Self-Determination and Women’s Rights in Muslim Societies

Front Matter

S e l f - D e t e r m i n at i o n a n D W o m e n ’ S r i g h t S i n m u S l i m S o c i e t i e S This series focuses on the conflict between women’s claims to gender equality and legal norms justified in terms of religious and cultural traditions. It seeks work that develops new theoretical tools for conceptualizing feminist projects for transforming the interpretation and justification of religious law, examines the interaction or application of civil law or remedies to gender issues in a religious context, and engages in analysis of conflicts over gender and culture/religion in a particular religious legal tradition, cultural community, or nation. Created under the auspices of the Hadassah-Brandeis Institute in conjunction with its Project on Gender, Culture, Religion, and the Law, this series emphasizes cross-cultural and interdisciplinary scholarship concerning Judaism, Islam, Christianity, and other religious traditions. For a complete list of books that are available in the series, visit www.upne.com Chitra Raghavan and James P. Levine, editors, Self-Determination and Women’s Rights in Muslim Societies Janet Bennion, Polygamy in Primetime: Media, Gender, and Politics in Mormon Fundamentalism Ronit Irshai, Fertility and Jewish Law: Feminist Perspectives on Orthodox Responsa Literature Jan Feldman, Citizenship, Faith, and Feminism: Jewish and Muslim Women Reclaim Their Rights B R A N D E I S S E R I E S O N G E N D E R , C U LT U R E , R E L I G I O N , A N D L AW S E R I E S E D I T O R S : L I S A F I S H B AY N J O F F E A N D S Y LV I A N E I L Self-Determination and Women’s Rights in Muslim Societies b r a n D e i S u n i v e r S i t y P r e S S Wa lt h a m , m a S S a c h u S e t t S e D i t e D by c h i t r a r ag h ava n a n D Ja m e S P. l e v i n e Brandeis University Press An imprint of University Press of New England www.upne.com© 2012 Brandeis University All rights reserved Manufactured in the United States of America Designed by Mindy Basinger Hill Typeset in 10.35/14 pt. Parkinson Electra by Copperline Book Services, Inc. University Press of New England is a member of the Green Press Initiative. The paper used in this book meets their minimum requirement for recycled paper. For permission to reproduce any of the material in this book, contact Permissions, University Press of New England, One Court Street, Suite 250, Lebanon NH 03766; or visit www.upne.com Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Self-determination and women’s rights in Muslim societies / edited by Chitra Raghavan and James P. Levine. p. cm.—(Brandeis series on gender, culture, religion, and law) Includes index. isbn 978-1-61168-279-3 (cloth : alk. paper)—isbn 978-1-61168-280-9 (pbk. : alk. paper)—isbn 978-1-61168-281-6 (ebook) 1. Women—Legal status, laws, etc.—Islamic countries. 2. Women’s rights— Islamic countries. 3. Women’s rights—Religious aspects—Islam. 4. Equality before the law—Islamic countries. I. Raghavan, Chitra. II. Levine, James P. k644.s45 2012 323.3'4091767—dc23 2012010139 5 4 3 2 1 ...