Turkey Honors Islam

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7264903.stm

The hadiths, the ways and traditions of the Prophet Muhammad recorded by his companions, have frequently been twisted to serve the interests of politicians and leaders in Muslim countries and communities.

On many occasions, hadiths are taken out of context: Many were written in a time of war in the 7th Century when, for example, it was not safe for women to travel for long distances alone or even leave the house. The aforementioned leaders reinperpret passages as such to support the idea that Islam and the Prophet teach that women are second class citizens or inferior to men.

The commission hired by the Department of Religious Affairs in Turkey to debunk these perversions is an important step in realizing that Islam is not only compatible with, but advocates for, women's rights, human rights, equality, democracy, and justice.