Headline news often fills us with fearful images of Islam—pictures of heavily veiled women subject to radical implementations of “Islamic law” ranging from amputations to executions.

This session looks to the Qur’an, history, and contemporary realities to provide a broader understanding of women’s roles in Islam and under Islamic family law.

We discuss the symbolism of veiling, and visions of justice in Islamic law, explaining terms such as Shari’a, hudud, and ta’zir, with respect to both retribution and restoration.