Protests expected as woman leads Muslim prayers in Britain for first time

I guess its not just the Church of England who's struggling with the role of women.

Professor Amina Wadud is to give the sermon at a centre in Oxford today in what is being called a "leap forward" for equality in Islam.

But there are expected to be objections to the sermon at the Oxford Centre in Banbury Road, with opponents understood to be planning protests.

The move is controversial as the tradition is that Imams - always men - hold mixed services, with some believing it to be against Islam for a woman to do so.

Mokhtar Badri, vice-president of the Muslim Association of Britain is opposed to the sermon.
"With all respect to sister Amina, prayer is something we perform in accordance to the teachings of our Lord," he said.

"It has nothing to do with the position of women in society. It is not to degrade them or because we don't think they are up to it.

"This is something divine not human. We have to do it in the way it has been ordained by God to do it.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/religion/3212112/Protests-expected-as-woman-leads-Muslim-prayers-in-Britain-for-first-time.html