By Daily Sabah, 5 April 2018. Islam does not espouse
discrimination against any gender, in Turkey, women has long been excluded
women from having a say in religious matters and discouraged from praying at
mosques. Professor Huriye Martı, appointed as the first female deputy of the state-run
Presidency of Religious Affairs (DİB or Diyanet) in a landmark move earlier
this year, aims to change this.

Speaking to Anadolu Agency
(AA), Martı said they will make mosques friendlier for women and improve
women’s role in religious issues. “The prophet urged the faithful not to
prevent women from praying at mosques because mosques are where women can learn
the religion from genuine resources,” she said. Martı explained that
mosques have been “an education venue” for women since the Muhammad’s
time and are especially key for mothers to help their children grow up
accustomed to praying.

Women are not allowed to pray
side by side with men in Islam and mosques have traditionally devoted their
upper floors to female worshipers. However, faithful women have complained that
these sections are far less cared for than the areas for men. Martı said they
will impose new standards on mosques built in the future for more spaces for
women. “Mosques will have sufficient space for women, and these sections
will be maintained better. We will also revise the existing mosques in terms of
more inclusivity for women,” she said.

The DİB will also pursue a
better approach to women’s problems, Martı said, adding that they will hold a
meeting on “Islam and Woman” to consult with female theology
academics. “We have more and more women in theology faculties and this is
a great gain for us.”