Muslims make up a fifth of the world's population with more than a billion followers. Worldfocus explores how hundreds of millions of Islamic women are navigating changing norms of culture, society and law within the context of their faith. Our producers and correspondents report on this issue from Iran, Morocco, Egypt and Turkey.
In Iran, women have made remarkable strides in education in the last decades - 65 percent of college undergraduates are female and 70 percent of graduate students are enrolled in medicine. Yet legally, women cannot travel freely without the permission of a male relative and face formidable obstacles when divorcing their husbands. We explore the tensions between the expectations of many highly educated young Iranian women and the realities of their lives.
In Morocco, we profile an activist challenging the stigma facing unwed mothers, while in a conservative corner of Turkey, we meet young women defying gender stereotypes through their love of sports. And we explore why - contrary to popular perception in the West - more women in Egypt choose to wear the veil.
"Women in Islam" is a collection of signature videos, interviews, reporter observations and analysis from the field and blogger perspectives.
Examining the motives behind traditional honor killings
In Turkey, there is an average of about one honor killing per week. To understand more about this troubling issue, Daljit Dhaliwal speaks with Gönül Tol, director of the Center for Turkish Studies at the Middle East Institute, about what she says is a growing trend in Turkey.
Turkish women fight against honor killings
Gizem Yarbil is an associate producer at Worldfocus who grew up in Turkey. She argues that Turkish immigrants may cling even more strongly to their customs-- including honor killings-- when faced with the difficulties of life in the West.
French panel recommends partial ban on full face veil
A French parliamentary panel recommended today that France impose a ban on wearing the full face veil in public -- buses, subways and hospitals. Under the proposal, women would have to show their faces when entering a facility and remain uncovered. The ban could take effect by the end of the year -- but would not apply to wearing the veil on the street or in private.
Afghanistan’s “bravest woman” criticizes government
Worldfocus producer Mohammad Al Kassim interviews Malalai Joya -- the first Afghan woman to be elected to parliament. She has openly challenged the Afghan government, U.S. and NATO military presence, warlords and the Taliban.
Worldfocus producer Gizem Yarbil writes about the debate over polygamous marriages in some Muslim countries. Explore a map of polygamy across the globe.
How You See It: Egyptian campus bans niqab
A controversy has erupted in Egypt over a government ban on wearing the niqab on college campuses. At the University of Cairo, security officials refused to allow women with full face veils to enter certain buildings. Jamal El-Shayyal of Al Jazeera English reports from Cairo.
Saudi Arabia opens first co-ed university
The recently-opened King Abdullah University of Science and Technology is Saudi Arabia's first mixed-gender university. Women will also not be required to wear veils at the school.
Q&A: A Saudi woman’s perspective on polygamy
Islam allows men to have up to four wives at a time. A Worldfocus contributing blogger speaks with a divorced Saudi woman -- whose father and ex-husband each had two wives -- for her perspective on polygamy.
At home in Morocco with an Islamist…and a feminist
Nadia Yassine is a Moroccan political activist and the face of Al-Adl wal Ihsane, the Movement for Justice and Spirituality. She describes the social and political goals of her organization and the situation of women in Morocco.
Q&A: Women’s soccer around the world
Explore the rise of women's soccer around the world with this interactive feature. Worldfocus also speaks with two sports historians about the status of female soccer players globally.
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