Price of honor: Muslim women lift the veil of silence on the Islamic world 9780316320283, 9780316320283

Table of contents :
Frontmatter
Acknowledgments (page vii)
Chapter 1 Fundamentally Different? (page 3)
Chapter 2 Muslims, the First Feminists (page 29)
Chapter 3 Pakistan: One Step Forward, Two Steps Back (page 48)
Chapter 4 Afghanistan: "When You Can't Beat the Donkey, Beat the Saddle" (page 76)
Chapter 5 Iran: "There Is No Fun in Islam" (page 103)
Chapter 6 United Arab Emirates: The Playground of the Gulf (page 130)
Chapter 7 Kuwait: A War of Independence (page 154)
Chapter 8 Muslim Missionaries, American Converts (page 181)
Chapter 9 Saudi Arabia: The Custodians of the Two Holiest Places (page 206)
Chapter 10 Iraq: A Nation of Fear (page 233)
Chapter 11 Jordan: When Islam Is the Solution (page 260)
Chapter 12 Israeli Occupied territories: Next Year in Jerusalem (page 289)
Chapter 13 Egypt: The Mother of the World (page 321)
Chapter 14 Epilogue (page 352)
Index (page 359)

Citation preview

Price o f }tomor

oe Also by Jan Goodwin | Caucut IN THE CROSSFIRE | |

a

Price of Ffonor MUSLIM WOMEN LIFT THE VEIL OF SILENCE

ON THE ISLAMIC WORLD

dan Goodwin

For - Donald G. and Marilyn B.,

for the greatest gift of all...

COPYRIGHT © 1994 BY JAN GOODWIN ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. NO PART OF THIS BOOK MAY BE REPRODUCED IN ANY FORM OR BY ANY ELECTRONIC OR MECHANICAL MEANS, INCLUDING INFORMATION STORAGE AND RETRIEVAL SYSTEMS, EXCEPT BY A REVIEWER WHO MAY QUOTE BRIEF PASSAGES IN A REVIEW.

FIRST EDITION

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Goodwin, Jan. Price of honor : Muslim women lift the veil of silence on the Islamic world / by Jan Goodwin. — 1st ed.

p. cm.

Includes index. ISBN 0-316-32028-5 1. Women, Muslim. 2. Middle East — Social conditions. I. Title.

HQ1170.G66 1994 305.48'6971 — dczo 93-37040 MV-NY

1098765432 Published simultaneously in Canada by Little, Brown & Company (Canada) Limited

PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ,

Contents

Acknowledgments Vil

Chapter 1 Fundamentally Different? 3

Chapter 2 Muslims, the First Feminists 29 Chapter 3 ~— Pakistan: One Step Forward, Two Steps Back 48 Chapter 4 Afghanistan: “When You Can’t Beat the

Donkey, Beat the Saddle” 76

Gulf 130

Chapter 5 —_ Iran: “There Is No Fun in Islam” 103 Chapter 6 United Arab Emirates: The Playground of the

Chapter 7 Kuwait: A War of Independence 154 Chapter 8 Muslim Missionaries, American Converts 181

Holiest Places 206

Chapter g Saudi Arabia: The Custodians of the Two

Chapter 10_ Iraq: A Nation of Fear 233 Chapter 11 Jordan: When Islam Is the Solution 260

Jerusalem 289

Chapter 12 Israeli Occupied Territories: Next Year in

Chapter 13 Egypt: The Mother of the World 321

Index 359

Chapter 14 Epilogue 352

BLANK PAGE

A cknotvledgments ERHAPS BECAUSE OF THE GENDER segregation in the Islamic |

world, there is a bonding that occurs more rapidly among — women in their culture than it does in the West. I am grateful to have been accepted into that consanguinity, and I admire the honesty, strength, courage, and continued faith of these women, plus their concern for my well-being in their world. It was they who | took risks to talk to or assist me, particularly those who live under repressive regimes and whose names may not be openly listed here.

I am proud to consider many of them new friends, and sincerely hope that there will not be reprisals — government, extremist, or societal — against those who permitted their names to be used.

I received enormous support and assistance from many others: journalists, both in the West and in the Islamic world, who opened

their files to me and shared their sources and experiences, as well | as academics, religious scholars, embassy officials, human rights ac-

tivists, and interpreters, who gave unstintingly of their time in the countries through which I traveled. During my odyssey, I also received sustenance for the body and soul at the homes of Lynn and Mustafa, John and Margaret Rodgers; the Rahmat family in Pakistan; David and Diane, Robert L., Bernice,

L., and K. in the Gulf; T and Y in Jordan; and D. in Israel. Special | mention should also go to Asma Jahangir’s staff, who worked hard on my behalf, plus Nafisa Hoodbhoy and Tahir Malik; to Faribah, G., and J. in Iran; to Fatima, Faiza, and to S. and A. in countries best left unnamed. Without the encouragement and nurturing of Rachel Rossow and D.K. during one of life’s bleaker moments, Price of Honor would have

been stillborn. Brigitte Georgevich’s generosity in volunteering to transcribe dozens of tapes was noble indeed, and her sound editorial judgment invaluable. There was also vital hand-holding and/or advice supplied by Pam Hait, Janet Maughan, Irene Bell, Bill Jones,

° vii ° |

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Sam McGarrity, and Beth Weinhouse, plus the diligence of research assistant Sharon Epperson.

Finally, there is Fredrica Friedman, an editor who believes a writer’s reach must exceed her grasp and who manages to make the challenge exciting, and her fabulous team: Jordan Pavlin, Eve Yohalem, and Pamela Marshall. And, of course, there is Connie Clausen, an agent who palliates the pain with humor.

* vill °

THE JOURNEY HAND IN HAND The journey of my life I want to walk beside you

begins from home, through life

ends at the graveyard. And you! My life is spent Want to put a ring in my nose

like a corpse, To pull me along.

carried on the shoulders Intoxicated by love, of my father and brother, I want to love you

husband and son. And you!

Bathed 1n religion, Want to be god

attired in customs, Making and breaking me.

and buried in a grave I want to dance forever in

of wnorance. the courtyard of your heart. And you! Singing songs of my helplessness On the tambourine of my needs, Want me to dance like a puppet. I want to become a perfume And permeate your body But you! Want to hide me in your pocket. I want to cry: And you! Want to make me laugh as you flick your fingers. —ATIYA DAwWoop, SINDHI POET, PAKISTAN

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