Saudi Arabia

The first female vice minister in Saudi Arabia’s government is a milestone for women.   Saudi King Abdullah appointed Norah al-Faiz to the major cabinet post.  In the past women appointed to posts in Saudi Arabia were never really an equal participant, but the signs are there that this is not the case with al-Faiz.  Her first priority is to remove the guardianship system that controls women’s lives.  Saudi women are considered the property of men and do not have the right to drive.  Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/02/15/saudi.female.minister/index.html

Iran

Women in Iran have suffered cruel treatment in a world without rights for women for years, and have slipped backwards in recent years since the Islamic revolution.  Male supremacy is enscribed in the country’s legal code, but women are fighting back.  Through education, women have made small steps toward basic rights.  Read more:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/13/world/middleeast/13iran.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=iran%20women&st=cse

Malaysia

Several hundred women attended a conference in Malaysia to work for equal rights.  A Malaysian women’s organization, Sisters in Islam is leading the cause and using the principles of Islam and social justice as its pillars.  The organization’s mission is as follows:

Sisters in Islam (SIS) is a group of Muslim women committed to promoting the rights of women within the framework of Islam. Our efforts to promote the rights of Muslim women are based on the principles of equality, justice and freedom enjoined by the Qur’an as made evident during our study of the holy text. To read more:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/16/world/asia/16women.html?ref=world