Mosques' Women Policy Criticised

February 13, 2007

Source: BBC News

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/nottinghamshire/6358761.stm

East Midlands MEP Robert Kilroy-Silk has urged the government to pass a new law to force mosques to open their doors to women. Mr Kilroy-Silk, who sits as an independent MEP, has written to ministers calling for urgent action.

He said not allowing women into mosques meant they were being regarded as "second-class citizens".

But a spokeswoman for a Muslim women's group said it was an issue for Muslims themselves to debate and solve.

Mr Kilroy-Silk said: "It's not just that they don't allow men to pray alongside women but they actually don't like them to participate in the running of the organisation.

"Why are we putting up with this? This is totally unacceptable. It's demeaning. It's wrong."