Talk at WSUV will address misconceptions about Muslim women

There are many misconceptions about Muslim women: They don’t have a right to an education, aren’t allowed to earn money or get inheritances or choose whom they marry — the list goes on.

“These are some things that are brought up over and over again,” said Shanaz Tejani-Butt, who will address the topic during a talk Nov. 10 at Washington State University Vancouver.

Tejani-Butt, a professor at the University of Sciences in Philadelphia, will also talk to WSUV students earlier in the week. She’s quick to say she’s not a religious scholar but regularly gives talks on Islam and women’s rights and is involved in several humanitarian organizations, such as PathWays PA, Humanity First USA and the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence.

As part of her talk, she aims to separate the religion of Islam from Middle Eastern culture.

“We tend to use culture to define our piety,” Tejani-Butt said. “It’s nothing to do with the religion. It’s the culture of the country.”

Saudi Arabia, for instance, recently repealed its ban on female drivers but still places other restrictions on Saudi women.

“It’s the culture that has dominated, and they’ve used religion as a cover to justify the cultural biases or imbalances or traditions,” said Arif Humayun, one of the co-founders of Circle of Peace, the interfaith group that is organizing the talk.

Humayun grew up in Pakistan and travels a lot for work. It’s through traveling he’s experienced the value of dialogue when it comes to quashing misconceptions. One time he was flying to London when he struck up a conversation with a man sitting next to him. Once Humayun identified himself as a Muslim the man said. “Oh, I don’t talk to Muslims.” But, by the end of the flight, Humayun said, the man had invited Humayun over to his house to meet his wife and have a meal together (which they did at a later date).

“Misperceptions and misconceptions have to be broken, and that can only happen when you meet people,” Humayun said.

Shirin Elkoshairi, who also volunteers with Circle of Peace, agreed.

“As I grew up I did think Islam has some misogynistic tendencies,” said Elkoshairi, who grew up in Egypt. “When I looked at how Islam is practiced in, say, Malaysia or America, I saw the religion and the culture separate, and it gave me better insight.”

He encourages people who attend Tejani-Butt’s talk to bring tough questions.

“It we can’t have these dialogues, then these misconceptions will continue,” he said.

There’s a maximum occupancy of 108 in the room where the talk takes place, so those interested are encouraged to reserve a seat online. Previous talks, even those in larger lecture hall spaces, have generated standing-room only crowds. Elkoshairi said for future events he hopes to secure a larger venue, such as the Kiggins Theatre in downtown Vancouver.

Tejani-Butt said she’ll try to address the misconceptions about women in Islam and put it in the perspective of women worldwide.

“It’s not just Muslim women who struggle for their rights,” she said.