Women always are the victims of any disputes. Let them wear whatever they feel fit. Don’t force them to wear or take off their scarf. It is a personal choice. Ban it when the piece of fabric stops women from breathing or controls their freedom. Saudi Arabia and Iran have been badly criticized for forcing women to cover their hairs, but some European countries should also be criticized for banning women to wear scarf.
It is good to judge women according to their personalities and achievements and not how they look or wear. Give them the chance to follow their dreams not to be banned from joining collage only because of their dress code.
Thank you Faten for such wonderful and inspiring article. Many thanks to countries, organizations, communities and individuals that have the courage to promote women to be themselves.

Yes It is my mistake as they- transsexuals are very sensitive about such mistake, it was clear with people I interviewed and they have valid reasons to be sensitive

There should be a global joint effort to end violence against women. The article shed the light of a fact that most people want to ignore. Rape victims' agony last a lifetime, so what about poor women are raped over and over. It is high time for the world to think of women as human being not objects that could be exploited. thanks for the author as such articles might help in changing situations of some women

Hi Kinana,

Most Arab countries are with Islamic influence but the level of the influence varies from one country to another. Even in states that are secular to some extent such as Tunisia, Lebanon and Algeria, social misconceptions and tribal beliefs play an important role in the issue as well as various types of discriminations against women. I cannot be sure about all non-Arab Islamic countries but to my knowledge Iran shares a similar situation.

As I mentioned in the article, sex is a taboo topic so spousal rape occurred before but no one dared to talk about it, but now many started tackling the issue, especially activists. Islam isn’t to be blamed for spousal rape as it is clear that violence against women is forbidden, but hardliners misinterpret the Quran or promote wrong Hadith such as the one asking men to beat their wives to discipline them. I don’t know much about the 3:4 you mentioned, but even so if it is right and Quran allows beating, it also allows divorce, so strong women shouldn’t tolerate their abusive husbands.

I’m a Muslim and pray five times a day, but I wouldn’t accept or stay with a husband who abused me as away of discipline - I’m his partner and not a possession. In regard to Afaf Al Jamri she is a women activist who is fighting for better rights for women and she isn’t telling abuse victims to hold their breath but to go to court and try to end their miserable marriages.