The Qur’an is an advocate for women’s rights
Zohra Moosa , Blazing a feminist trail in Islam, The Guardian
The increasingly deranged advocacy group The Fawcett Society ties itself in knots when it comes to the cultural, historic and religiously sanctioned misogyny of Islam. Here, Policy Officer Zohra Moosa claims to be a feminist not to the extent she can turn a blind eye to Islamic tradition and practice but by asserting that the Koran itself is an advocate for women’s rights.
Like the right to be beaten by their husbands; Or the right to by imprisoned in their own houses?
Men are the protectors and maintainers of women, because Allah has given the one more (strength) than the other, and because they support them from their means. Therefore the righteous women are devoutly obedient, and guard in (the husband’s) absence what Allah would have them guard. As to those women on whose part ye fear disloyalty and ill-conduct, admonish them (first), (next), refuse to share their beds, (and last) beat them (lightly); but if they return to obedience, seek not against them means (of annoyance):…
The Book of Women 4.34, Translated by A. Yusufali
As for those of your women who are guilty of lewdness, call to witness four of you against them. And if they testify (to the truth of the allegation) then confine them to the houses until death take them or (until) Allah appoint for them a way
The Book of Women 4:15, M.M. Pickthall
Of course, the major texts of the other two Abrahamic religions are to some extent similarly misogynist (although I think neither sanctions beating women for disloyalty) but it’s only Islam that has a mainstream tradition which treats its holy book as the flawless, dictated word of God whose injunctions cannot be amended, ignored or interpreted.