Egyptian feminist faces death threats

Because of her being declared "sinful" by Al-Azhar. "Women’s Meeting At The European Parliament," by Ferai Tinc for TurkishPress.com, with thanks to Davsmi:

HURRIYET- Today, Nawal al-Saadawi has to go on the road, in spite of the tiredness of her age, as she is more than 70. Al-Saadawi, an Egyptian feminist, human rights activist, former parliamentarian, socialist and famous woman of letters, was declared ‘sinful’ by al-Azhar University due to her latest book. The ‘intellectual elite’ want her to be punished severely, and al-Saadawi says that this means death.

That means death -- rendering bitterly ironic this news item: "Egypt cleric launches website for moderate Islam," from AFP (thanks to all who sent this in). It seems that Dinesh D'Souza's friend Ali Gomaa wants to establish a resource for Islamic moderation:

CAIRO (AFP) - Egypt's top Muslim cleric or mufti, Sheikh Ali Gomaa, has launched a website to give a voice to moderate Islamic religious opinion, Cairo newspapers reported on Saturday.

The new website will allow the faithful to obtain individual religious edicts, or fatwas, on matters of Islamic ethics, and is aimed at spreading the moderate views of the leadership of Cairo's Al-Azhar university, the highest seat of Sunni Muslim learning, Sheikh Gomaa said.

"These fatwas will be delivered for free in the four international languages -- Arabic, English, French and German," he told the leading state-owned daily Al-Ahram.

"The aim is to spread the moderate opinion of the Al-Azhar hierarchy which reflects the centre ground and moderation in Islam."

Let's see them start by exonerating Nawal al-Saadawi.

Posted by Robert at March 13, 2007 5:51 AM
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