EDITOR:
In response to Mr. Khan’s unprecedented speech at the DNC, Donald Trump had little to rebut and instead resorted to making Ms. Khan the focus of his rhetoric. “She had nothing to say. She probably, maybe she wasn’t allowed to have anything to say. You tell me.”
I will gladly tell you, Mr. Trump, that Muslim women can and do speak for themselves. The Holy Quran contains an entire chapter entitled “The Woman,” dedicated to reinforcing women’s rights such as the right to vote, to hold public office, the right to a divorce, to maintain her wealth before and after marriage, to be absolved of all financial responsibilities during marriage, to an inheritance, to own a business — many rights not afforded to women in the West until the 1920s or later in some parts. There is not, however, a chapter in The Quran called “The Man.”
Mr. Trump, I am an Arab, American Muslim woman and I own my own business, lecture at a local university, I am a regular guest speaker and expert on Middle East affairs.
Mr. Trump, I am a Muslim woman. Hear me roar.
Iman Jodeh is the Founder and Director of Meet the Middle East, a Denver based non-profit that fosters relationships between the US and Middle East through education and travel.