This week, Muslim women’s experiences on Hajj were highlighted, as was the growing trend of niqab in Egypt. Azizah magazine’s publisher is recognized, as are Muslim women’s rights to support after divorce in India, and the plight of Afghan women was reported on by Reuters.
The Associated Press wrote about the Muslim woman’s struggle for space at hajj. The piece noted the different experiences of women during the pilgrimage – some empowering, others humiliating.
The Associated Press also noted the growing fear that the trend of niqab in Egypt symbolizes a rise in hard line interpretations of Islam in the country. The piece acknowledged that many women are covering up as a form of rebellion against a more moderate interpretation of Islam that is favored by the country’s government.
New American Media reported that Tayyibah Taylor, the publisher of the American Muslim Women’s magazine Azizah, was named of one the world’s 500 most influential Muslims in the book, The 500 Most Influential Muslims – 2009, which was funded by the Islamic Strategic Studies Center, a think tank in Jordan. The book was edited by Georgetown’s John Esposito and Ibrahim Kalin.
The Economic Times reported that the Supreme Court of India ruled that Muslim women were entitled to maintenance after divorce. The court found that these women should receive the financial support until they remarry, beyond the religiously prescribed idaat period.
Rabea Chaudhry is Associate Editor of Altmuslimah.
