Fourteen hundred years ago Islam gave women rights; rights that could
not have been imagined by European counterparts. Bold words! Words
that have been spoken repeatedly, especially in the last two or three
decades by Muslim converts, and Islamic writers, academics and educators
across the globe. Womens rights, responsibilities, and choices have
been the subject of books, articles, essays, and lectures. Sadly
however, convincing the world that Muslim women are not oppressed by
Islam is a message that is just not getting through. Media headlines
scream oppression and the words Muslim, women, and oppression seem to
have become inextricably linked.

No matter what Muslim women do or say to try to convince the world
otherwise, words like hijab, burka, polygamy, and Sharia seem to do
little but convince people that Islam oppresses women. Even educated,
articulate women fulfilling the modest conditions of hijab can do little
to dispel the myths. Women who conduct themselves with decorum and
grace and function effortlessly in the modern world have their
achievements and successes celebrated. However, if a woman wears a
scarf, covers her hair or puts her religion above worldly pursuits she
is immediately labelled oppressed. One wonders if this is the case for
women of other religious persuasions.