Sunday, January 28, 2007
'Women as state head un-Islamic' http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007\01\28\story_28-1-2007_pg1_4
CAIRO: Egypt's top Muslim cleric ruled in a fatwa, published on Saturday, that Islam barred women from becoming head of state. According to the religious edict, published in the leading state daily Al-Ahram, Sheikh Ali Gaomaa said: "Under sharia, a woman cannot be head of state because it is one of the duties of the position to lead Muslims in prayer and that role can only be carried out by men. "If by political rights, we mean the right to vote, stand as candidate or assume public office, then the sharia has no objection to women enjoying them, but a woman cannot serve as head of state.
"Women can stand as candidates for parliament or the consultative council, in so far as they can reconcile their duties with the rights that their husbands and children have over them."But the mufti said that women's conduct of their political rights could in no way be allowed to infringe "the ethical laws of Islam", adding that women should therefore not "take off the headscarf, deck themselves in fine clothes or be alone with men who are not their husbands or close relatives". afp
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