WUNRN
ARAB REVOLUTIONS NEED WOMEN TO SPEAK
UP FOR GENDER EQUALITY
Shirin Ebadi of Iran - Nobel Peace
Prize Laureate
Ebadi,
a practising Muslim, also expressed hope that Arab men and women would learn
from
“I
think it is too early to talk of an Arab Spring, which should be used when
democracy has been established and people can determine their own destiny and
are equal and free. And we cannot forget half of society - the women,” Ebadi, a
human and women's rights activist, told Reuters in a telephone interview.
“If
women cannot gain equality and the right to set their own destiny then that is
not a real revolution and won't lead to democracy.”
“Our
experience in
Since
long-time leaders were toppled in
In
Unless
Arab women speak up soon, they risk being sidelined by the region's new
governments, Ebadi said.
“Women
should raise their egalitarian demands and the people should put forth their
civic demands early on and oblige groups that are seeking power to answer,”
said Ebadi, a defence lawyer for Iranian dissidents who has lived outside
“These
issues should be raised early, otherwise after a party reaches power it may be
too late.”
Egyptian
feminist Nawal al-Saadawi has called for women to move fast to secure their
rights as the once-banned Muslim Brotherhood targets large support in a
parliamentary election later this month, following Hosni Mubarak's ouster.
“In
“Pushing
for transparency is the best way for this. Feminist groups should directly ask
parties 'Do you support polygamy, yes or no?' ... Or ask “Do you support equal
inheritance for men and women?' So that people would know a party's stand on
rights issues before they take power,” Ebadi said.
The
leader of
Ebadi
rejected charges by some Islamists that demanding women's rights and more
modern laws was part of a Western-inspired attack on Islam. Equally she said
Islam was compatible with women's rights.
“I
believe that if Islam is interpreted and applied correctly we can have totally
egalitarian laws for women and strike punishments such as stoning and cutting
hands from out of law books,” she said.
Ebadi
was
She
became a human rights lawyer but, after suffering harassment, she left the
country in 2009.
“It's
no good if a dictator goes and he is replaced by another. I hope Arabs who have
risen up in revolutions learn from