FINLAND & PALESTINE Proceedings of a Joint Workshop

1. The right to initiate divorce;
2. the right to maintain custody of children, even after the age
often;
3. equal right of inheritance;
4. freedom of movement.
These concerns are, of course, not the privilege of secular
women alone. Islamist feminists tackle these same questions,
especially divorce rights and custody, but in a different way.
For example, whereas secular women oppose any restriction
on women's mobility, most Islamist women believe that women
should have their husband's permission to travel, and unmarried
women should have the permission of their male guardians.
When a widespread debate on the Palestinian passport law
was going on throughout the country, Islamist women supported
the law wholeheartedly. In their words, "it is the man's
obligation to protect his female relatives, according to our religion,
and we must respect this." However, secular women
opposed this law, and described it as reactionary and discriminating
against women
Islamic feminism
Dr. Margot Badran, a Senior Fellow at the Centre for Muslim­
Christian Understanding at Georgetown University, defines
Islamic feminism as a feminist discourse, and a practice articulated
within an Islamic paradigm. According to her, Islamic
feminism derives its understanding and mandate from the
Qur'an, seeks rights and justice for women, and for men, in the
totality of their existence. 8
7 Allabadi 2008: 190-191.
8 Badran 2002.
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