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Downtown L.A. mosque imagines empowered role for Muslim women
http://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-0131-downtown-womens-mosque-20150131-story.html
Farha Haq closes her eyes as she and other women gather for the Women's Mosque of America's first monthly Friday prayer at the interfaith Pico-Union Project in downtown Los Angeles. (Katie Falkenberg, Los Angeles Times)
By SARAH PARVINI
January 30, 2015, 8:28 PM
The women sit on their knees, watching intently as a slightly sheepish sister in a pink head scarf crosses the beige floor and approaches the dais. After a moment, her jitters are gone and, in a booming voice, she recites the Islamic call to prayer.
In what may have been a unique moment in America, more than 100 women gathered Friday at the interfaith Pico-Union Project. While many mosques continue to follow a tradition of separating women from male congregants, the downtown Los Angeles mosque forbids men from attending.
Female-only mosques may exist in China, Chile and India, but Muslim leaders say this could be the first in the U.S.
The inaugural prayer Friday marked the launch of the Women's Mosque of America, a nonprofit that hopes to create a space where Muslim women can "bring their whole self," learn more about their faith and foster bonds of sisterhood.
more at link
