ASJA supports PM Kamla, disagrees with view that women cannot lead

The president of ASJA said Tuesday women can be national leaders.

Yacoob Ali made the comment to Newsday in response to statements by former detaineed Ashmead Mohammed that Islam forbids women from leading a nation. 

ASJA is one of the more prominent Muslim organisations in Trinidad & Tobago. Ali told the paper,“ASJA does not subscribe to the view that a nation cannot be led by a woman."

He noted that "even in Saudi Arabia, change is coming, change will come."

Ali pointed out that Trinidad & Tobago is not a Muslim nation and "people are free to elect a leader of their choice. We do not subscribe to these extreme views.”

He cited examples of Muslim nations with female leaders, Benazir Bhutto of Pakistan (who was assassinated) and Sheik Hassina of Bangladesh. 

Ali made it clear that ASJA supports Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and her Government.

“There are those within the society who are not au courant with the current world trends and everybody giving interpretations. This is not a Muslim nation,” Ali said.

“ASJA in Trinidad and Tobago does not subscribe to the subjugation of women. We practise the middle road, where there is equal rights for women.” 

Ali said the only restriction placed on a woman is that she cannot be an imam and cannot lead prayers in a mixed gathering.