Perspective: Muslim women have the right to seek education | Letter

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Islam granted women the right to seek education, right to spiritual equality, economic freedom, etc., more than 1,400 years ago. Allah (God) does not discriminate between a man and a woman.

Ahmadiyya Times | News Watch | US Desk
Source/Credit: Dallas News
By Saima Sheikh | May 14, 2014

As an American Ahmadi Muslim woman who believes in the Messiah, Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian, India, I condemn this act by the Boko Haram group. This is against the teachings of Islam.

Boko Haram, like the Taliban, is against girls’ seeking education. I don’t know which Islam they are following or which Quran they are reading because Islam granted women the right to seek education, right to spiritual equality, economic freedom, etc., more than 1,400 years ago. Allah (God) does not discriminate between a man and a woman.

These days you will see Muslim women active in many professions, such as medicine, nursing and teaching. For example, the former prime ministers of Pakistan, Benazir Bhutto; Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina Wazed; and Mali, Cissé Mariam Kaïdama Sidibé are notable Muslim women who sought higher education and later became heads of state. Similarly, the current president of Kosovo, Atife Jahjaga, is her country’s first female Muslim president.

It is a matter of deep regret that women still have to fight to seek education. Countries such as Nigeria, Pakistan and Afghanistan are breeding extremists whose aim is to oppress the weak by killing or kidnapping girls who only want to seek education, which is a right given to them by their religion. I urge the U.S. government and the Nigerian government to do everything to find these girls. I hope and pray that they are found safe and without any harm. Boko Haram, please #bringbackourgirls.

Saima Sheikh, Allen

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