More than 100 women gathered Friday at the interfaith Pico-Union Project for the inaugural prayer marking the launch of the Women’s Mosque of America, a nonprofit hoping to create space where Muslim women can learn and connect with other women.
Female-only mosques exist in China, Chile and India, but Muslim leaders say this could be a first for the United States. A 2011 study says about two-thirds of American mosques use a divider to separate men and women during morning prayers. The number may be higher for Friday prayers. Such mosques allow women greater opportunities to ask the imam questions afterward. Although the prayer space is only for women, other events and classes will be open to men.
There has been a growing call over the years for female empowerment in the Muslim community to help change public perception of the faith.
Japan Times