What Islam really says about women | Alaa Murabit

Translator: Hope Crick Reviewer: Joachim Mangilima

So on my way here,

Njiani kufika hapa,

the passenger next to me and I had a very interesting conversation

nilikuwa na mazungumzo mazuri na mtu aliyekuwa anakaa pembeni yangu kwenye

during my flight.

ndege. Alinambia

He told me, "It seems like the United States has run out of jobs,

"Hamna kazi tena USA,

yaani sasa wamebuni kazi mpya:

because they're just making some up:

cat psychologist, dog whisperer, tornado chaser."

mwanasaikolojia wa paka, mzungumzaji wa mbwa,msasi wa kimbunga."

Punde, aliniuliza,

A couple of seconds later, he asked me,

"Kwani wewe unafanya kazi gani?"

"So what do you do?"

And I was like, "Peacebuilder?"

Nikamjibu, "Mjenzi wa usalama?"

(Vicheko)

(Laughter)

Every day, I work to amplify the voices of women

Kila siku, nafanya bidii kuwazidishia wanawake sauti

and to highlight their experiences

na kuoneysha maisha yao na michango yao

and their participation in peace processes and conflict resolution,

katika hatua za kutafuta usalama na kutatua migogoro,

and because of my work,

na kwa sababu ya kazi zangu, natambua kwamba njia ya pekee

I recognize that the only way to ensure the full participation of women globally

kwa kuhakikisha ushirikiano kamili

wa wanawake duniani ni kuchukua tena dini mikononi mwetu.

is by reclaiming religion.

Now, this matter is vitally important to me.

Sasa, jambo hilo ni muhimu sana kwangu.

As a young Muslim woman, I am very proud of my faith.

Kama muislamu na mwanamke kijana, ninaijali dini yangu sana.

It gives me the strength and conviction to do my work every day.

Inanipa nguvu na msimamo katika kazi zangu kila siku.

It's the reason I can be here in front of you.

Ndiyo sababu inayoniwezesha kusimama hapa leo mbele yenu.

But I can't overlook the damage that has been done in the name of religion,

Lakini siwezi kutojali hasara kubwa zilizofanyika kwa kutumia jina la dini,

not just my own, but all of the world's major faiths.

si dini yangu tu, lakini dini zote kubwa za dunia.

The misrepresentation and misuse and manipulation of religious scripture

Kuyatumia vibaya na kuyageuza maandiko ya kidini

has influenced our social and cultural norms,

kumebadilisha desturi zetu za kijamii na kitamaduni,

our laws, our daily lives,

sheria zetu, kila siku zetu,

to a point where we sometimes don't recognize it.

hadi kumefikia tusipoweza kupagundua.

Wazazi wangu walihama Libya, Afrika ya Kaskazini kwenda Kanada

My parents moved from Libya, North Africa, to Canada

in the early 1980s,

mwanzoni mwa miaka 1980,

and I am the middle child of 11 children.

na mimi niko katikati ya watoto 11.

Yes, 11.

Ehee, 11.

But growing up, I saw my parents,

Lakini katika kukulia kwangu,

both religiously devout and spiritual people,

niliwaona wazazi wangu, wote wacha Mungu na waumini wa Akhera, wakisali na

pray and praise God for their blessings,

kumshukuru kwa baraka zao,

namely me of course, but among others. (Laughter)

kama mimi, lakini zinginezo pia. (Vicheko)

They were kind and funny and patient,

Walikuwa na huruma, wenye kuchekesha, na wenye subira,

limitlessly patient, the kind of patience that having 11 kids forces you to have.

subira kubwa, aina inayofunzwa kwa kuwalea watoto 11.

And they were fair.

Pia walifanya haki.

I was never subjected to religion through a cultural lens.

Sikuwahi kupaswa kuijua dini kwa mtazamo wa kitamaduni tu.

I was treated the same,

Nilitendewa sawasawa na kaka zangu, na sisi sote

the same was expected of me.

tulikuwa tunatarijiwa kufanya sawasawa.

