By Dina Parker
Book Reviewer
I’m a world traveler. I’ve visited places that are tranquil, amazing, awe-inspiring and humbling.
On one of those adventures, I encountered something that I had only read about or seen on television. In that moment, I was utterly shocked, a little frightened but mostly unprepared for how this image would haunt me for years to come. On the cobblestone streets of Gibraltar, an ageless, shapeless, darkly-cloaked woman raced uncomfortably between crowds of people in an obvious attempt to keep up with a man several feet ahead of her.
On one of Spain’s hottest days, this woman was dressed in a hijab. Her entire body was wrapped in heavy black fabric. I could not see her hands, her feet, her hair or her body. The only part of her that she revealed to the world was her eyes. As she passed, I felt an immediate surge of fear. The only people that I had ever heard of who were dressed entirely in black with their faces disguised were bank robbers and thieves — dangerous people. That experience really made me question my reaction, my understanding and my tolerance for others’ choices.
In my search for answers, I came across the book Infidel. It is one Muslim woman’s account of her religion and what it took to be free of it. At 350 pages, it’s a lengthy read.
The book begins with the author’s coming of age tale about being raised a Muslim girl with no right to education, constant beatings and an expectation of unquestioning compliance and submission to the Quran.
The turning point comes with the author’s arranged marriage to a man she has never met before. Against all the rules, she refuses to marry him but her father reminds her that her wishes are unimportant and unnecessary. Under Islamic law, her presence is not required at the marriage ceremony and she can be married against her will. And so it goes — she is married without even being there.
When her father sends her off to live in her husband’s home, she flees to Holland. There she gets refugee status and later becomes a citizen. With her newfound freedom, she gets an education, learns to live by a new moral code, finds fulfillment in a career and then finally sets about to end the suffering of Muslim women.
This book frightened me. As I read the beginning chapters, in which the author describes being raised as a female in the Muslim religion, I kept thinking that she had to be exaggerating or perhaps that her accounts were unique to her household. Surely this could not be the universal female Muslim experience as the author insists. The thought made me shudder with questions of how this is possible.
As deeply disturbing as I found the first part of the book, I thought the remainder of the book was completely fascinating and heroic. I found myself cheering for the author as she conquered her ingrained beliefs and found purpose and meaning in her newly chosen life. Her strength and conviction to persevere through every obstacle — and there were many — was nothing short of inspirational. Equally compelling was the author’s efforts to change the role of women in Muslim society through debates, interviews and public policy. As an ardent activist for equal rights, the author found herself lobbed into the middle of arguments about racism and free speech. As a result, she has received real and credible death threats.
Knowing that this book will not call to everyone, I rate it a 3. However, if you are deeply interested in a female perspective on Islam, this book will be far more interesting to you. It is well written, informative and profound.
Rating: 3 out of 5 — an enjoyable read, when there is time.
• Reviewer Dina Parker would like to hear from you! Send her your reading tips, hints and comments at dinaparker@centurytel.net. She lives in North Bend.
