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Protest at woman leading prayers UK Muslim prayers led by woman
(about 4 hours later)
Protesters have gathered outside a mosque in opposition to a woman leading a mixed congregation in Islamic prayer for the first time in the UK. A female professor has become the first woman to lead a mixed congregation in Islamic prayer in Britain.
Professor Amina Wadud took the service - or khutbah - to mark the start of a conference on Islam and feminism at Wolfson College in Oxford. American Amina Wadud arrived in Oxford to give the Friday sermon.
The move has provoked opposition as it is traditional in Islam that imams, who are always men, hold mixed services. The move has angered many Muslims and a small group of protesters gathered outside Wolfson College to voice their opposition.
One protester said she disagreed with it as it was "against Islam". Professor Wadud took the service - or khutbah - to mark the start of a conference on Islam and feminism at the college.
The sermon is being held at the the Muslim Educational Centre. Leap forward
A local Muslim leader advised people not to picket the mosque as it would give the move more publicity. It is Islamic tradition that imams, who are always men, hold mixed services.
But some said they felt so strongly against it that they had to protest. But the Muslim Educational Centre of Oxford (MECO), which invited Professor Wadud to lead the prayers, described the event as a "leap forward for theological destiny".
We're here to uphold the traditions and the values of Islam and uphold the ways of the prophet - peace be upon him Aishah Samah, protesterWe're here to uphold the traditions and the values of Islam and uphold the ways of the prophet - peace be upon him Aishah Samah, protester
Aishah Samah, a protester from Oxford said: "We're here to uphold the traditions and the values of Islam and uphold the ways of the prophet - peace be upon him. "There's nothing in the Koran that prohibits it," she said.
"We have no objections to women being heads of state, or organisation leaders. "My own theological research into the essence of Islam indicates the necessity for us to be able to move away from the tradition that restricted women from the practice of leading prayer."
"Women are highly respected in Islam but in Islamic law, women cannot lead prayer." "This is not my norm," she added.
Maryanne Ramzy added: "What she is doing is against Islam. I disagree with it." "My norm is to pray and then cook dinner or something."
Mokhtar Badri, vice-president of the Muslim Association of Britain said: "It has nothing to do with position of women in society. It is not to degrade them or because we don't think they are up to it. One protester said having a woman leading prayers in this way was "against Islam".
"This is something divine not human. We have to do it in the way it has been ordained by God to do it." "We're here to uphold the traditions and the values of Islam and uphold the ways of the prophet - peace be upon him," said Aishah Samah, a protester from Oxford.
Women are forbidden under Islamic law to enter a mosque when they are menstruating as they are "unclean", which prevents them from being an Imam. 'Highly-respected'
Organisers heralded the decision to allow the scholar to lead the service as a "leap forward" for "theological destiny". Another Muslim woman, Maryan Ramzy, said: "We have no objections to women being heads of state, or organisation leaders.
Chairman of the Muslim Educational Centre Oxford (MECO) Dr Taj Hargey said: "We believe Islam is a gender-equal religion. "Women are highly-respected in Islam. But in Islamic law, women cannot lead prayer."
"There is a record that the Prophet Mohammed allowed a woman to lead a mixed-gender congregation, but this precedent has been ignored." The protestors had ignored a plea from a local Muslim leader not to picket the mosque as it would give the event more publicity.
"I urge the local Muslim people not to protest," said Sabir Hussain Mirza, the chairman of the Muslim Council of Oxford.
The council said it represented 98% of Muslims in Oxford and opposed women leading mixed prayers.
However, Mr Mirza said that the event was "nothing to do with us".
In March 2005, Professor Wadud held Friday prayers to a mixed congregation in New York.
Protests were also held on that occasion.