By REBECCA TORR
Published: 23 November 2007
RELIGIOUS scholars are being called upon to educate the community on the difference between the teachings of the Quran and Arab traditions that suppress women.
There is a widely held misunderstanding between Islamic teachings of women and the traditions and customs in the Arab world, said a human development expert.
“We need religious and political reforms,” Syrian-based Unlimited Horizons human development trainer Dr Yasser Al Eiti told the GDN yesterday.
By REBECCA TORR
Published: 23 November 2007
RELIGIOUS scholars are being called upon to educate the community on the difference between the teachings of the Quran and Arab traditions that suppress women.
There is a widely held misunderstanding between Islamic teachings of women and the traditions and customs in the Arab world, said a human development expert.
“We need religious and political reforms,” Syrian-based Unlimited Horizons human development trainer Dr Yasser Al Eiti told the GDN yesterday.
“The view of women in the Arab world comes from traditions and customs, so scholars should acknowledge the difference between religion and customs.
“Treating women as a human being is an important thing in Islam, but it is misunderstood.
“In Saudi Arabia, not allowing women to drive a car is because of tradition, not religion. Not allowing women to work outside the house or participate in political life again are traditions.”
Dr Al Eiti was speaking on the sidelines of a women empowerment conference in which he presented a paper entitled, the Role of Human Values in the Development of Women in the Arab World.
He said political reforms were also needed in the Arab world because women would not be free until men were.
“Men are not free because of autocratic systems,” he noted.
“If the value of human beings is not respected in society in general then it will affect women.
“Bahrain is better than some other Arab countries, such as Tunisia where there is no political freedom and no democracy.
“In Bahrain women get a lot of rights compared to other countries and the Family Law is a good step, but still more needs to be done.
“The government might have good laws, but society needs to support them because the culture is not empowering women.”
Dr Al Eiti said religious scholars would be the most appropriate group to educate society about the rights of women, but the government and non-governmental organisations could also play a role.
“They could do this through lectures, the media, arts, leaflets and so on,” he explained.
“The government need to amend some laws and introduce new ones to protect women, but this will take time.”
More than 150 participants from civil societies, ministries, and other organisations from the region attended the Third Annual Arab Forum on Human Development, which concluded at the Crowne Plaza yesterday.
The two-day forum, organised by the Bahrain Women’s Society, discussed women empowerment and the Arab Human Development Report 2005: Towards the Rise of Women in the Arab World.
BWS media co-ordinator and board member Ebtesam Zaid said on the sidelines of the conference that the reason why it was so difficult to empower women was because of cultural perceptions.
She said these intrinsic beliefs were evident in the language and sayings used in the Arab world and even the notions held by young children.
“In our society there is a saying that women who do good things are the same as 10 men, which shows the society thinks only good things are for men,” she noted.
“If women are not married they are ‘Miss’ and when they are married they are ‘Mrs’, but for men it does not change.
“There is a big pressure from the media for women to be good looking and thin, but we don’t have this for men.
“If a women takes on a position and she is not successful we say all women are no good, but if a man fails, we say this man is no good, not all of them.”
Ms Zaid said even at a young age Arab children had the perception that it was men who work and women who stay at home.
For example when she visited several kindergarten classes and asked three to four year olds to draw their mothers and fathers, mothers were depicted cleaning, ironing and cooking, while fathers were seen fixing the car and reading the newspaper.
Ms Zaid said women and men should reflect the characteristics of God and by doing so everyone would have human rights.
“If we want any change in the women’s issue, women must focus on herself and her self-esteem and see herself as a human being, not just a women,” she said.
“She must put this thinking in her children and we must change the educational books and have women pictured working outside, we must have laws for the rights of humans, for both sexes.”
Meanwhile, a list of recommendations and an action plan for women empowerment was put together by conference delegates and it is expected to be released soon.
becky@gdn.com.bh
Sermons Schedule
MOSQUES around Bahrain are offering Friday sermons in different languages today.
The following is a schedule for the sermons, provided by the Justice and Islamic Affairs Ministry:
Urdu: Abu Bakr Al Sadeeq Mosque, Al Mehza’a Mosque and Al Fateh Mosque, Manama, Shaikh Isa bin Ali Al Khalifa Mosque, Muharraq, Abdulla bin Abbass Mosque, Isa Town, Saar Mosque, Saar, Abdulla Ahmed Nass and Al Moqira Bin Shoba Mosque, Sitra, and Yateem Mosque, Barbar.
Malayalam: Abu Bakr Al Sadeeq Mosque, Al Mehza’a Mosque and Al Farouk Mosque, Manama, Othman Bin Afan Mosque, Muharraq, Al Suq Mosque, East Riffa and Adliya Mosque, Adliya.
Tamil: Al Farouk Mosque, Manama.
Bangladeshi: Al Farouk Mosque, Manama and Saar Mosque, Saar.
English: Al Farouk Mosque and Abu Bakr Al Sadeeq Mosque, Manama.
Sinhalese: Abu Bakr Al Sadeeq Mosque, Manama.
Translations will be made following lunchtime prayers.
? Gulf Daily News