Women Presidents OK Under Islam (Not)
Who says Islam denies rights to women? Egypt top cleric says women presidents okay under Islam.
CAIRO (AFP) - Egypt’s top cleric declared that Islam does not bar women from becoming heads of state, denying press reports that had earlier attributed to him the opposite position.
On January 27, the Akhbar Al-Yom daily carried a fatwa by chief mufti Sheikh Ali Gomaa saying that Islam forbids women from becoming a head of state because it would require them to lead prayer — something only a man can do.
“This ruling does not refer to the head of a modern state but to the traditional role of Caliph as both secular head of state and imam of the Muslims,” he said in a statement Sunday, referring to a position that was abolished with the fall of the Ottoman empire in 1924.
“The head of state in a contemporary Muslim society, be he a president, prime minster or king, is no longer required or expected to lead Muslims in prayer. Therefore, it is permissible for women to hold the highest office in modern Muslim nations,” he added.
In other words: it’s only an infidel government anyway, so sure ladies, go right ahead and be president. But in the ideal Islamic state it would be a very different story.
Previous LGF posts about Sheikh Ali Gomaa:
Egyptian Mufti Hates Sculpture
Egyptian Islamic Leader Supports Hizballah
Islamic Scholars: Kill The Jews, But Not Here