First International Congress on Islamic Feminism
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Name Abdennur Prado
Message Press ReleaseThe First International Congress on Islamic Feminism has been convoked
by the Junta Isl?mica Catalana (Catalonian Islamic Council) and will
take place in Barcelona on the 27th, 28th and 29th of October 2005.The aim of this initiative is to make known the emerging movement of
Muslim women in favour of gender equality, to seek greater coordination
between Muslim women and the international feminist movement, as well
as to analyse the terms in which the ?gender question? is addressed in
the Islamic world and to promote internal debate on Islam and feminism.There are those that take for granted that Islam oppresses women and
that this cannot be changed. From this perspective, westernization is
the only way to achieve the Islamic woman's liberation. Opposing this
interpretation which attacks their traditions, is a women's movement
claiming the possibility of achieving liberation within the framework
of Islam. This movement considers that a degradation of the legal
tradition of Islam and a distortion of the Sacred Texts have taken
place, resulting in the current patriarchal structure and sexist laws
of many of the Islamic countries. Moreover, this movement affirms that
the true Islam contains important elements of liberation and calls for
the recovery of those elements as a framework for the emancipation of
Muslim societies.It is anticipated that Muslim women from Morocco, Pakistan, Iran,
Malaysia, Indonesia, France, the USA, Spain, Nigeria and Mali will
participate in the Conference. In addition, the presence of the
following organisations, in the form of participation by their
representatives, stands out Zainah Anwar, president of Sisters in
Islam (Malaysia); Lily Zakiyah Munir, founder of the Centre for
Pesantrem and Democracy Studies (Indonesia); Mufuliat Fijabi, of Boabab
for Women?s Human Rights (Nigeria); and Ahmed Naseef, founder of Muslim
Wake Up! and of the Progressive Muslim Union of North America.Amongst the speakers to attend will be distinguished Muslim
intellectuals such as Amina Wadud, Asma Barlas or Riffat Hassan, known
for their reading of the sacred Quran from a feminist focus.It is also anticipated that the head of the Gender Equality and
Development Section of UNESCO, Valentine Moghadam (born in Iran), and
the spokesperson and daughter of the founder of the Islamic Moroccan
movement Al Adl wa al Ihsane (Justice and Charity), Nadia Yassine will
participate.In addition, the presence of Raheel Raza (Pakistan-Canada), Dgingarey
Maiga (Mali), Leyla Bousquet (France) and various local feminist
organisations must be highlighted.The Conference has been conceived of from a participative point of
view, with discussions and debates about such red-hot topics as the
need for collaboration between feminists of different origins and
traditions, feminist leadership, the reading of the Quran from a gender
focus, or the strained relations between feminism, islamism and Islamic
Law.This is the first conference of these characteristics and it has
already generated great interest in Spain. The Generalitat de Catalunya
(catalan autonomous government), the Barcelona City Council and the
Department of Labour and Social Affairs are sponsoring the Conference.
In addition, the UNESCO Centre of Catalonia is collaborating.For more information and registrations
www.islamicfeminism.org
[email protected]