http://www.arabnews.com/?page=1§ion=0&article=86351&d=11&m=9&y=2006
Monday, 11, September, 2006 (18, Sha`ban, 1427)
Women's Petition Opposes Grand Mosque Plans
Razan Baker, Arab News
JEDDAH, 11 September 2006 - Proposals to shift the women's
prayer area away from the Holy Kaaba and from out of the mataaf
(circumambulation area) in the Grand Mosque to two alternative places in the
massive prayer complex has faced stiff criticism from Muslim women across the
globe.
In protest at the proposals, a petition has been posted at
the www.petitiononline.com website, which has so far attracted over 1,000
signatures.
Behind the petition is Aisha Schwartz, 45, the founder and
director of the Muslimah Writers Alliance in Washington DC. Schwartz says that
the petition is directed at the authorities in the Kingdom.
Speaking to Arab News, Schwartz said: "It is an undeniable
manifestation of Islamic belief and teaching that we are to uphold what is
right and abhor that which is inherently wrong."
The introduction to the petition states: "The religion of
Islam was revealed for both men and women. Both sexes are equal when it comes
to the performance of religious duties and in terms of rewards and punishments.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) also instructed that women must not be banned
from mosques."
In reaction to the proposed measures, the Muslimah Writers
Alliance has set up a group entitled the Grand Mosque Equal Access for Women
Project, which is currently campaigning worldwide via the Internet
(www.muslimahwritersalliance.com). The alliance hopes to lobby Saudi
authorities with the aim of ensuring the proposals do not materialize.
Supporting MWA's petition are Muslims from Afghanistan,
Australia, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belgium, Canada, Cuba, Denmark, Dubai, Egypt,
England, France, Germany, Hungary, India, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kenya, Lebanon,
Malaysia, Mongolia, Morocco, the Netherlands, Norway, Pakistan, Paraguay, the
Philippines, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Scotland, Singapore, South Africa, Sweden,
Switzerland, Turkey and the USA.
"The fact that the signatures on MWA's Grand Mosque Equal
Access for Women petition are, to date, representative of Muslim voices from 38
different countries and 28 states across North America, is demonstrative of the
fact that the issue at hand must not be taken lightly," said Schwartz.
Referring to the proposals, Schwartz expressed alarm that "a
small, government-appointed group of men" could be allowed to make a decision
affecting hundreds of thousands of Muslims without hearing what they have to
say and think.
"They are not taking into consideration the truest of Islam's
teachings on equality and nondiscrimination in reaching their decisions. This
leaves us with a critically serious problem; and complacency will never resolve
it," she said.
In addition to the international outcry, Saudi women are also
up in arms against the suggestion. Suhaila Hammad, research director at the
National Society for Human Rights, said: "Only the Qur'an, our Holy Book which
has established everything that is right, can solve this matter."
Hammad was referring to Verse 25 in Surah Al-Haj: "As to
those who have rejected (Allah), and would keep back (men) from the Way of
Allah, and from the Sacred Mosque, which We have made (open) to (all) men -
equal is the dweller there and the visitor from the country - and any whose
purposes therein is profanity or wrong-doing - them will We cause to taste of a
most grievous punishment."
Hammad added that out of three million pilgrims visiting the
Holy Mosque in 1425 H, 46 percent were women.
"This means if they follow the holy book and aim at a sense
of equality, 46 percent of the circumambulation area would be exclusively for
women. But instead from the 18,000 square meter space, for every man there is
53.06 square cm and for each woman there is 17 square cm," she said.
According to Hammad women's prayer areas should be evenly
spread throughout the prayer complex.
"That way women would be close to their husbands as they
pray, and most importantly would have larger areas to pray like the men have,"
she said.
Citing traditions of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon
him), Hammad explained that in the time of the Prophet women would join men in
prayer. "This is a clear indication that there was no border between men and
women," she concluded.
Many Saudi women have also joined their female counterparts
in signing Schwartz's petition. Lubna Ghalayini, 36, who works at a Saudi
women's empowerment organization, said: "If every woman were to deny herself
the opportunity of forwarding her voice and signature to make a difference,
then nothing would ever happen. But if we all participated and fought for what
we believe is our right, then each voice would positively contribute in making
a difference."
Another petitioner is Muna Alyusuf, 46, who is an
intercultural training manager. "This decision must be petitioned and vetoed
against as it is just one of the many ways to hurt the image of Islam and it is
an indirect way to restrict Muslim women's right to practice their own faith,"
she said.
Alyusuf added that the enactment of the proposals "would only
serve to fuel more subtle discrimination against Muslim women. Muslim women and
men all over the world must object to this decision."
Sakinah Warid, 50, development coordinator at the Muslimah
Writers Alliance, said she converted to Islam in July 2001. "There are many
Muslim women out there who want the full experience of Haj. Why should we not
be allowed this?"
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