Yemeni women say equal rights are compatible with Islam

News Consortium – Catholic Online – Friday, 24 August 2012 (originally published 22 Aug)

The main things hindering women’s progress in Yemen according to blogger NoonArabia are such social customs and tribal laws – and not religion. Women in local demonstrations are making a ‘huge step in breaking the taboo barrier.’ Image: Catholic Online

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) – When tens of thousands of women were prominent among the demonstrations, Yemen’s president at the time, Ali Abdullah Saleh accused the women of “un-Islamic” behavior.

Saleh has since turned over power to Vice President Abd Rabbo Mansour Hadi last February. Tawakul Karman, female journalist, politician and women’s rights activist who became the first Arab woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize says that there is no merit in this accusation.

“Islam, like other religions, is not in conflict with women’s rights, democracy or any human rights principles or values like equality, justice and dignity,” Karman says. “These are the values of the divine faiths” . . .

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