Category Archives: islam

Three Women

1

Posted on by

I read a lot of memoir and this summer brought two remarkable women into my life.  The first is Shirin Ebadi, a Nobel Peace Prize award winner from Iran.  Shirin Ebadi grew up during the Shah’s government and lived in Tehran during his overthrow and the subsequent rule of the Islamic Republic under the ayatollahs.  She became Iran’s first female judge, but following the revolution found it difficult to continue her career, eventually being forced to give up her judgeship as well as her ability… Continue reading →

Sarkozy sarcrazy?

5

Posted on by

French President Nicolas Sarkozy spoke out strongly today to lawmakers about banning Muslim women from wearing burqas or niqab in France.  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/06/22/sarkozy-burqas-are-not-we_n_218920.html I agree with the President’s sentiments that the burqa is demeaning and degrading to women.  However, I don’t know that such a grand public denouncement and forceful legislative action are the most effective means for addressing this issue.  I know many Muslim women wear a headscarf as a choice and feel empowered by it.  (I doubt that attitudes toward the burqa are as liberating.)  I… Continue reading →