The Center for Southeast Asia Studies, UC Berkeley
Presents a LECTURE by
UC Berkeley-UCLA Distinguished Visitor for Southeast Asian Studies, 2007-08

Zainah Anwar

"What Islam, Whose Islam? The Struggle for Women's Rights within a Religious Framework & the Experience of Sisters in Islam"

Zainah Anwar is the Executive Director of Sisters in Islam, and a prominent feminist and public intellectual in Malaysia. She received a postgraduate degree from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University and is a former member of Malaysia?s Human Rights Commission.

Sisters in Islam (SIS) is a Malaysian non-governmental organization committed to upholding the principles of justice and human rights for women within the framework of Islam. Their program is organized to provide legal services, public education, outreach and advocacy to promote legal reform and protect the rights of women. SIS has published a number of publications concerning women, Islam and the law, has conducted research on the impact of polygamy on the family, and has drafted legislation on Islamic Family Law. SIS maintains an active media presence in Malaysia to combat movements by government officials and religious authorities to restrict the rights of women at home and in society.

Co-sponsored by the Center for Middle Eastern Studies, the Center for South Asian Studies, and the Religion, Politics, and Globalization Program