The women-led mosque will also be open to men except for Friday prayers.
Her name is Sherin Khankan. Born in Denmark to a Syrian father and a Finnish mother, the well-known author and political commentator has started a new mosque in Copenhagen, Denmark. Named as 'Mariam Mosque', it is led entirely by women imam
The mosque will only have female imams. Image via Olivia Harris/Reuters
Speaking to Danish newspaper Politiken, Sherin Khankan, the woman behind the mosque who calls it 'a feminist project', said she started Mariam because she "never felt at home in the existing mosques." Although, Mariam will be open to both men and women.
politiken.dk
Sherin Khankan told Agence France Presse that "we have normalised patriarchal structures" in our religious institutions and this is "not just in Islam, but also within Judaism and Christianity and other religions." She added that she "would like to challenge that."
"Many imams in this country belong to the traditional school which does not account for the culture we live in. Instead, they help to construct contradictions between being a practicing Muslim and a young person in Denmark. But you can love and honour several cultures and influences at once without betraying one or the other camp"
telegraph.co.uk
Reaction to the mosque
Speaking to Politiken, he dismissed claims that there is no place for women in the majority of Danish mosques. He also added that he does not believe that the mosque will make any major inroads among Muslim women.
"They can do what they want to do, but their theological reference is wrong. Why should there be a specific need just for women? Are we also to create mosques only for men? That would cause an outcry within the Danish population," Imam Hussein said.
says.com
The first Friday prayer has yet to be held as another eight female imams, in addition, to the two currently involved – Sherin Khankan and Saliha Marie Fetteh, have to be found. "It's a big responsibility and we all work as volunteers," Khankan was quoted as saying.
The woman behind the project, Sherin Khankan. Image via Sherin Khankan/Facebook
Courtesy: Says.com