Hello, all, I'm glad to hear of this, I was quite disappointed when I heard 
of the proposal at first, but I'm happy that it has been rejected.

Ginny


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "musa pembo" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, September 12, 2006 9:35 AM
Subject: Women Welcome Rejection of Haram Prayer Proposal.


  Women Welcome Rejection of Haram Prayer Proposal


JEDDAH, 12 September 2006 — Muslims Worldwide have welcomed the decision
taken by the Presidency of the Two Holy Mosques Affairs to reject a proposal
to shift the women's prayer area in the mataaf (circumambulation area around
the Holy Kaaba). The presidency has also decided to allocate 53 percent of
the Grand Mosque to female worshippers.

"There is no truth in press reports that the presidency was planning to
shift the women's prayer place in the mataaf to other areas inside the
mosque. This was merely based on a proposal (made by a special panel),"
Muhammad Nasser Al-Khozaim, vice chairman of the presidency, told reporters.

"No change has taken place in the prayer area for women in the mataaf. In
fact, we have allocated two more wider spaces overlooking the Kaaba for
women to pray," the official said emphasizing that women were equally
entitled to the prayer complex as men.

"The presidency has arranged special prayer areas for women during Ramadan
and it covers 53 percent of the whole Haram, including the mataaf and three
floors," explained Al-Khozaim, adding that media reports on shifting the
prayer place of women from the mataaf to a different area were based on a
misunderstanding.

The proposal to shift the prayer area drew stiff criticism from Muslim women
across the globe. In protest at the proposals, a petition had been posted at
the www.petitiononline.com website, which has so far attracted over 1,000
signatures. Mawaheb Ezzulden, a Sudanese pilgrim, told Arab News that many
women were crying after they heard that there were plans to stop women from
praying in the mataaf area. "I thank the Saudi government and the Two Holy
Mosques Affairs for all their efforts in serving pilgrims and visitors. I
thank them for allocating more space for women. This is good news for people
and shows clearly that Islam is definitely not against women enjoying their
rights," she said.

Sultan Abdullah, a Saudi government worker, said that many people attacked
Saudi Arabia because of the misunderstanding. Abdullah said: "I wonder what
they feel now? As Saudis we will not bother with what the enemies of Saudi
Arabia and Islam say and we will continue serving pilgrims to the Two Holy
Mosques honorably." Abdullah added: "It is just unbelievable how much Saudi
Arabia came under attack because of a silly misunderstanding. Doesn't Islam
tell them to have good thoughts about people and to not jump to
conclusions?"

Ghayth Al-Otaibi, a long-time Makkah resident who prays in the Grand Mosque
five times a day, laughed when he heard the news. "I knew it was a huge
misunderstanding. Look all around you, women are everywhere. It would be
crazy to even think such a plan would have materialized."

Suhaila Hammad, research director at the Saudi National Society for Human
Rights, told Arab News she was glad women would be able to continue praying
in the circumambulation area. "It is simply our right and it is of great joy
that we can continue enjoying this right," she said.

Laila Al-Ahdab, an Arab columnist who writes for the Al-Watan newspaper and
an advocate of women's rights in the Kingdom, said she was sure that the
authorities would not have gone ahead with the proposals. "The Haram is for
Muslims all over the world, men and women. When I first heard about the
proposal, I was sure that it would be rejected," she added.

Hammad, who is from Madinah, urged authorities to allocate more space and
time at the Prophet's Mosque for women to pray and visit the Prophet's
grave. "Our Prophet has advised us to pray standing between his grave and
his platform, saying it is a garden from the gardens of Paradise. But women
are allowed only a limited space in the area to pray," she said. Speaking
about time constraints, she said women are allowed to visit the Prophet's
grave only for five hours a day from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. and one hour in the
afternoon," she said.

Amira Kashgari, one of the participants in the second National Forum for
Dialogue held in Makkah, said she was glad that the "voices of wisdom were
victorious at the end."

Sara Yousef, a pilgrim from Egypt, commended the Kingdom's efforts in the
service of pilgrims. "So many millions of people come here, people from all
types of backgrounds. The Haram is always kept clean, tidy and the
environment is so beautiful. It costs money and a lot of effort to do this.
People should appreciate these efforts," she said.

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