HYDERABAD, June 28: A seminar on “Islam and Women’s Rights” was held at the University of Sindh, Jamshoro, on Saturday.

The seminar was organized by a Karachi-based NGO “Rahm” in collaboration with the Pakistan Study Centre of the University of Sindh.

Rahm president Prof Sharif Al-Mujahid introduced his NGO and keynote speaker, Prof Abbas Hussain, the director, Teachers’ Development Centre, Karachi, and the general-secretary of the NGO, to the gathering.

He said Rahm specialized in analysing the contemporary situation of Muslim women, identifying major constraints in their empowerment, developing methodology of reinterpreting the sources of normative Islam from a non-patriarchal perspective, conducting research on issues relating to human rights and producing and publishing literature and training material with a view to bringing about a transformation both in the thinking and the normative attitude of Muslim societies, in conformity with the principles of Islam. He said the NGO was working for raising women’s awareness about their rights, sanctified by Islam.

Speaking on the occasion, Prof Hussain said history was an important subject of the Holy Quran as it narrated the moral and spiritual degradation of mankind. He regretted that unfortunately people today seldom read Quran although its very first word “Iqra” commanded to “read”.

He said every book was a reflection of its author and added that the Holy Quran was the reflection of Allah.

He said the people now were talking about human rights but the Holy Quran had defined human rights, including women’s rights, in a comprehensive way about 1,400 years back.

Quoting verses from the Holy Quran, Prof Hussain said the Holy Quran affirmed the right to life, right to respect, right to justice, right to freedom, right to privacy, right to protection from slander, backbiting and ridicule, right to acquire knowledge, right to develop one’s aesthetic sensibilities and enjoy the bounties created by Allah.

He said these rights were guaranteed to men and women and there was no distinction.

In her speech, Prof Dr Rafia A. Shaikh said the Holy Quran gave a universal message to men and women. She said women, without any discrimination, were entitled to all the rights guaranteed by the Holy Quran.