Open AccessThe King, the Mufti & the Facebook Girl: A Power Play. Who Decides What is Licit in Islam?
Author(s) -
Chraibi Khalid
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
cyberorient
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 1804-3194
DOI - 10.1002/j.cyo2.20110502.0004
Subject(s) - islam , sharia , interpretation (philosophy) , law , power (physics) , political science , girl , subject (documents) , psychology , history , developmental psychology , physics , archaeology , quantum mechanics , library science , computer science , programming language
Saudi Arabia enforces a ban on woman driving on the grounds that it is prohibited by sharia law. Women's associations have actively denounced this ban for years, arguing that it was the only Muslim country which had such a peculiar interpretation of Islamic law. A power play is taking place online on this subject between the ulema (who support the ban), the Saudi authorities and feminine associations. This situation raises the question: “Who decides what is licit or illicit in Islam?” Muslim women's associations merely ask for the implementation in Muslim countries of the “best practices” in Islamic law which exist anywhere, as a substitute for those laws which are unfavorable to women's rights or do not protect their interests adequately.