The Future of Women’s Rights in Islam: Towards a More Harmonistic Interpretation of Sharia Law
Keywords:
Women's Rights in Islam, Sharia Law, Human Rights Law, GenderAbstract
The future of the relationship between Islamic law and women's rights is optimistic. The inherent pluralism of Islamic law should be used opportunistically to further gender equality through harmonistic interpretation. Where evolutionary interpretive approaches have been adopted - such as in Tunisia and Morocco - women's rights have been recognised through Islamically justified legislation. International activists for women's rights should restrain from positioning themselves aggressively against Sharia to prevent a sense of Western cultural imposition, and equality should instead be sought through combining politico-legal approaches with socio-cultural initiatives at the grassroots.
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