I was never taught that God judged differently based on gender.

Sikuwahi kuambiwa kwamba Mungu huhukumu tofauti kwa jinsia.

And my parents' understanding of God as a merciful and beneficial friend

Wazazi wangu walimwona Mungu kuwa Mwingi wa Rehema, Fadhila na rizki

and provider shaped the way I looked at the world.

na mimi nilichukulia msimamo wao.

Now, of course, my upbringing had additional benefits.

Kwa uhakika, malezi yangu yalikuwa na faida zake.

Being one of 11 children is Diplomacy 101. (Laughter)

kuwa katikati ya watoto 11 ni kama Diplomasia 101. (Vicheko)

To this day, I am asked where I went to school,

Mpaka leo, watu huniuliza wapi nilipokwenda skule,

like, "Did you go to Kennedy School of Government?"

kama, “Ulienda Skule ya Kennedy ya Serikali?"

and I look at them and I'm like, "No,

na mimi huwatazama na kuwambia, “Hapana,

I went to the Murabit School of International Affairs."

Nimeenda Skule ya Murabit ya Mambo ya Kimataifa.”

It's extremely exclusive. You would have to talk to my mom to get in.

Ni maalum sana. Ungeongea na Mamangu kwa kujipatia nafasi

Lucky for you, she's here.

Lakini kwa bahati yenu, yupo leo.

But being one of 11 children and having 10 siblings

Lakini kuwa miongoni wa watoto 11, na kuwa na ndugu 10,

teaches you a lot about power structures and alliances.

kunafundisha mengi kama mifumo ya mamlaka na muungano.

It teaches you focus; you have to talk fast or say less,

Kama kuzingatia lengo; useme haraka au

usiseme sana, kwa sababu utadakiwa mazungumzo kila mara.

because you will always get cut off.

It teaches you the importance of messaging.

Kunafundisha umuhimu wa kuwa mjumbe mzuri.

You have to ask questions in the right way to get the answers you know you want,

Uyaulize maswali kwa mpango kwa kupata jibu unalolitaka, na

and you have to say no in the right way to keep the peace.

ujue kusema 'la' kwa mpango pia kwa kufuliza usalama.

But the most important lesson I learned growing up

Lakini funzo muhimu sana nililolipata kutoka utoto wangu

lilikuwa umuhimu wa kuwa na nafasi kwenye meza.

was the importance of being at the table.

When my mom's favorite lamp broke, I had to be there when she was trying

Taa yake ndogo mamangu ilipovunjika, alivyoipenda sana, ilinilazimu niwepo

to find out how and by who, because I had to defend myself,

wakati alipochunguza ilikuwaje, ili nijitetee,

because if you're not, then the finger is pointed at you,

kwa sababu kama hupo, lawama inakuangukia kwako,

and before you know it, you will be grounded.

na kabla hujagundua, utakuwa umeadhibiwa.

I am not speaking from experience, of course.

Kwa uhahika, sijapewa adhabu mimi mwenyewe.

When I was 15 in 2005, I completed high school and I moved

Nilipokuwa na miaka 15 mwakani 2005, nikatimiza skule ya sekondari nikahamia

from Canada -- Saskatoon --

Kanada-- Saskatoon --

Ila Zawiya, Libya, mji wa nyumbani wa wazazi wangu,

to Zawiya, my parents' hometown in Libya,

a very traditional city.

mji wa kidesturi sana.

Mind you, I had only ever been to Libya before on vacation,

Fikiri, muda huo niliwahi kufika Libya kwa ajili ya matembezi tu,

and as a seven-year-old girl, it was magic.

na kama msichana wa miaka 7, ilipendeza sana.

It was ice cream and trips to the beach and really excited relatives.

Ilikuwa aiskrimu na pwani na jamaa wenye furaha.

Turns out it's not the same as a 15-year-old young lady.

niligundua haiko vilevile kama msichana wa miaka 15.

I very quickly became introduced to the cultural aspect of religion.

Nikakutana upesi na mambo ya dini ya kiutamaduni.

