Afghanistan Holds Seminar On Women's Rights In Islam

A seminar on women and Islam has begun in Kabul that will discuss the rights that are given to women within the Koran, RFE/RL's Radio Free Afghanistan reports.

Afghanistan's Women's Affairs Minister Hussunbano Ghazanfar told RFE/RL that the goal of the seminar is to give women in the region greater knowledge about their rights and responsibilities as emphasized in the Koran and to recognize the social problems women face in Islamic countries.

This is the first time female Islamic scholars from the countries in the region will take part in such a seminar in Afghanistan.

Some participants say the main obstacle keeping women from understanding their rights in Islam is illiteracy and a lack of education.

They propose improving women's knowledge about their rights and responsibilities according to the Koran by teaching such a course in schools.