Scotland: Young Muslims seeks a voice - and rights

Scotland: Young Muslims seeks a voice - and rights


They are young, Muslim and Scottish - and will not take no for an answer.
This article was prepared by the Islam in Europe blog - islamineurope.blogspot.com

I met Nazia Iqbal and two of her friends at the student union of Glasgow's Strathclyde University.


Ms Iqbal, who is the equal opportunities officer, has been making waves ever since she went to the city's Central Mosque and asked to become a voting member.


According to the mosque's constitution, Muslim men and women not only have the right to pray at the mosque - if they are over 18, they are entitled to become voting members and have a say in its running.


But Ms Iqbal, who is 20, was turned down, on the grounds that she is female.


Her response was to start a campaign on Facebook, and complain to the body that regulates Scottish charities.


(...)



What is so striking about Glasgow's Muslims is their attachment to a Scottish identity.


A young Islamic scholar, Sheikh Rizwan Mohammed, debates with his students whether Muslims can eat haggis - the Scottish national dish - or wear a kilt.


(His answer is yes to both - provided the kilt is below the knee.)


Another example is Muslim involvement in politics.


(more)

Source: BBC