Lecture addresses women in Islam

To United States' citizens, women's rights might seem an issue of the past, but criticism in recent years has called into question some of the gender-related practices in Islamic societies around the world.\nIngrid Mattson, a renowned lecturer in Islamic Studies, spoke to a group on this issue and others facing Muslims today in "Leadership, Authority, and Gender in Islam." The lecture was held at 7:30 p.m. March 8 in the Maple Room of the Indiana Memorial Union.\nThe lecture was sponsored by the Muslim Student Union and the CommUNITY Educators. Rebecca Enders, one of the educators, introduced herself before Mattson arrived and explained the function of CUEs.\n"Our job is to promote diversity in the residence halls," she said. \nMattson began with a few words in Arabic, in accordance with the traditional way to give a talk. She explained the Muslim belief in one god, that there are no other gods and that Muhammad is God's servant.\nShe then explained that the gesture signifies she is against self-censorship in studying and lecturing on religious topics. \n"When I speak tonight, I speak as a Muslim," she said. "I speak as someone who believes in God."\nMattson then dove into the roots of problems for women in Islamic society. She cited problems with cultural designation of authority rather than actual religious law as the source of many unequal gender practices, such as being forbidden from mosques in some areas. She pointed to colonization and the breakup of traditional Muslim structures and family structures as a source for leadership assumed unjustly. \n"In the breakup of community ties," she said, "women are the first to suffer."\nMattson emphasized the need for education in Muslim communities and the commendable responsiveness that some communities have already felt, pointing out that, "It is the duty of any Muslim to protect people who have been oppressed."\nAfter the lecture, Mattson remained for a round table discussion. \nJunior Manyam Roohani, publicity director for the Muslim Student Union, expressed how pleased she was with the presentation.\n"I think she's wonderful," Roohani said. "There was a lot I didn't know about the history behind the issues."\nMattson, originally from Canada, received her most recent degree from the University of Chicago. She has lectured extensively in the United States and traveled to a number of Islamic countries, including a period of time she spent working in an Afghan refugee camp.