Impact on Muslim Women

Abstract

This chapter begins with a brief discussion on how Muslim women have been treated historically, and are being treated currently, in other Muslim-majority societies. It then moves on to the situation in Malaysia, comparing the historical situation with what has evolved over the last few decades. It concludes with feedback from the Muslim women interviewed as to their feelings about the way the Islamisation is affecting them, and their perceptions as to how it may affect them in the future. In summary, while over half of the Muslim women interviewed felt that a greater awareness of religion in their society was a positive development, over 75% disapproved of the overall trajectory of the Islamisation Phenomenon. Nearly all expressed concern about some of the more extreme manifestations of the Phenomenon, for example those that arise from increased intolerance of deviation from what are now perceived to be Islamic norms, which cover a range of issues, including societal disapproval, and the increased activity on the part of religious police. They also include increased public discussion by senior members of both major Malay parties, and religious leaders, of moves to introduce hudud laws. They were also generally disapproving of the way Islam has been politicised. Most are at the very least apprehensive about how much further Islamisation will proceed, and how much more extreme it may become.