MUSLIM WOMEN SEND FORCEFUL MESSAGE TO EUROPE’S POLITICIANS & RADICAL FEMINISTS

Tuesday June 25th 2013

London, UK - The largest Muslim Women's Conference in Europe took place on Sunday 23rd June 2013 in London, UK. “Seeds of Change”, organised by the Islamic Education and Research Academy (iERA).

Giving some of the most influential Muslim women in the UK an unprecedented platform, this dynamic one-day conference -created by women for women - inspired, educated and energised 1600 attendees to change the perception of Islam in the UK and respond powerfully to the misconception that Muslim women are subjugated and oppressed by their faith.

Delegates heard from Director of “Seeds of Change”, Fatima Barkatulla, about Islam’s solution to Feminist objectives. She stated that it was a divinely-ordained solution and justice that women need and that Islam provides. She invited the women of Europe, including activists for the Radical Feminist group FEMEN who earlier this year called on Muslim women to take part in a ‘Topless Jihad’, to look at Islam with an open mind saying that millions of women in Europe were finding liberation in Islam.

Six non-Muslim delegates converted to Islam during the conference in emotional scenes both on and back-stage.

Broadcaster and Journalist Lauren Booth, (Tony Blair’s sister-in-law), who converted to Islam in 2010, told delegates how Islam had enriched her life and why she left Feminism for Islam.

Journalist and ex-captive of the Taliban, Yvonne Ridley, motivated Muslim women to respond to the rise in Islamophobia in the wake of the Woolwich attack by positively engaging with their neighbours and colleagues. There were calls for Europe’s politicians to stop persecuting Muslim women who choose to veil.

International Life-coach and counsellor, Rahma Abdulatif, provided insight into creating the ideal family culture which is the bedrock of any cohesive society. The importance and value of motherhood and its role in shaping generations was also a key theme of the conference as was serving our neighbours and local communities in the spirit of humanity that the prophet Muhammad (upon whom be peace) lived by.

Chairman of iERA, Abdurraheem Green (formerly Anthony Green) who inspired a whole generation of Muslim women in the 80s and 90s, said that he believes women are absolutely indispensable in changing the current perceptions of Islam in our world. His message empowered the audience to share the message of Islam with their communities.

Eminent academic and scholar, Dr. Muhammad Akram Nadwi, responsible for a new awakening in Muslim female scholarship, encouraged women to become scholars as they had been in the rich and vibrant peak of Islamic civilization.

Ms. Barkatulla said “It was absolutely incredible to meet so many talented Muslim women, ready to be agents of change in Europe. The message was clear: we are intelligent, hard-working women who have chosen Islam and are proud to be Muslims. We are tired of negative media caricatures of us, everyone speaking about us and for us -but not listening to us. We have mobilised hundred of women, each representing a whole community, to positively share the message of Islam in Europe”

Nigerian muslim women need this kind of motivation seriously. Most of them dont even know what isla m is about, even though they parade themselves as muslims. I remembered a woman, a mother for that matter,saying that learning the Qur'an is not compulsory for a girl child! The mentality of many muslim women is myopic, and the various religious innovations they are exposed to are not helping matters. Most muslim men that are actually meant to encourage their wives,sisters,daughters towards acquiring islamic knowledge and being pratical with it, dont even have knowledge themselves.

So what is the way forward?

Continuous awareness public lectures should be organised for muslim women and men alike,to make them aware of the importance of acquiring knowledge about islam. More standard islamic and arabic centres should be set up. Even though most higher institutions try their best in this aspect,it works mostly for people who already have that kind of background right from home. Some paents tell their children before they leave home,not to join or participate in any MSSN programme nor have anything to do with them,so they wont become 'terrorists',hence most come to school with that mentality. These lectures could take place where majority of these kinds of parents might be found. The youth should not be left out too.

Another problem we have is that,people tend to value culture more than the deen,hence they let them interfere with each other,binging innovations into the deen. This kind of orientation should be changed,before any improvement or influence can be achieved.