Small Ripples in Tanzania

Abstract

Sahiba Sisters Foundation, an activist organization foremost preoccupied with Muslim women's realities, was invited to participate in the Rights at Home Project in early 2002. Initially there was a level of apprehension about working with an institution that was primarily an academic institution, with academics who mastered theories but may not have hands on experience with complex situations on the ground. Also worrisome was the prospect of putting too much energy in empirical issues and methodological frameworks rather than on developing flexible responses to the needs of people on the ground. But the idea of working towards societal transformation using local knowledge and capacities was attractive to Sahiba. Indeed the Rights at Home approach filled a gap in local advocacy strategies since it went beyond idealistic notions of social justice and rights. Rather, Rights at Home promised to demystify and authenticate juridical positions and interpretations that were impacting the Islamic community in the area of family relations.