Suraiya It is presently working with the Permanent Observer Mission of the Organization of the Islamic Conference to the United Nations (S.Shahid Husain) in the preparation of a non-paper regarding the establishment of an International Federation of Islamic Women’s Organizations which could serve as a non-governmental organization dedicated to the promotion of interests of women in Islamic countries; also to the enhancement of their roles in the family, and the socio-economic development of the society.
She holds a PhD in Philosophy from Temple University in Philadelphia where her dissertation was ‘ The Womens Movement in Indonesia: With special reference to the Aisyiyah Organization’. Ms. It’s specialty covers peace building, human rights, women rights, Philosophy of Religion, Psychology of Religion, Islamic Studies, Feminist in Islam and Inter-Religious Dialogue. She currently sits on the Chair of International Forum for Aceh (Human Rights Organization). In 1984, Ms. It was the First Winner of National Academic Writing Held by Indonesian Department of Religious Affair for the book ‘The Role of Young Generation in the Development of the Country’.
Lama Al-Sulaiman was one of the first two Saudi women elected office as a board member of the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce (JCC), a prominent center for businesswomen in Saudi Arabia, and is now president of its Khadijah bint Khuwalid Center for Businesswomen. The World Economic Forum recognized her as a Young Arab Leader, and she has been the director of Rolaco Trading and Contracting, the National Institute of Health Services, the National Home Health Care Foundation, and the Economic and Social Circle of the Mecca Region. Al-Sulaiman earned a B.Sc.in Biochemistry from King Abdulaziz University in Saudi Arabia, and holds an M.Sc. in health and nutrition and a Ph.D in biochemical nutrition from King’s College at the University of London.
Just a week before standing at the JCC election, Ms. Al-Sulaiman won a deadly struggle against breast cancer. At the Sixth Cancer Cure Conference she shared her remarkable story of recovery publicly for the first time. She realized that the best treatment was closeness to God. She followed the appropriate nutritional plan and used alternative medicine to improve physically.
Maha Fetayhi’s transition from social worker and mother of five to reformer began with TV appearances following 9/11. She talked about everyday life as a wife and mother in Saudi Arabia, wanting a better life, and voiced her opinion that Saudis were responsible for the attacks and that her country needed to change. Many women’s calls and messages proved their support for her view that narrow religious education is the root of the problem.
Ms. Fetayhi’s mission is to show the distinction between conditions that stem from Islam and those that are a result of social practices and customs.
Dr. Dewi Anwar is a research professor at the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI). She is also a member of the UN Secretary General’s Advisory Board on Disarmament Matters, a board member of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), a member of the International Advisory Board of the Asia-Pacific College of Diplomacy, ANU Australia, and a council member of the International Institute for Strategic Studies IISS (London). Other positions include the assistant to the state secretary for foreign affairs, the state secretariat, assistant to the vice president for global affairs, and the secretariat to the vice president.
Dr. Anwar was also the foreign policy analyst for the Council for Defense and Security from 1983-1985 in Indonesia. She was a congressional fellow for the United States Congress between 1990 and 1991, and a research fellow for the Institute for Southeast Asian Studies in 1989.
Dr. Anwar has written extensively on issues related to Indonesian foreign policy such as, political-security issues, democratization in Indonesia and Indonesian civil-military relations.
Wallada bint al-Mustakfi was a renowned poet based in Cordoba, Spain who is remembered for her defiance of traditional gender roles. Her father was Muhammad III of Cordoba who came to power in 1024, but was assassinated two years later. Al-Mustakfi became well known for her bold poetry and mixed gender readings that she held in her home. Al-Mustakfi never married but kept lovers throughout her life. She remained economically independent during her life and served as an early example of feminine strength in a Muslim society.
The Former First Lady of Egypt, Suzanne Mubarak is a social scientist who received her bachelor’s in political science for the American University of Cairo. The child of a doctor, Mubarak benefited from a middle class upbringing, which allowed her to develop her interest in education, which she has pursued in her role as first lady. As First Lady, Mubarak has taken it upon herself to advocate for the underrepresented voices in Egyptian society through the establishment of policies and initiatives, which have been directed towards the development of youth and women. Ms. Mubarak has participated in many international organizations, which have been dedicated to enhancing educational opportunities for women. In 2003, Mubarak founded the Suzanne Mubarak Women’s International Peace Movement, which is dedicated to peace building through communication networks and creating a culture of peace. She has received numerous awards including the “Avicenna Medal,” UNESCO’s highest award for her work in Egypt, as well as the “Prize of Tolerance,” from the European Academy of Sciences and Arts. She has also received an award from the American World Book Association.
The daughter of Queen Bakwa Turunku, Queen Amina of Zaria is renowned for her shrewd military strategies and exploits. At 16, Amina’s mother became Queen of Zazzau and named its capital after her youngest daughter Zaria, sister of Amina. The status of Amina’s mother allowed Amina to employ her military intelligence at a young age. While it is contested as to whether Amina was ever truly Queen or simply an extremely powerful Princess, her military tactics were largely responsible for the expansion of the Zazzau beyond its initial borders and reducing the position from full fledged cities to vassal cities.
She was also responsible for the development of well-fortified walls around the city of Zazzau, which served to protect it from predatory enemies. These walls would go on to be called ganuwar Amina, or Amina’s walls, in the city of Zazzau and other cities in Northern Nigeria. Amina’s success as a conqueror led to her widespread celebration; she was often noted for being “as capable as a man.” The city of Zaria would go on to become a prominent center of Northern Nigeria and serve as a trading post for Eastern and Western Africa and Northern and Southern Africa.
In 1936, at the age of 18, Zaynab Al-Ghazali started the group Muslim Women’s Association, which had the mission of encouraging Muslim women to sincerely incorporate Islam into their everyday lives. Al-Ghazali was also a staunch supporter of the Society of Muslim Brothers.
Ms. Al-Ghazali strongly believed that Islam equipped Muslim women with a strong tradition of individual rights that facilitate women’s inclusion in society. At the same time, she encouraged Muslim women to appreciate their distinctive roles as wives and mothers in a Islamic household. Similarly, she regarded Muslim men as having a significant part to play as support systems for their wives, rather than posing as obstacles in their fulfillment of goals outside the home.
Although Ms. Al-Ghazali had initially supported the Egyptian Revolution of 1952, she grew increasingly disenchanted with what she perceived as their opposition to Islam and organized to support the orphans and widows of the member of the Society of Muslim Brothers, which had been sentenced to death. As the Egyptian government became increasingly suspicious of groups like Muslim Women’s Association and the Muslim Brothers, these groups were banned and their leaders imprisoned. In 1966 she was sentenced to hard labor for life, but was released in 1971.
