At the "Woman's Voice" Symposium

In the face of the great problems that beset Arab society, and the Arab woman in particular, the "Woman's Voice Symposium" will invite each month a select company of ladies and gentlemen to treat the questions of the day and to attempt, so far as possible, to solve them.

... The "Woman's Voice Symposium" met for the first time on October 18, and the ladies discussed the question of the day — defining the latest position of the question of woman's political rights.

Here is a select company of the finest ladies, gathering at the "Woman's Voice Symposium" to treat the question of the hour — namely, woman's political rights. This bouquet of ladies comprises Miss Ibtihaj Kaddoura, president of the General Arab Women's Union; the physician Saniya Habboub Nakkash; Mrs. Habiba Shaaban Yakan, president of the Young Muslim Women's Association; Miss Zahiyah Dughan, principal of Makassed College for Girls; Mrs. Wadia Khartabil, president of the Women's Union in Tulkarm, Palestine; and the writer of these lines, In'am al-Saghir, secretary for foreign correspondence of the Lebanese Women's Union. Mrs. Edvick Jureidini Shayboub, editor-in-chief of this magazine, surrounded her honored guests with her well-known geniality and gracious kindness, and took part in the discussion as well.

The ladies examined various matters of concern to woman, foremost among them the problem of the day that touches her. Miss Ibtihaj Kaddoura was asked to acquaint those present with the latest developments in this matter and with the outcome of its examination in the Administration and Justice Committee of the Lebanese Chamber of Deputies — the committee's last meeting having taken place on the very morning of that day. Miss Kaddoura presented a full and reassuring report, remarking that the woman's question, like every other question, has its give and take, and requires thorough study from every side. What the Justice Committee is doing today is to examine the details, now that the Council of Ministers has approved the granting to woman of her political and civil rights in general, has stated as much in the ministerial declaration, and has submitted to the Chamber of Deputies a request to amend the electoral law and to clarify the Constitution — not to amend it, since there is nothing in it that prevents woman from exercising her rights in full, without diminution....

And after the Administration and Justice Committee approved the law in principle, behold, it is still studying how to apply it in its details... Now they bring up the problem of the "photograph," and now they create new obstacles that seek to stir up sectarian feeling — as though the problem of the Muslim woman's photograph and its appearance on the identity card were "the shirt of Uthman"! If the honorable committee has approved the principle of equality, why enter into fruitless details? Does every man who has the right to vote go to the ballot box and cast his vote in it? Gentlemen, members of the Administration and Justice Committee: do all your friends and relatives vote in every election?! Then why not leave the matter to take its natural course for woman as well? Is Lebanon — with its many, harmonious sects — to prove more fanatical against Islam than sisterly Syria, which has not even debated this matter? Or is it to prove more jealous for Islam, and for Muslim women in particular, than the Nile Valley and the land of the venerable Azhar?! Enough mockery and waste of time! We do not ask for polling stations reserved for women, unless

the particular surroundings require it — and that decision they have taken carries in its folds its measure of wisdom and caution. But rest assured that woman — the mother, or the woman student, or the woman working in the cultural and social fields, or any other — none of these seclude themselves apart in the cinemas and theaters, or in the lecture and concert halls; nor do they sit their certificate examinations in rooms set apart for them. The girl sits beside her brother the boy, and women and men mingle in most gatherings. If you cannot see this, then you had better enact laws and statutes setting apart special tram cars and special halls for cinema and lectures, or designate special sidewalks and streets for women — what do you say to that?!...

Miss Kaddoura, in the name of women generally, thanked the gracious chairman of the committee, Mr. Habib Abu Shahla, and those of its members who support woman in her demand. But we, for our part, wonder how they permit themselves even to raise questions about self-evident matters that deserve no such attention and study. Those present were reassured by what Miss Kaddoura told them — yet no sooner did the next day's papers appear than each of them, on her own, was astonished at what was written about that meeting and at the misstatements that occurred. What happened? Do the honorable committee members, in the presence of the ladies of the women's committee, decide things different from what they decide in their absence?! Or do the newspaper proprietors have private purposes of their own which they promote, writing what they never heard?!

After this subject had been examined, the gathered ladies turned to various matters. The physician Saniya Habboub Nakkash observed that the best work a woman can accomplish is to restore spiritual values to the understanding of those in her charge and under her care, creating a home of peace and security whose members grow up on love of others and on work for the good of the homeland.... Then the subject of political rights returned to the discussion, and Miss Ibtihaj Kaddoura remarked that the question has no connection whatever with religion: we know that the Arab Prophet gave the Arab woman full rights — women pledged allegiance to him as men did, and took part in every side of life alongside men. Mrs. Habiba Shaaban Yakan, for her part, insisted on giving personal freedom to every lady: she who wishes to vote finds the door open before her, and she who does not is fully entitled to abstain, in this just like a man. Mrs. Wadia Khartabil observed that present circumstances compel woman to enter the field, citing what happened in Palestine, when most women answered the call for relief work, learned first aid, and practiced it with full proficiency. Miss Zahiyah Dughan gave examples showing that the veil does not prevent woman from mingling or from taking part in various affairs, and took herself as an example of this: she is the daughter of a respected sheikh, and she used to wear the veil while she taught — and does so still — yet she never lags behind in undertaking any activity alongside others. Mrs. Wadia added that she and others graduated from school with the black burqu' covering their faces, and that she and her aunt (Miss Ibtihaj Kaddoura), and others besides, stood before the public and delivered speeches from behind the veil, and that was no impediment in the past era. Are we then to live in these days of ours with a mentality, a conduct, and worn-out traditions going back nearly half a century?!!