Weekend forum attempts to decipher 'Islamic feminism'

rahman

Sep 14: What is Islam’s attitude on the personal freedoms of women? How does Islam ensure that those freedoms are extended to freedoms in public life and political power? How do we make sense of the different Qur’anic statements about the autonomy of women? These are some of the questions that a forum organised by Muslim NGO Islamic Renaissance Front hopes to address on September 18. "The IRF hopes to present what are typically viewed to be sensitive questions on the Islam, women and gender to initiate frank and sincere discussion with the help of the esteemed panelists," said a statement from IRF spokesman Edry Faizal Eddy Yusof. The forum titled "The Future of Islamic Feminism" will be held at the International Institute of Islamic Thought and Civilization (ISTAC) at its Jalan Duta campus. Speakers include Zainah Anwar from Sisters in Islam (SIS), Muhammad Uthman el-Muhammady of ISTAC, and historian-social critic Farish Noor. Describing gender issues as one of the more controversial and "polarizing" issues in modern debates on Islam, Edry pointed out that the subject was "not just another question that Muslims have to deal with". "Theories of Islamic banking or Islamic law and government, however important they may be, are possibilities proposed for an ideal state of affairs. Gender relations, however, are always live and current. They shape our daily existence and the most basic aspects our self- understanding," he added. The forum is free and open to public. Those who wish to attend may submit an online registration form at IRF's website, www.irfront.org.