Abdennur Prado, Yaratullah Monturiol and Ndeye Hadi Andujar
- Islamic feminism is an emergent reality which must be seen as an alternative to the dominant sexist readings.
- This form of feminism derives from the Koranic revelation and is based on the conviction that the Koran does not justify patriarchalism.
- Islam can liberate women and change their current status. But for this, the doors of ijtihad (interpretation work) must be opened, taking into account the context of 21st century societies.
- Help to change laws that discriminate against women.
- Not confuse the laws drawn up by men with the broader concept of Sharia.
- Men must be involved in women’s struggle to achieve equal rights.
- Seek support within communities to fight any form of discrimination.
- Boost the participation of women in decision-making bodies.
- Vindicate the right to own property, to individual freedom and economic independence on the basis of Islamic tradition.
- Demand access to the mosque as a Muslim women’s right.
- From the context of western countries, vindicate a status of full citizenship for immigrant Muslim women. Family immigration laws must be altered.
- The global feminist movement must take into account the diversity of criteria and legitimate interpretations within Islam.
- Call on non-Muslim feminists not to accept the most sexist and reactionary sectors of Islam as the only possible interpretation of Islam. This practice tends to hinder collaboration between Muslim women fighting for their rights and the global feminist movement.
- We can no longer accept the existence of a single, ethnocentric discourse on “feminism”. It is now necessary to speak of “feminisms”.
- Feminisms must be more inclusive and must accept the legitimacy of women’s struggles on the local and trans-national levels. The right to difference and the specific nature of the various women’s movements must be respected.
- Networks must be built up to link, share and disseminate what we learn from our own textual sources. Strategies must be drawn up allowing us to bring this knowledge to all women.
- To avoid conflict, we must generate dialogue. In the gaps in between, nobody has the habit: we must build together. From shared knowledge, towards mutual acknowledgement.
Barcelona, 29th October 2005
