October 7, 2011

Press Release: Women’s Islamic Initiative in Spirituality & Equality (WISE) Conference

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MUSLIM WOMEN LEADERS
CONVENE AT GLOBAL CONFERENCE
ON THE FRONTLINES OF CHANGE

Muslim Women Shatter Stereotypes: Includes Political Activists Who Ignited
The Arab Spring and Leaders of Non-Violent Activity in Syria

New York City – October 6, 2011 – Today, American Society for Muslim Advancement (ASMA) announced the Women’s Islamic Initiative in Spirituality & Equality (WISE) Conference to be held October 14-17, 2011 in Istanbul, Turkey. “Soon the world will witness how Muslim women activists, scholars, politicians jurists and poets have assumed leadership roles largely perceived to be restricted to Muslim men,” says Daisy Khan, Executive Director of ASMA and the organizer of this conference.

Over one hundred and seventy five Muslim women leaders of diverse backgrounds and religious ideologies from 45 countries, from Senegal to Pakistan from Saudi Arabia to Kazakhstan, will participate in Muslim Women Leaders: At the Frontlines of Change, a global conference of WISE, a program of ASMA.

This timely convening will highlight how Muslim women are shattering stereotypes by playing significant roles as key leaders in their societies. “Our goal is to legitimize a coherent global movement, highlighting the ground breaking advancements of powerful Muslim women who are sharing and building on their individual experiences,” adds Khan.

Top leaders attending the conference include Special Adviser to the United Nations Secretary-General Dr. Nafis Sadik; Palestine’s first female judge, Judge Kholoud Al Faqeeh appointed to the Shariah Court; Esin Celebi, the descendant of the 13th century poet Rumi; Notable female Spiritual Sheikha’s Aisha Rafea (Egypt) and Seemi Ghazi (Canada); Pakistan’s Shahina Akbar recently appointed to the Pakistan’s Supreme Court.

The conference will focus on the key roles Muslim women play in Politics, Civics & Business and Spirituality, featuring provocative debates and successful case studies including from Jamila Afghani, an educator from Afghanistan, who will showcase a unique approach to training Imams on women’s rights in Kabul and Jalalabad.

A special session will be dedicated to women who ignited the Arab Spring. Political activists Asma Mahfouz (Egypt) will recap how she called upon Egyptians to join her on January 25th in Tahrir Square; and Nimah Nawwab (Saudi Arabia) will address voting rights for Saudi women as granted by King Abdullah and also highlight obstacles faced by Saudi Women; and Afra Jalabi, a Syrian Canadian, will discuss how her compatriots are maintaining a non-violent movement in the context of state brutality.

Finally, the conference will announce the vision for the first Muftiyyah Doctoral program which will educate contemporary Muslim women to become full-fledged jurists capable of issuing fatwas. Accompanying this, the Muslim Women’s Shura Council, a global body of scholars and activists will present a religious justification for Muslim women’s leaderships in all spheres of society.

A special Turkish panel with Cemalnur Sargut, a prominent Turkish Spiritual leader, joined by Nazli Kayahan, Dilek Guldutuna and Nese Tas titled “A Woman’s Place in Islam – Views from Turkish Women” will provide a unique lens into Turkish women’s interaction with Islam.

Joining their sisters in faith will be an interfaith panel of Rabbi Linda Shriner-Cahn, Reverand Gwynne Guibord and Dr. Rita Sherma, who will share their experiences as women spiritual leaders in Judaism, Christianity and Hinduism.

Conference Sponsor: American Society for Muslim Advancement is a not-for-profit 501(c) 3 founded in 1997 in New York City, is an Islamic cultural and educational organization dedicated to fostering an American-Muslim identity and building bridges between American Muslims and the American public. ASMA’s philosophical objective is to strengthen a culturally American expression of Islam based on tolerance and on cultural and religious harmony and to foster an environment in which Muslims can thrive within a pluralistic society.

Collaborating with: Cordoba Initiative is multi-faith initiative whose objective is to heal the relationship between the Islamic world and America/the West.

Turkey Partner: Turkkad, Istanbul

Contact Information – Email inquiries will be responded to rapidly.

Daisy Khan: daisy@asmasociety.org

Dominic Bocci: Dominic@asmasociety.org | Ph: 212 870 2552 (ASMA)

Caitlyn Bolton: cb@cordobainitiative.org | Ph: 212 870 2552 (Cordoba Initiative)

Website: www.asmasociety.org | www.wisemuslimwomen.org

To add your voice to the voices of moderation, consider supporting our work by donating or joining our mailing list.