Muslim women struggling for emancipation often turn to tradition for inspiration. They analyse the Koran and the history of Islam and challenge interpretations which have been accepted for centuries. Read this and more in our dossier
The 44-year-old US writer Asra Nomani is viewed as a prominent representative of "Gender Jihad". For the former Wall Street Journal reporter, there is no contradiction between Islam and feminism. She spoke to Alfred Hackensberger
Tunisia has long been one of the most progressive countries in the Arab world with regard to women's rights. But even here neoconservative and Islamist ideas have increasingly been finding a receptive audience among young women. Beat Stauffer spoke with Tunisian religious scholar Amel Grami
Islam, gender equality and human rights are compatible – this is a basic conviction of Amina Wadud, author of several books about Islam and women. Martina Sabra interviewed the Islamic feminist at a recent conference about "Women power in Islam" in Germany
One of the scholars who try to offer a more emancipatory interpretation of the Quran is Asma Barlas. She closely examines the male-oriented interpretations of the Quran and offers an antipatriarchal alternative
Margot Badran is an expert in Islam and feminism. In this interview, she talks about the influence of patriarchy on Islam and on how Islamic feminist ideas draw on the Quran and how they find their way into religious teachings
Muslim feminist Irshad Manji is the author of
In the face of the controversy over Amina Wadud's Friday prayer, Muslim scholar Halima Krausen argues that we should have the courage to ask our own questions, to study the matter conscientiously and to reach conclusions which make sense in our times
Women rarely become preachers of the Islamic faith. In Germany there are only 13 female imams. Their job: pastoral care and integration. Mosques are urgently in need of women providing such services. Ulrike Hummel reports
The controversy continues to rage over Amina Wadud, a woman Muslim scholar, who recently led Friday prayer services in New York. Her case is ultimately not about gender and prayer, but about religious tolerance, says Luthfi Assyaukanie
Religious authorities have recently appointed 450 women as preachers. Vaize, as there are called, are more senior than Imams and, like all other authoritative positions, have been the domain of men. Dorian Jones reports
Islamic feminists in Morocco are calling for a so-called "third way": a modern approach combining universal ethics with the humanitarian ideals of Islam. Their methodology reveals weaknesses however. Martina Sabra reports
Rahima is a Muslim organization that advocates women's equality based on modern and democratic ideas. Instead of traveling from conference to conference, Rahima members prefer to work at the grassroots level. A portrait by Christina Schott
"Rahima" is a Muslim NGO in Indonesia which advocates the equality of women based on modern and democratic ideas. Arian Fariborz spoke with its new director, Aditiana Dewi Erdani
"Sisters in Islam" is a small but effective Malaysian women’s rights organisation that uses their knowledge of the Koran to reform the situation of women in Islamic Malysia. A portrait by Charlotte Wiedemann
Islamist movements across the board are speaking out in favour of involving women more strongly in politics and the working world. Yet women remain marginalised. The Kuwaiti author Ahmad Chehab is still waiting for signs of change in the role of women in modern Islamism
What is the Koran's real attitude to women? Should every sura be taken at face value? Is it time for a change of attitude? Nahed Selim, a liberal Dutch Muslim, offers a female perspective on Islam's holy scriptures. Abdul-Ahmad Rashid reports
Efforts to influence political Islam are made by Indonesian women both within the Islamic movement and outside it. And they have changed their political strategies considerably. By Susan Blackburn
Lily Zakiyah Munir, Head of the "Center for Pesantren and Democracy Studies", Indonesia, argues that it is not the Koran, but social convention of patriarchal cultures that deprive women in Islamic countries of their equal social status
The Radical Middle Way (RMW) is a grassroots initiative aimed at articulating a relevant mainstream understanding of Islam that is dynamic, proactive and relevant to young British Muslims. Click here for more...
Ali A. Allawi, former Minister of Defense and Minister of Finance in the Iraqi Transitional Government, discusses his new book, The Crisis of Islamic Civilization, on NPR's Forum Network...
Inside Indonesia aims to provide a deeper image of Indonesia than that painted by mainstream media. It focuses on human rights, environmental, social and political issues. Click here...
Effective and sustainable measures are urgently needed at the city, national and EU levels to tackle religious discrimination, according to a report released by the Open Society Institute's 'At Home in Europe' project. More...
The Arab Press Network is a digital network which supports the development of a stronger independent press in the Arab world. Click here for more...
The Britain-based Islamic Foundation for cology and Environmental Studies works towards the revival of Islamic environmental norms. Click here for more...
Euro-Islam.info is an active network of researchers and scholars who conduct comparative research on Islam and Muslims in the West and disseminate key information to politicians, media, and the public. More...
