Women In Mosques

[Mags22]

On news pictures showing Muslims at prayer in mosques I notice that it is all men doing so, are ladies not allowed there?

[naomi24]

Em, good link. I wonder how those students, male or female, who support segregation, deal with mixed study, attending lectures, etc? I can't recall hearing a fuss about that.

//PhD student Michael Jathe, who also attended the UCL event, says universities must define very clearly what they mean by "voluntary" so that heavy-handed "encouragement" to segregate does not creep in. "I believe some religious groups are trying to carve out areas of public space where they can set the rules.//

Sounds suspiciously like he could be right.

[emmie]

why should university heads struggle with this issue, why isn't it clear cut, you won't tolerate it.

[emmie]

not suspiciously like, is, this is another thing that has been creeping into mainstream schools, universities, i do not understand this from the university point of view, seeing as how for too long women struggled to get an education, and go to university, if it's mixed its mixed, not you sit at the back because you are a woman, thus promoting overt sexism.

[naomi24]

Em, I agree. I don’t believe any educational establishment should pussyfoot around anyone’s religious or cultural foibles. If people choose to educate themselves in a mixed-gender environment, there can be no segregation - and I think universities must make that absolutely clear.

[Octavius]

"If three people were asked to leave before the fourth protest finally caused segregation to be abandoned, it was not halted almost immediately. However, I can understand why a religious apologist would want to convey that impression."

What on earth are you whittering on about - just another tedious dig?

My point referred to the sexist statement inferred by em10 - both sexes are affected by segragation. And whether it was almost immediately, an hour later or a day later, in my opinion, the sooner it was nipped in the bud the better.

[ludwig]

// If people choose to educate themselves in a mixed-gender environment, there can be no segregation - and I think universities must make that absolutely clear. //

They want the money though Naomi. They won't do anything to put off potential students, especially the lucrative foreign ones.

[naomi24]

Octavius, I rarely whitter unless in jest and I see nothing funny about this subject. Not a dig - just a point of principle and an observation.

[Octavius]

Can you explain "I can understand why a religious apologist would want to convey that impression" to me then, as your point of principle and observation has eluded me with regards to this subject.

[modeller]

We have a mosque where women are definately not allowed in at all.
I was told by one woman, in her family no women go to any mosque and her father only goes to Friday prayers.
She also told me no women have any say in Mosque affairs. A bit like
Cof E and RC.

[naomi24]

Octavius, I’ll try. Firstly, your edit of the report gave the impression that a single protest resulted in the immediate abandonment of segregation, thereby trivialising what was actually an on-going problem that remained unresolved until a fourth person protested. Secondly, since you regularly appear to support religion in whatever guise it rears its head on AB, you come across as an apologist – and actually, I don’t think I’m alone in having gained that impression. I hope that explains my take on it.

[naomi24]

Modeller, I think mosques like that are relatively few and far between. Most mosques provide areas for women. It is true that men rule the roost though.

[Octavius]

"and actually, I don’t think I’m alone in having gained that impression."

Oh dear. Playground rules eh.

[chrisgel]

Octavius - //Was it not enforced on men as well ? So detrimental to both sexes.//
Hardly, if it's the men who are imposing the segregation.

[naomi24]

Octavius, No, that's not my style. It's how I see it.

[Octavius]

men imposing the segragation ... on men AND women.

[chrisgel]

Fair enough. Then please explain how it was detrimental to men if they got what they wanted.

[Octavius]

oh no naomi your inference was very clear. You have placed us in the playground now, should you not be saying (oboo) 'Its how WE see it'?

[Octavius]

chrisgel, apart from the men enforcing it, how do you come to assume that all the men being enforced upon wanted it?

[naomi24]

Yes men do impose the segregation - women don't have a voice on such matters, even though many agree with it. Very observant Muslim men won't shake hands with, or even look at a woman who isn't a close family member - so they expect to be segregated from women. Strictly observant Jews have very similar foibles. Ironic really, but since Islam was, in the main, lifted directly from Judaism and Christianity, it's understandable.

[naomi24]

Octavius, //should you not be saying (oboo) 'Its how WE see it'?//

No. I'm happy to give my opinion, but I wouldn't dream of speaking for anyone else.