The words "haram" -- meaning religiously prohibited --

Maneno ya "haramu" -- lenye maana ya kukatazwa kidini --

and "aib" -- meaning culturally inappropriate --

na "aibu" -- lenye maana ya kutofaa kimaadili --

were exchanged carelessly,

yalibadilishanwa bila mpango.

as if they meant the same thing and had the same consequences.

kama yalikuwa na maana moja na adhabu moja vilevile.

And I found myself in conversation after conversation with classmates

Nikajikuta sana katika mazungumzo na wenzangu wa skule

and colleagues, professors, friends, even relatives,

na wa kazi, profesa, rafiki zangu na hata jamaa zangu,

beginning to question my own role and my own aspirations.

nikaanza kujiuliza kuhusu desturi zangu na malengo yangu.

And even with the foundation my parents had provided for me,

Na hata na msingi mzuri niliopokea kutoka wazazi wangu,

I found myself questioning the role of women in my faith.

Nilijikuta nikajiuliza kuhusu nafasi ya mwanamke katika dini yangu.

So at the Murabit School of International Affairs,

Kule kwenye Skule ya Murabit ya Mambo ya Kimataifa,

we go very heavy on the debate,

tunapenda sana kufanya mjadala,

and rule number one is do your research, so that's what I did,

na sheria ya kwanza ni fanya utafiti wako, na hivyo ndivyo nilivyofanya mimi,

and it surprised me how easy it was

Ikanishangaza sana vipi ilikuwa rahisi

to find women in my faith who were leaders,

kuwagundua wanawake katika Uislamu waliokuwa viongozi,

who were innovative, who were strong --

wavumbuzi, wenye nguvu --

politically, economically, even militarily.

za kisiasa, za kiuchumi hata za kijeshi.

Khadija financed the Islamic movement

Khadija aliziendesha fedha za harakati za Kiislamu

in its infancy.

katika siku zake za mwanzo.

We wouldn't be here if it weren't for her.

Tusingekuwepo hapa leo bila michango yake.

So why weren't we learning about her?

Kwa nini tusifundishwe kisa chake?

Why weren't we learning about these women?

Kwa nini tusifundishwe visa vya hao wanawake?

Why were women being relegated to positions which predated

Kwa nini wanawake wapewe vyeo vilivyotoka

the teachings of our faith?

zama zilizotangulia mafunzo ya dini yetu?

And why, if we are equal in the eyes of God,

Na kwa nini, kama sisi sote tuko sawasawa machoni mwa Mungu,

are we not equal in the eyes of men?

hatuko sawasawa machoni mwa binadamu?

To me, it all came back to the lessons I had learned as a child.

Hayo yalinipeleka kufikiria mafunzo yangu ya utotoni.

The decision maker, the person who gets to control the message,

Anayeamua, na kuwa na mamlaka juu ya ujumbe,

is sitting at the table,

anayo nafasi kwenye meza,

and unfortunately, in every single world faith,

na kwa bahati mbaya, katika dini zote za kidunia,

they are not women.

hao si wanawake.

Religious institutions are dominated by men

Taasisi za kidini zinatawaliwa na wanaume

and driven by male leadership,

na kuendeshwa na viongozi vya kiume,

and they create policies in their likeness,

na wanabuni sera zinazowafaa wanaume tu,

and until we can change the system entirely,

na ila tunaweza kubadilisha mfumo huo kabisa, kwa kweli hatuwezi

then we can't realistically expect to have full economic

kutarajia wanawake kushiriki kwa ukamilifu

and political participation of women.

katika uchumi au siasa.

Our foundation is broken.

Msingi wetu umevunjika.

My mom actually says, you can't build a straight house on a crooked foundation.

Mamangu husema, "huwezi kujenga nyumba nzima juu ya msingi mbovu".

In 2011, the Libyan revolution broke out, and my family was on the front lines.

Mwakani 2011, Mapinduzi ya Libya yaliripuka na aila yangu walikuwepo mistari ya mbele.

