Letter: Qur'anic verses give strength to Muslim women
As a veiled Muslim feminist activist, I thank Maria Kareva for her Feb. 17 letter. However, her approach can be alienating to the women she is supposedly trying to help. The Quranic verses, which Kareva called "theoretical", are often the greatest weapon against injustices done to women. Ideally, the message of the Quran is to be applied and practiced by Muslims. Based on the Quranic verses and prophetic traditions, I believe that those who murder in the name of "honor" are not standing up for morality, rather they are acting on the basis of purely misogynistic motives to dominate women. I have personally seen the empowering effect of telling a Muslim survivor of domestic violence how Quranic verses, prophetic sayings and juristic interpretation condemn the horrific crime done to her. Frankly, I'm tired of fundamentalists and those trying to save me from Muslim men telling me that a Muslim woman is half of a man. Those who push me to lift my "veil," calling it suppressive, are doing as much harm as men who forcefully enforce it. Both are trying to control the supposedly passive and silent Muslim woman.