Muslim Women of Power

Five women have served as leaders of Muslim countries namely Megawati Sukarnoputri (Vice President of Indonesia 1991-2001 and President 2002-4) Benazir Bhutto (PM of Pakistan 1988-90 and 1993-6) Sheikh Hasina (PM of Bangladesh 1996-2001) Khaleda Zia (PM of Bangladesh 1991-5 and 2001-6) and Tansu Çiller (PM of Turkey 1993-6). This is an extraordinary record and somewhat of a challenge to the widespread perception that Muslim women are oppressed. <br/>Four of the women belonged to political families by birth or marriage raising interesting questions about the extent to which this played a role alongside their skills and personal qualities in their rise to power. To what degree did culture rather than Islam aid and abet their roles or indeed is it sustainable to distinguish Islam from culture. <br/>This study of the role of these five powerful Muslim women uses their life and work to explore relevant issues such as the role of culture gender in Islam and the nature of the Islamic state.