Dr Rowan Williams’s contribution to the ongioing debate about UK Law and Islam included the gem:
what most people think they know of sharia is that it is repressive towards women
How might a real Islamic Sharia Council enlighten us?
My name is Sister xxxx and I am applying for university this year, i wish to apply to study Medicine, however i was unsure about the shariah concerning the study of a subject where students have to undergo activities such as;
Autopsies, human disection and touching male patients; hence seeing people’s awrah
Muslims do need female doctors, especially for the treatment of ladies. To become a doctor, you have to go through all such topics as you mentioned. It is a necessity because there is no other way to learn medicine. Sometime you have to tolerate a lesser evil to avoid a bigger one. So you can study in a medical college, preferably in a women college if available and then, after graduating, just treat the women only.
Permissibility for women to study medicine, UK Islamic Sharia Council
Why is it necessary for women to wear an outer garment?
…The display of the beauty or the part of woman and free mixing with men lead to scandals like that of Mr Clinton & Monica which is not acceptable in Islam
Why is it necessary for women to wear an outer garment, UK Islamic Sharia Council
Fine. No problem there then. Move along. Nothing to see.