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... Show moreSahiba 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. Show less
The ISIM project 'Rights at Home: An Approach to the Internalization of Human Rights in Family Relations in Islamic Communities' organized four Capacity Building Workshops in Yemen and Tanzania in... Show moreThe ISIM project 'Rights at Home: An Approach to the Internalization of Human Rights in Family Relations in Islamic Communities' organized four Capacity Building Workshops in Yemen and Tanzania in the summer of 2003. In close cooperation with the local counterparts, the Yemeni Forum for Civil Society and the Tanzanian Sahiba Sisters Foundation a total of 150 participants were invited to come to San'a (21-24 July), Taiz (26-29 July), Aden (31 July-4 August) and Mwanza (9-17 August) respectively to enhance their knowledge and practical implementation of human rights issues within the local family. Show less
The ISIM programme 'Rights at Home: An Approach to the Internalization of Human Rights in Family Relations in Islamic Communities' held its second series of Sounding Board Meetings in Tanzania from... Show moreThe ISIM programme 'Rights at Home: An Approach to the Internalization of Human Rights in Family Relations in Islamic Communities' held its second series of Sounding Board Meetings in Tanzania from 19 until 23 June 2002. The venue was in Dar es Salaam from 19 to 20 June, and on the island of Zanzibar from 22 to 23 June. The meetings were organized together with the NGO Sahiba Sisters Foundation in Dar es Salaam, a Muslim women's network to promote a positive role of Muslim women in Tanzanian society. Show less
Muslims take considerable pride in Islam's eloquence on the rights and obligations of women. Scholars and laypersons do not hesitate to point out how Islam emancipated women over 1400 years ago -... Show moreMuslims take considerable pride in Islam's eloquence on the rights and obligations of women. Scholars and laypersons do not hesitate to point out how Islam emancipated women over 1400 years ago - something the global community only began working towards in the last three decades. But despite religious and legal assurances, very few Muslim women can claim personal autonomy; guarantees in marital, personal or political matters; or recognition of their reproductive role. In view of this gap many Muslim women are becoming disillusioned with the popular rhetoric on rights few of them enjoy. Show less
