Women can turn tide of violence: Scholars

Speakers at IIUI say women have a role to play at domestic as well as social level

Women are agents of change in both domestic and social context and capable of promoting tolerance and stability, said IIUI Female Campus  Vice President Dr Farkhanda Zia on Thursday.

She was speaking at International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI) a seminar “Role of Daughters of Pakistan: women as agent of change to promote peace, tolerance and social reciprocity to counter violent extremism,” held at the varsity’s female campus in connection with Iqbal Day.

Dr Zia said that Allama Iqbal had urged women to come forward and play a positive role in the character building of the youth in the society.



The 1973 Constitutions of Islamic Republic of Pakistan allows participation of women in every sphere of national life, she said at the seminar jointly organised by IIUI Vice President Office and Urdu Department in collaboration with the Council of Islamic Ideology.

The purpose of seminar was to create awareness among women regarding their role as catalyst in social change towards peace, tolerance and social reciprocity to counter violence and extremism.

The event was chaired by IIUI President Dr Ahmed Yousif Al-Draiweesh. Social Sciences Faculty Dean Dr Samina Malik, Urdu Department Head Dr Najeeba Arif, Students’ Advisor Dr Nyla Jabeen also expressed their views.

Speaking on role of women in society and teachings of Islam, IIUI president called for provision of opportunities to women in building the society.

He said that Islam has clearly defined prerogatives of women. Dr Al-Draiweesh, mentioning prominent names of women in Islamic history, maintained that no society can excel unless it accepts participation of women.



He said that women, through their role, can help in disseminating peace and eradicating violence from the society.

Dr Najeeba Arif expressing her views on Iqbal’s thought on role of women mentioned his essay “National Life” and also elaborated on his address in Madras in which he had advocated role of women.

“It is quite unfortunate that Iqbal is taken as  just a curriculum poet and his actually thoughts, message and philosophy being ignored,” she added.

Dr Ghazala Ghalib, a faculty member at faculty of Shariah and Law presented a paper on role of women and Iqbal’s thoughts. Dr. Sadia Tahir, a faculty member at the Urdu Department also discussed teachings of Iqbal and women.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 26^th, 2018.