And there's this amazing thing that happens in war,

Kuna jambo moja la kushangaza linalojitokeza katika vita,

a cultural shift almost, very temporary.

kama mageuzo ya kiutamaduni, kwa muda mfupi tu.

And it was the first time that I felt it was not only acceptable

Kwa mara ya kwanza nilijisikia ilikubaliwa, au hata

for me to be involved, but it was encouraged.

ilisisitizwa kwa mimi kujihusisha na mambo.

It was demanded.

Ilihitajika.

Myself and other women had a seat at the table.

Mimi na wanawake wengine walipewa nafasi kwenye meza.

We weren't holding hands or a medium.

Hatukuwa wasaidizi wa wanaume tu.

We were part of decision making.

Tulichangia katika uamuzi.

We were information sharing. We were crucial.

Tulichangia katika kutoa taarifa. Tulikuwa muhimu sana.

And I wanted and needed for that change to be permanent.

Na mimi nilitaka, nilihitaji mageuzo hayo kutoondoka.

Turns out, that's not that easy.

Lakini niligundua si rahisi kuwa nilivyotaka.

It only took a few weeks before the women that I had previously worked with

Ilichukua wiki chache tu kabla hao wanawake niliowafanya nao kazi

were returning back to their previous roles,

walikuwa wanarejea katika kazi zao za zamani,

and most of them were driven by words of encouragement

na wengi walipewa maneno ya kusisitizwa

from religious and political leaders,

kutoka kwa viongozi wa kidini na vya kisiasa, wengi wao

most of whom cited religious scripture as their defense.

walijaribu kuthibitisha hoja zao kwa maandishi ya kidini.

It's how they gained popular support for their opinions.

Ndivyo walivyojipatia mikono ya watu katika hoja zao.

Mwanzoni, nilizingatia kuwapa wanawake nguvu katika siasa na uchumi.

So initially, I focused on the economic and political empowerment of women.

I thought that would lead to cultural and social change.

Nikafikiri ingeliongoza mabadiliko ya kiutamaduni na kijamii.

It turns out, it does a little, but not a lot.

Niligundua, ilifanikiwa kidogo tu, lakini sio sana.

I decided to use their defense as my offense,

Nikaamua kuitumia njia yao wale viongozi wa kidini

and I began to cite and highlight Islamic scripture as well.

nikaanza kuthibitisha hoja zangu kwa maandishi ya kiislamu pia.

In 2012 and 2013, my organization led the single largest

Katika miaka 2012 na 2013, shirika langu liliongoza kampeni ya pekee iliyokuwa

and most widespread campaign in Libya.

kubwa na pana kuliko zote Libya.

We entered homes and schools and universities, even mosques.

Tulipenyeza nyumbani, skuleni na vyuoni, hata misikitni.

We spoke to 50,000 people directly,

Tulizungumza na watu 50,000 uso kwa uso, na mamia ya maelfu zaidi

and hundreds of thousands more through billboards and television commercials,

kwa njia za matangazo ya kubandika,

matangazo kwenye tv na kwenye radio.

radio commercials and posters.

And you're probably wondering how a women's rights organization

Labda mnajiuliza, shirika la haki za wanawake

was able to do this in communities which had previously opposed

waliweza kufanya hivyo vipi katika jamii ilyopingana na sisi

our sheer existence.

kabisa mwanzoni.

I used scripture.

Niliyatumia maandishi ya kiislamu.

I used verses from the Quran and sayings of the Prophet,

Nilitumia aya za Korani na misemo ya Mtume Mohammed,

Hadithi zake, misemo yake ambayo ni, kwa mfano,

Hadiths, his sayings which are, for example,

"The best of you is the best to their family."

"Mtu bora ndiye anayefanya wema kwa familia yake."

"Do not let your brother oppress another."

"Usimruhusu mtu kumdhulumu mwingine."

For the first time, Friday sermons led by local community imams

Kwa mara ya kwanza, hotuba za Ijumaa kutoka kwa imamu wa kienyeji

promoted the rights of women.

zilitangaza haki za wanawake.

