Voice of British Muslim Women

Maleeha Mansur, Hayes 

If one cares to deliberate on gender segregation, the knee jerk reaction is to associate the concept of segregation with oppression, specifically female oppression. However, should one look closer, one sees elements of segregation is many aspects of society in the West. 

Washrooms, changing rooms and sporting events, to name but a few areas of segregation. Indeed, taking the timely example of sports with the Olympics in full swing, segregation is a means of empowerment of women. It is a means of enabling competition on a level playing field, certainly without it, it is women who would be heavily disadvantaged. However, these limited examples do not suffice in upholding the rights of women. Recent revelations have exposed what seems just the tip of an iceberg of harassment women and girls are constantly subjected to. To know that 71% of women of all ages in the UK have experienced some form of sexual harassment in a public space, with this number rising to 86% among 18-24-year-olds, leads us to the clear conclusion that women are not being protected by society. 

Referring to these experiences of women, His Holiness Mirza Masroor Ahmad, the Worldwide Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community has clearly elucidated out the root cause of this subjection of women.  His Holiness states, “Men have sought opportunities to take advantage of women and to mentally or physically abuse them, and in some cases, it escalated to what can only be termed as torture… The question is why were women abused across the world? The answer, whether they like it or not, is the free-mixing that took place which meant that the women were unable to safeguard themselves.”ⁱ 

We see sporadic attempts to rectify this situation. During the New Year’s celebration in Berlin, a “safe zone” was set up for women, amid concerns regarding sexual assaults in the pastⁱⁱ. Women-only ride apps are becoming increasingly popular, as are women-only office spaces. In truth, these efforts do not suffice. We ought to understand that segregation is a right due to women, rather than a means of their oppression. However, that is not to say that that segregation is not synonymous with oppression. It certainly is. It is the means of oppression of ill-minded men who seek to take advantage of women in mixed environments. We as women should celebrate and seek to progress the cause of segregation. Indeed, God Almighty, knowing the nature of men and women, and to curb basic human impulses has prescribed the concept of segregation within Islam as one of a number of means of enshrining the dignity of women. 

It may seem impossible to implement segregation within greater society, however, where there is a will, there is a way. Allow me to share with you the haven that is to be erected in Alton, Hampshire in a few days. Two parallel ‘tent villages’ are erected annually to host the Annual Convention of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community called Jalsa Salana. Men and women attend their separate ‘villages’. Women run their village; they organise its infrastructure, facilities according to female needs, commercial stalls, hygiene and, of course, the security to decide who may be permitted to enter. Women are free to enjoy each other’s company. Men and women are focussed on the pursuit of spiritual development, on developing their sisterhood and brotherhood with no distractions or fears of unwanted looks, let alone any means of harassment. This beautiful village is a model example of the peace and serenity society could enjoy should it wish to do so. As His Holiness, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad so eloquently states “my philosophy is that if women work outside the shade of men, they flourish.”ⁱⁱⁱ Certainly, the resounding feeling of those women who have visited to experience the event, is that of liberation and relaxation in experiencing such a unique female-only environment. 

How much pain and despair would women be spared if this Islamic stance of “prevention is better than cure” through segregation were to be adopted. Certainly, whilst segregation protects women, it is a means of disciplining the carnal human desires, whilst creating an atmosphere of mutual respect. A respect that women are certainly well overdue in Western society.