IPS Inter Press Service
 
   Inter Press Service News Agency
   
 - Homepage
 - Global Affairs
 - Africa
 - Asia-Pacific
     Afghanistan
     Nepal
     Tsunami
 - Caribbean
      Haiti
 - Europe
      EU Expansion
 - Latin America
 - Mideast &
   Mediterranean
      Iraq
      Israel/Palestine
 - North America
      Neo-Cons
      Bush at War
 
 - Development
      MDGs
      City Voices
      Microcredit
      Corruption
 - Civil Society
 - Globalisation
 - Environment
      Climate Change
      Tierramérica
 - Human Rights
 - Health
      HIV/AIDS
 - Indigenous Peoples
 - Labour
      Decent Work
 - Population
      Reproductive Rights
      Migration&Refugees
 - Arts & Entertainment
 - Columns
 - In Focus
 
 
   ENGLISH
   ESPAÑOL
   FRANÇAIS
   SVENSKA
   ITALIANO
   DEUTSCH
   SWAHILI
   NEDERLANDS
   ARABIC
   SUOMI
   PORTUGUÊS
   JAPANESE

RELIGION-MIDDLE EAST:
Sheikha Haya calls for more gender equality
Att.Editors: The following item is from the Emirates News Agency (WAM)

NEW YORK,May 18 (WAM) - The President of the United Nations General Assembly, Sheikha Haya Rashed Al Khalifa, has issued a strong call for re-interpreting Islamic texts in order to address the social, educational and other constraints impeding the equality of women in the Middle East. Pointing to the dynamism of Islamic Sharia to adapt to the changing situations, she called for new interpretations of the texts in the light of the new life circumstances.

"The concept of human rights is based on the notion that all human beings are born with equal and inalienable rights and fundamental freedoms," Sheikha Haya noted in an address to a panel discussion Wednesday evening on “Women and Human Rights in the Middle East” at Rutgers University, New Jersey, United States.

She said the situation stems in part from the interpretation of Islamic text. Women are subject to family laws that are Sharia based which strictly follow the interpretations of Islamic scholars who lived 1,000 years ago at the beginning of Islam. These interpretations are applied now without making any allowances to the very different social contexts of today, she said.

"In fact, these interpretations are sanctified as holy which prevent them from criticism and change. This is one of the main reasons behind the discrepancy between personal status codes on the one hand and the current social circumstances on the other."

The General Assembly President blamed a "lack of rational interpretations of the texts that integrate the current social circumstances." She also said that many social attitudes which were based on traditions are now associated with religion, making it harder to criticize or change them.

"Although the Middle East has come a long way in educating women, the fact of the matter is that critical thinking, and the teaching of philosophy and theology are absent in our curricula, and they are essential in laying the foundation to review, evaluate and criticize the ideas that shape our societies," she said.

Sheikha Haya was honoured at the event sponsored by the University's Centre for Middle Eastern Studies along with Iranian human rights lawyer and Nobel laureate Shirin Ebadi for their dedication to women and human rights in the Middle East. (WAM) (END/2007)

 

 
 Latest News From WAM
 PALESTINE: President Mahmoud Abbas to visit South Korea on Wednesday
 TOURISM-UAE: Famous chefs to participate in Gourmet Abu Dhabi 2010
 :
 UAE: Dubai to host Middle East’s largest humanitarian event next April
 UAE: Dubai Properties Group becomes member of United Nations Global Compact
 UAE: Voluntary Academy launched
 UAE: Emirates Mobile Humanitarian World Hospital opens in Haiti
 UAE: HRW Report unbalanced, says Emirates Human Rights Association
 ENERGY-UAE: Production in newly discovered oilfield to begin in a year
 DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: Government lauds UAE’s swift response to Haiti calamity
MORE >>
 Ultimas Noticias en WAM
 EMIRATOS: Delegación comercial visita Seattle
 EMIRATOS: Cooperación entre universidad y empresa privada
 PALESTINA: Visita presidencial a Corea del Sur
 EMIRATOS: Exitosa campaña de donación de sangre
 CINE-GOLFO: Festival en Emiratos
 AUSTRALIA: Embajador en Emiratos condecorado
 HAITÍ: Emiratos envía hospital de campo
 EMIRATOS: Gabinete analiza salud y asuntos sociales
 EMIRATOS: Academia de voluntarios en desarrollo social
 EMIRATOS: Producción de yacimiento petrolífero comienza en un año
Ver más >>
 Swahili News From WAM
  WANAWAKE-UAE: Al Qasimi atoa wito wa kuwawezesha zaidi wanawake
  UTALII UAE: Kamati ya hoteli za Abu Dhabi yajadili maendeleo ya utalii
  UAE: Misaada zaidi yamiminika kwa watu wa Lebanon
  HAKI ZA WATOTO-UAE: Maendeleo Yanayoonekana katika Kukuza na Kulinda Haki za Watoto
  UTALII - UAE: Toleo la kwanza la Kiingereza la Mwongozo wa Utalii wa Abu Dhabi Latolewa
MORE >>