Malaysia
FGM: It happens in Malaysia too
KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 3 — Female genital mutilation (FGM) is not a familiar custom in Malaysia. FGM is synonymous with the Middle East and African countries, and is a shocking and barbaric practice. A number of academics and researchers have expressed concern over what seems to be a growing prevalence of FGM in Malaysia.
Malaysia: Why Some Women Wear a Hijab and Some Don’t
In Malaysia, which is predominantly Muslim, some women wear the hijab, a head scarf that shows the face but covers the hair, ears and neck. And some do not. A new documentary, “Siapa Aku?” or “Who Am I?” by Norhayati Kaprawi, a young Muslim woman, explores the reasons why.
Malaysia: Nazreen Nizam of Sisters in Islam laments Malaysian regression in rights
BANGKOK (TrustLaw) – Malaysia is considered a tolerant, progressive and successful developing Muslim nation; its capital is a gleaming metropolis with one of the tallest skyscrapers in the world.
Yet the politicisation of religion in recent years has led to a regression in gender rights under the country’s Islamic Family Law, a prominent women’s rights group, which is aiming to reform the legislation, told TrustLaw.
Zainah Anwar - In search of what Islam really says
The nation’s leading Muslim feminist activist explains what drove her to open the Quran and search for answers to what it means to be Muslim and feminist.
I AM an eternal optimist. I cannot believe that anyone would not want a world where everyone is treated as a human being of equal worth and dignity. I don’t understand why this should be a problem. I don’t understand how anyone can use God to justify injustice and oppression of half of the human race. And yet, religion, be it Islam, Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, is often used to justify discrimination against women.
Islam’s religious pluralism in context
The question of whether Islam accepts religious pluralism depends on an understanding of the term and hinges on the Quranic verses, writes Mohamad Hashim Kamali.
THE current debate as to whether Islam accepts religious pluralism as opposed to mere religious plurality calls for further reflection. Much would depend, it seems, on how one understands religious pluralism and then the three Quranic verses that characterise Islam.
One Day One Struggle: International Campaign to Promote Sexual and Bodily Rights across Muslim Societies
On November 9, 2010, the 2nd international “One Day One Struggle” Campaign to promote sexual and bodily rights in Muslim societies will take place in 12 countries across Middle East, North Africa, South and Southeast Asia. With diverse, groundbreaking actions and events, almost 50 participating Human Rights organizations, Universities and Municipalities will simultaneously call for public attention to issues like Right to Information, Sexuality Education, Sexual Health, Bodily Autonomy and Sexual Rights of Individuals, LGBTTQ Rights, Sexual Diversity and Islam, Sexuality and Shari’a as well as the struggle to stop sexual rights violations ranging from Polygamy to killings of women, gay people and transsexuals.
Malaysia: Way of the middle path
Political leaders must work together to delegitimise extreme and intolerant voices. The public cannot be given mixed and confusing signals.
Update: Uncertain Role for Female Shariah Judges in Malaysia
KUALA LUMPUR — Women’s groups have applauded the recent appointment of two female judges to Islamic courts in , but its significance is not yet clear: The new judges will have to wait a month before finding out whether they will be prevented from hearing certain cases.
Malaysia appoints first female judges in Islamic courts
Malaysia: Islamic Courts Appoint First Female Judges
The decision by the Malaysian government to appoint women judges to its Islamic courts has been welcomed by Muslim feminist groups.
The group based in the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur, told the BBC it had been pressing for this for many years.
The government said the new judges were part of its sharia reform efforts.
Malaysia runs two parallel legal systems - the civil courts for its non-Muslim citizens and the Islamic system.
"We've been calling for the appointment of women to the sharia courts since the late 1990s," said Ratna Osman, head of the legal unit of SIS, an influential Muslim women's group.
"When you have all male judges, there is some insensitivity - the more so when they are listenining to women's grievances," she said.