereign had said.

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