Friday Links – November 30, 2007

Crowded out of a masjid? Not allowed to enter in the first place because the mosque is full of ignorant men who think women shouldn’t be allowed in a place of worship that Allah (swt) granted them? Well then take it to the streets! Muslim women in India offer prayers outside because they can’t get into a mosque. In response, the mufti issues this fatwa, which describes women offering prayer at mosques as “un-Islamic.” Prayer at a mosque is un-Islamic? SERIOUSLY?! It gets better: the mufti seeks to educate men on Shari’a to bring “self-regulation among women through their husbands.” Excuse me while I vomit in outrage and disgust.

Excerpts from Fatema Mernissi’s essay “The Satellite, the Prince, and Sheherazade,” about women’s role as communicators in this digital era.
In Russia, a hotline opens for Muslim women.
Ghent, Belgium, bans its city works from wearing headscarves as part of a ban on religious symbols. Riiiiiight.

Rantings of a Sandmonkey covers a cafe owned by Hanan Turk that allegedly denies entrance to bihejabis and Christian girls. So much for Muslim-Christian unity. And once again, bihejabis get the shaft! Unneccesary, and not very diverting, musings gives her own take on why this only fans the flames of religious intolerance by fighting fire with fire.
The Saudi judiciary will review the recent rape case that has drawn international controversy. The victim tells her side of the story here.
Arab News’ Abeer Mishkas gives her take on the media surrounding the Saudi rape case.
Muslim women in India pray for world peace.
Saudi women and American educators meet to dispel myths about women in Saudi Arabia.
Al-Ahram’s Reem Leila looks at nurses who wear niqab in Egypt.
A Muslim Canadian man’s take on the niqab debate in Quebec. He speaks eloquently on the bigotry of “accommodation” and why he doesn’t want to be “accommodated.”
Al-Ahram’s Nehad Selaiha covers the Women Directors Festival in Egypt.
A look at an enterprising young lady in the hijab business! Mashallah!
The New York Times looks at Muslim girls’ participation in Girl Scouts.