They discussed taboo issues, like domestic violence.

zilizungumzia masuala yasiyo kawaida, kama vurugu ya nyumbani.

Policies were changed.

Sera zilibadilishwa.

In certain communities, we actually had to go as far

Katika jamii fulani, ilitubidi kusema lile Azimio

as saying the International Human Rights Declaration,

la Kimataifa la Haki ya Wanadamu mlilopingana nayo

which you opposed because it wasn't written by religious scholars,

kwa sababu haikuandikwi na watalaamu wa kidini,

well, those same principles are in our book.

eti, misingi yote ile imo kitabu chetu.

So really, the United Nations just copied us.

Yaani, Shirika la Umoja wa Mataifa lilituiga tu.

By changing the message, we were able to provide

Kwa kuubadilisha ujumbe wenyewe, tuliweza kuitoa

an alternative narrative which promoted the rights of women in Libya.

sura mpya iliyotangaza haki za wanawake Libya.

It's something that has now been replicated internationally,

Ni jambo ambalo sasa limeigwa duniani,

and while I am not saying it's easy -- believe me, it's not.

na sisemi ni rahisi--- niamini, si rahisi kabisa.

Liberals will say you're using religion and call you a bad conservative.

'Liberals' watasema unaitumia dini na kukuita 'conservative' mbaya.

Conservatives will call you a lot of colorful things.

na 'conservatives' watakupa matusi mengi.

I've heard everything from, "Your parents must be extremely ashamed of you" --

Mimi mwenyewe nimeyapata mengi, kama "Wazazi wako hawaaibiki na wewe?" --

false; they're my biggest fans --

sio kweli; wao wananipenda kuliko wote --

to "You will not make it to your next birthday" --

au "Hutoishi kuona siku yako ya kuzaliwa tena" --

again wrong, because I did.

tena sio kweli, nimeshaiona.

And I remain

Na bado, ninaamini kabisa

a very strong believer that women's rights and religion are not mutually exclusive.

kwamba haki za wanawake na dini zinaweza kuendana.

But we have to be at the table.

Lakini lazima tupewe nafasi kwenye meza.

We have to stop giving up our position, because by remaining silent,

Tusiache kupigania nafasi yetu, kwa sababu

kwa kukaa kimya, tunaruhusu mateso na dhuluma za wanawake duniani kuendelea.

we allow for the continued persecution and abuse of women worldwide.

By saying that we're going to fight for women's rights

Kwa kudai tutapigania haki za wanawake

and fight extremism with bombs and warfare,

na kupigania ugaidi kwa kutumia mabomu na vita,

we completely cripple local societies which need to address these issues

tunaharibu jamii za kienyeji zinazohitaji kuyashughulikia masuala hayo

so that they're sustainable.

ili yawezekane kuendelea.

It is not easy, challenging distorted religious messaging.

Sio rahisi, kushindana na taarifa za dini za kupotosha.

You will have your fair share of insults and ridicule and threats.

Utapata vyako vya matusi na dhihaka na vitisho.

Lakini ni lazima ifanyike.

But we have to do it.

We have no other option than to reclaim the message of human rights,

Hatuna budi ila kuuchukua tena ujumbe wa haki za binadamu,

the principles of our faith,

maadili ya dini yetu, si kwa ajili yetu,

not for us, not for the women in your families,

na si kwa ajili ya wanawake wenu tu,

not for the women in this room,

si kwa ajili ya wanawake humu leo,

not even for the women out there,

hata si kwa ajili ya wanawake kule nje,

but for societies that would be transformed

bali kwa ajili ya jamii ambazo zingebadilika kuwa nzuri

with the participation of women.

kwa mashirikiano ya wanawake.

And the only way we can do that,

Na jinsi ya pekee sisi tunavyoweza kufanya hivyo,

our only option,

njia yetu moja tu,

is to be, and remain, at the table.

ni kupata nafasi na kukaa daima, kwenye meza.

Thank you.

Asante.

(Makofi)

(Applause)