Central to the film, shown in limited nationwide screenings, is its assertion that many American mosques are in the iron grip of their aging, foreign-born founders. A national survey of Islamic worship centers, the film notes, found that 90 percent of imams - religious leaders - were born abroad. Less than half of U.S. mosques provide activities for women; almost a third bar women from serving on their boards of directors; just 23 percent provide classes for new converts. Not unique to Islam. Orthodox Judaism and some Christian denominations also mandate separation of men and women during worship services. But Muslim women in the film say they feel like second-class citizens in gender-segregated prayer rooms that often are shabbier than those for men. Many are cramped and dirty. In some, barriers have been erected, making it impossible to see imams as they lead prayers and sermonize. One even provided a dingy restroom with no door. Emran El-Badawi, the secular, left-leaning Muslim director of the University of Houstons Arabic program, said such changes inevitably will come. But at present, he asserted, You wont find one large community mosque in North America that deals with women or youth in a way that helps the community.
Posted on: Mon, 14 Jul 2014 02:29:50 +0000
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