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Ugandan Muslim Women Seek Better Religious Education
By
Al-Khidr Abdul Baqi, IOL Correspondent
KAMBALA,
July 12, 2005 (IslamOnline.net) – Ugandan woman activists have
called for better religious education chances to help graduate female
scholars and preachers able to issue fatwas on women affairs and raise
religious awareness among Ugandan Muslim women.
The
Muslim women society of Uganda blamed in a statement, a copy of which
was obtained by IslamOnline.net, poor religious awareness among Muslim
women on the lack of female scholars and preachers.
"Most
women feel embarrassed to ask men scholars about specific
women-related issue and would prefer to ask a female scholar,"
said the statement, marking the conclusion of the society's annual
conference.
"Only
woman scholars, as competent as male ones, would help educate Ugandan
Muslim woman about their faith."
The
conference was held to discuss issues related to Muslim women
education, particularly the religious teaching.
It
was attended by many Muslim woman activists in Uganda as well as
representatives of human rights groups.
The
Muslim women society of Uganda is a state-recognized group dedicated
to defending the rights of Ugandan Muslim women.
It
came to prominence following heated debates triggered by such
controversial legislations such as the family law, marriage law and a
law banning polygamy.
Only
Five
The
statement regretted that despite their academic achievements, Ugandan
Muslim women do poorly in the field of religious education.
"There
are only five women scholars in the country and they are not as
qualified as male scholars."
It
urged Muslim countries and scholars to "take the initiative of
providing better religious education chances for Ugandan women".
The
conference also pressed for allocating a certain percentage of
religious education scholarships for Ugandan Muslim women.
It
also criticized men who bar their wives from attending religious
teaching courses.
"Many
husbands want their wives to work to bring in additional income rather
than attend classes."
The
number of female graduates from the Islamic University in Uganda has
increased by 35% in 2004, totaling 890 graduates.
Observers
attributed this to the inclusion of modern sciences into the
university's curricula.
Islam
entered Uganda in 1844 thanks to Muslim merchants from Egypt and Sudan
as well as Muslims from neighboring Kenya.
Many
people embraced Islam at the time, but tribe chiefs and their
followers accepted Christianity after the British occupation in 1870,
leaving Muslims a minority in the country.
Today,
Roman Catholics make up 33 percent of the country's some 27 million
population, Protestant 33 percent, Muslims 16 percent, while 18
percent believe in man-made beliefs, according to the CIA's World Fact
Book.
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