The seminar titled “Muslim Women in Today’s Britain- The Challenges and the Solutions” aimed to tackle the pressing questions that have been a huge discussion point in government circles, the press, media, on the lips politicians and a cause of concern in the Muslim community throughout the country.
Dr. Nazreen Nawaz, the Women’s Media Representative of Hizb ut-Tahrir Britain presented a picture of the current climate where a Muslim woman living in Britain is constantly under pressure to re-evaluate who she is, whether their Islamic identity is relevant for modern life, to question whether their Islamic beliefs are appropriate for British society, being asked to question the relevance of Shariah in her life, being continuously examined if her Islamic views are tolerant and compatible with ensuring a cohesive society and to adopt values that are at odds with their religious convictions.
“The hijab, the role of women, Islam’s punishments, liberation of occupied land, prohibition of homosexuality, the Global Islamic bond between Muslims and championing the call for a caliphate for the Muslim World are all been labelled oppressive, backward, intolerant, barbaric, and unacceptable and a threat to British society.” Said Dr. Nazreen Nawaz
It was last year when British prime minister, Gordon Brown set up a Muslim women’s advisory group to tackle ‘extremism’ followed up by former communities minister Hazel Blears initiatives with her “Muslim Women’s assertiveness courses” to push Muslim women to play a ‘key’ role in tackling ‘radicalisation’ amongst young Muslim men.
Dr. Nazreen Nawaz highlighted that formation of leaderships in the community under the guise of tackling so called “Extremism” and promoting fancy labels like “Women’s Empowerment” are being pushed to women in compliance with government policy to advocate a “British secular version of Islam” to the Muslim community.
“In truth, it is simply bribery, to buy Muslim women into fighting specific Islamic ideas in their community. Labels of “extremism” or scare-tactics will be fruitless in silencing the support of Muslim women for Islamic governance in the Muslim world Muslim women must resist pressures that bully them into compromising Islam and turning their backs on the injustices faced by Muslims globally. Dr. Nazreen Nawaz
Dr. Samia Hussain, a Member of Hizb ut-Tahrir Britain highlighted in the second presentation the manner in which Muslim women must challenge the government narrative to enable today’s Muslim woman to engage in a productive discussion on debates surrounding the woman’s position in Islam”
“Muslim women must challenge the Western secular liberal values, expose their flaws, and present Islam as a solution to the plethora of problems caused by these ideas both in the West and the Muslim world”.
Muslim women have constantly been under scrutiny in the last years with recent revelations this week from the French President describing the burka, a veil, worn by many Muslim women as part of their Islamic attire as a “debasement” of women – and not welcome in France . He added: “In our country, we cannot accept that women be prisoners behind a screen, cut off from all social life, deprived of all identity. The burka is not a religious sign. It’s a sign of subservience, a sign of debasement”.
Dr. Samia Hussain explained the responsibility to counter such similar propaganda which has levelled against the Shariah in recent year and presented key arguments on how Muslim Women should present and explain the sublime values of Islam to non-Muslims as well as to continue to speak out against the oppression of Muslims globally and to continue to support the establishment of the Khilafah (caliphate) in the Muslim world.
The talks were followed by a lively question and answer session with active audience participation.
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