One of the crucial issues affecting women in South Asia
today has been the growth of state sponsored religious fundamentalism. This is
occurring in the context of increasing evidence of violence against women -
dowry murders, sexual harassment, rape often by the police and army, and the
throwing of acid on women in the streets. (1) As a result of campaigns and
agitations by women's movements, these incidents have been highlighted and the
governments have passed some preventive laws, albeit with many loopholes and
limitations.
An Egyptian man had been very
strict with his daughter, only permitting her to work outside the home on
condition that she be completely isolated from men. She found that ‘ideal’ job.
Many months later, in the spring of 1988, this same man brought his daughter to
the office of Nawal Al Saadawi to see her in her capacity as a psychiatrist. The
following is based on the young woman’s true story.
Nigeria’s leading Islamic council, Jama'atu Nasril Islam, overruled the death sentence or fatwa passed on a local newspaper reporter for an article considered blasphemous by Muslims.
A detailed investigative report on the use of American corporate funds by the US based India Development and Relief Fund to promote the projects of Hindu supremacist groups in India.
Extremist Islamic scholars-and the madrasas (religious schools) where they teach—dramatically captured headlines in the West in the last year and eclipsed more moderate scholars.
