Muslim Council of Britain's first female leader won't question lack of female imams in UK

The first female leader of the Muslim Council of Britain has said that questioning the UK’s lack of female imams is "not within parameters" of her role.

Last week, Zara Mohammed, 29, was elected the first ever female Secretary General of the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB).

Following her unprecedented election, she described her vision as: “to continue to build a truly inclusive, diverse and representative body” for the organisation, acting as Britain's largest democratic Muslim umbrella body, which represents more than 500 organisations.

However, speaking in an interview with BBC Radio 4’s Woman's Hour, the newly-elected representative refused to be drawn on questions of women taking up senior leadership roles within the religion.

Asked by the broadcaster and radio presenter Emma Barnett, on Thursday’s show, whether there were female imams in Britain, Ms Mohammed declined to answer, saying: “I don't feel that's within the parameters of my roles and responsibilities.”

There is a long history of female masters of Islamic theory and sciences teaching men: the four imams of Sunni orthodoxy were all taught by women, and historically, certain sects have considered it acceptable for women to function as imams.

However, the role of an imam within Muslim communities, especially within the UK, is traditionally one taken up by men.

Ms Barnett first asked the new MCB leader how many female imams there were in the UK, to which she responded: “I wouldn’t have a clue on those numbers because my role is making sure that we include all our affiliates, particularly women, in the work that we do and making sure that our structures are truly representative.”

The radio host continued to press her guest on the subject of female leaders within religion, citing the rise of female priests and rabbis, and again asked Ms Mohammed: “What’s the picture for women leading prayer in Britain in Muslim communities?”

To which she responded: “I think my role isn't really to adjudicate or examine that part of spirituality… these are all religious discussions.”

Ms Barnett asked the question a total of four times, before concluding: “It’s just striking you can’t answer that question.”

Ms Mohammed responded: “I don't feel that's within the parameters of my roles and responsibilities, especially as the first elected female representative.”

While there is no central database for the number of female imams in the UK, there are, however, liberal branches of Islam and organisations within which female imams can lead worshippers and are encouraged.

For example, the Inclusive Mosque Initiative was founded in 2012, in London. The grassroots activist organisation works toward promoting the understanding of “an intersectional feminist Islam”.

The first Muslim woman to lead mixed prayers in the UK was Amina Wadud, an African-American convert and US-based professor, who led the prayers at the Muslim Educational Centre in Oxford in 2008.

The second Muslim woman to lead prayers in the UK, Raheel Raza, also hailed from abroad. The Toronto-based activist led prayers at the same centre in 2010. At the time, she had received death threats for leading prayer in her native Canada.

In 2009, Hawaria Fattah became the first female imam in Europe after being recruited to a mosque in Belgium, marking a pioneering appointment at the time, despite only working with Muslim women.

Ms Mohammed, who is a Master’s graduate in Human Rights Law and who currently works as a training and development consultant, was speaking on the fourth day in her new role as head of the MCB, a role which is voluntary and unpaid.

Upon her election, Ms Mohammed, said: “Being elected as the first female Secretary General is quite an honour and I hope it will inspire more women and young people to come forward to take on leadership roles. They are the future of this organisation and our society."

An MCB spokesperson said: "The MCB believes strongly in promoting and encouraging Muslim women to strive for, and achieve, success. Indeed, Muslim women are engaged and represented within the MCB’s own leadership and governance structures.

"Given that we are not a theological body, we are prioritising the importance of governance, improving access and participation of Muslim women in the decision-making bodies that run mosques.

"Our Women in Mosques Development Programme (WiMPD) takes upcoming female leaders from Muslim communities across the UK, pairs them with a mentor who is an existing mosque trustee or committee member and provides bespoke leadership training that prepares them to be members of the mosque leadership committees of tomorrow.

"The opportunity to elaborate upon the work the MCB is undertaking in this vein would have been most welcome."