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Mobilizing Faith for WomenMelinda HolmesRitu Sharma (left) moderates the panel From Local to Global: Connecting Religious Study, Action, and Advocacy with ImamMohamed Magid and Dr. Laurie Zoloth.Magid highlighted the need for transparency aboutviolence within communities and accountability ofreligious leaders for their conduct. Individuals withreligious authority have a duty to ensure that religiouscommunities are upholding their own principles ofequality and justice for women and men alike. Hegave an example of a declaration that was signed byimams after they participated in trainings on domesticviolence: “The challenge was to get this signed declarationin front of every mosque, so that when a manor a woman walked in, they would see it, making ourprivate talk public.” Such visible support for the rightsof women and other marginalized groups is incrediblypowerful. Even subtle gestures like introducingthe community to members working to prevent andredress abuses constitute important emotional supportfrom leadership and can open up public discussionabout difficult issues that are often kept silent.The need for cross-disciplinary learning was repeatedlymade clear. Dr. Sita Ranchod-Nilsson stated, “Itis important to invest in building the relationshipsbetween scholars, activists, and religious leaders,”noting that “we share goals of social, gender justice,and human rights, though our benchmarks along theway may be different.”Participants expressed the need for religious leadersto be trained in human rights and in ways to leveragetheir own civic rights and leadership platforms topressure those with political power to address abuses.Ruth Messinger articulated this recommendation:“Train religious leaders about how to mobilize others,how to move outside the top-down approach ofpreaching. Not every religious leader knows how toget people together to move on an issue.” Yet, thereare powerful bases for social justice activism presentin the texts and traditions of the Abrahamic faiths.Fiorenza asserted that we must not simply advocatebut must insist on justice. Relating the story of thePersistent Widow from Luke 18:1–8, Fiorenza said,“She battered the judge, the unjust judge, until hegot tired of her and gave her justice,” explaining thatthe common reading of this text shifts the emphasisaway from demanding social justice and toward quietresilience and prayer. It is always dangerous whenthis shift takes place. Justice is too easily forgottenin religion.”“We need to focus on dutiesrather than only on rights,roles, and responsibilities.”— Palwasha KakarThe Carter Center 47