Many Muslim women in U.S. feel empowered
Stephen Magagnini / The Sacramento Bee
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060716/LIFESTYLE04/607160328SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- The mosque -- or masjid in Davis, Calif., had become too small for the city's growing Muslim population, and a thorny debate arose over how to rectify the problem.
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Instead of hiding behind tradition, a growing number of American Muslim women such as Vera are looking inward, re-examining their role in Islam and stepping up as community leaders.
Since 9/11, in particular, the women "are finding their voice and trying to reconcile their love and passion for Islam with universal principles of democracy and freedom," said Madhavi Sunder, a University of California, Davis, law professor writing a book on Islamic women.
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"The obvious misconception is Muslim women are subjugated or oppressed, when in reality they're at the forefront of our society, including social and political work," said Sawsan Morrar, a 21-year-old woman who is president of the 200-member Muslim Student Association at UC Davis.
Very interesting article.
Peace.