Riyadh: A debate in Saudi society and Sharia circles about whether qualified women can join Islamic Science commissions and issue fatwas has polarised opinion in the kingdom.
Those who want to see women included on the commissions argue that it would save other women the embarrassment they currently face when having to approach men to ask for religious edicts concerning personal matters.
Among those who support women's participation in the fatwa process are Dr. Gais Al Mubarak, professor of Islamic jurisprudence at the Damman-based King Faisal University, and Dr. Abdul Rahman Al Zunaidi, professor of Islamic culture at the Riyadh-based Imam Mohammad Bin Saudi Islamic University.
Another advocate of women's inclusion, Haya Al Kharboush, a Sharia lecturer, added that it was important to have women issuing fatwas.
"Sometimes a woman can find it embarrassing to ask male scholars about a personal affair for which she is seeking an Islamic legal opinion. Women are more knowledgeable about women's affairs than men."
However, Dr. Olfat Abdul Moneim, Professor of Islamic jurisprudence at the University of Taif, disagreed.
"We hope to see women scholars but they should not issue fatwas," she said.
Saudi women's rights activist Suhaila Zain Abdeen has strongly criticised a statement issued by Izzedin Belkhouja, former secretary general of the Islamic Fiqh Academy (IFA), which is affiliated to the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC), in which he rejected the appointment of women to issue fatwas.
"There is an urgent need to have women taking part in the fatwa process, as society comprises both sexes," she said.
