As a "progressive" Muslim woman, here are my thoughts on the issue of Islam and women's rights.

The problem around the interpretation of Shariah is that it is often articulated within the context of patriarchy, and Islam gets blamed for what are really chauvinist male-centric views, pronounced in these Shariah courts. On the question of punishment of Zina (adultery), and other "acts", Islamic law is quite clear in laying out conditions, such as there have to be 4 witnesses to the act in order for there to be any kind of punishment (and clearly this can only happen in an Islamic Khilafat or State that practices the original form of Shariah law, not these flawed "political" interpretations).

The case of Nigeria trying to implement Shariah law is quite complex, given that there are numerous factional and sectarian divides in Muslim society, and a good dose of patriarchal hierarchy to add to the potent mix.

I am not an apologist for Shariah Law, but it has certain merits, and then there are those aspects that horrify Western societies, such as chopping off of fingers / hands for stealing. In a country like Saudi Arabia, where such a thing may be implemented, there are again serious problems with how Shariah is articulated within a monarchy that on the one hand has dubious patron-client relationships with various western nations around oil wealth, and then claims religious hegemony and superiority at other levels, while it is using state coffers to line the pockets of already obscenely wealthy princes/officials.

I'd like to think that within Muslim society, we are able to face up to both internal and external contradictions, and challenge these, while at the same time attempt to articulate the real face of Islam to the world, not the one paraded by self-appointed Imams and Sheikhs, who claim moral authority, but really have no credibility on many issues of faith.

Its interesting though that Muslim women become the focus of these "human rights" discussions, as if western non-muslim women somehow have it better (while this may be true in some instances, the assumption that 'westernised' women are necessarily more liberated is something that needs to be further unpacked because a closer analyisis might reveal that they are perhaps far more enslaved than the Muslim woman wearing a veil. Again all of this is contextual and around choices that are afforded to women, whether they are Muslim or not).

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