Women's Rights in the Muslim Societies and Jurisdiction

The issue of women’s rights is doubtlessly one of the controversial topics around Muslim societies. Male dominance has existed over centuries, which makes Muslim women difficult to honor the rights guaranteed by the Qur’an. In recent years, legal reforms are taken for promoting gender equality and protecting women from violence, but the progress is relatively slow and inadequate. This paper first reviews Islam’s beliefs and practices and follows with the discussion of women’s rights in Muslim societies. It then discusses the impediments in launching gender-conscious policies. Concluding remarks will be made at the end of the chapter.