For years now I have observed, repeatedly, that Muslims who try to bring Islam in line with otherwise universally accepted notions of equality of rights face opposition from Muslim hardliners who charge them with disloyalty to Islam. Here is more evidence. “Sudan’s Turabi – Muslim women can marry Christian or Jew,” from the Sudan Tribune, with thanks to Kaiser:
April 11, 2006 (KHARTOUM) “” In a lecture entitled “The Role of Women in Just Governance” which was delivered by the leader of the opposition Popular Congress Party, Hassen Al Turabi, at the headquarters of Umma “” Party Mubarak al Fadil faction “” in Khartoum, Turabi said a Muslim women can marry a Christian or Jew.
Turabi described the teachings that a Muslim woman should not marry a Christian or Jew as misguided teachings intended to confuse and keep women behind. He explained that the practice has its origins in war times which were used against those fighting with Muslims, but which ceased once hostilities were over.
He also said that Al Hujab (the Islamic veil) “”women face and head cover”” was meant for women to cover their breasts as one of good practices and was not intended to be generalised to wrap up all the woman body according to the Quranic verses given by Allah for this particular purpose. It was worn as sign of respect and as a curtain to separate Prophet Wives and his guests….
Turabi raised huge reactions among Islamic scholars in Sudan. Some of them proposed to try him as an apostate.