NORTH AMERICA ISLAMIC SOCIETY LAUNCHES CAMPAIGNS FOR WOMEN-FRIENDLY MOSQUES

Chicago, 10 Dhulqo’dah 1436/25 August 2015 (MINA) –The Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) will launch a campaign calling for inclusive, women-friendly mosques across North America during a special session to be held at ISNA’s 52nd Annual Convention in Chicago over the Labor Day weekend, OnIslam reported.

The statement to be launched on Friday evening, September 4, during the convention was initially prepared by ISNA’s Task Force for Women-Friendly Masjids (TFWFM) with the input of the Fiqh Council of North America and many other Islamic scholars.

The campaign’s goal is to realize the Prophetic model and calls upon all mosques to ensure women are welcomed as an integral part of the masjid and encouraged to attend, reads the statement prepared by ISNA’s TFWFM, International Islamic News Agency (IINA) quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

The ISNA’s TFWFM campaign will also call for “Women to have a prayer space in the main prayer hall which is behind the lines of men but not behind a full barrier that disconnects women from the main prayer hall and prevents them from seeing the imam.”

The statement recommends, “Women actively participate in the decision-making process of the mosque, best realized by having women on the governing bodies of mosque.”

ISNA is the largest Muslim umbrella organization in North America.

Running from September 4-7, this year’s event is held under the title “Stories of Resilience, Strengthening the American Muslim Narrative”.

ISNA’s four-day annual convention dates back to 1963, when the first such event was organized by the predecessor to ISNA, the Muslim Students Association of the United States and Canada.

Over the years, the convention has increased in popularity and consistently draws crowds of up to 40,000 Muslims in attendance each year. (T/Imt/R03)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)