The Women in Islam Journal was created in response to the rapid expansion of political and militant Islam in the Greater Horn of Africa (GHoA), and the use of fundamentalist interpretations of Islamic traditions to reshape governance systems in the region. Over the past decades, this phenomenon has resulted in great socio-political and legal setbacks that have directly impacted the wellbeing of most people in the region, especially women and girls. In addition to compromising peace and security in the GHoA, it has enabled and justified dangerous, discriminatory practices that undermine women’s rights as citizens and normalize violence against women and girls.

Women in Islam echoes the desire shared by many Muslims to reclaim their religion. It highlights the rich heritage and current attempts by scholars, activists, and Muslims from all walks of life to promote equitable readings of Islamic traditions and texts to support gender equality and justice. The Journal seeks to deconstruct stereotypes about Muslim women and societies by providing a complex picture of gender relations in Muslim communities and depicting the diverse realities of women and men living in majority or minority Muslim contexts.

Women in Islam hopes not only to be a source of knowledge but also to spark creative and forward-looking discussions on how to effectively improve the status of women in Muslim societies in Africa and beyond. It proposes concrete avenues to address the violence and injustice experienced by women and provides tools and arguments to challenge the dogmatic narratives that contradict the basic principles of humanity, justice, equality and tolerance.