Muslim Women, Fed Up, Tell Men to 'Lower Their Gaze'

July 12, 2010

Author: Omar Sacirbey

Source: The Pew Forum/Religion News Service

http://pewforum.org/Religion-News/Muslim-women-fed-up-tell-men-to-lower-their-gaze.aspx

It was a moment Laila Al-Marayati wishes she had back. 

Standing outside the Islamic Center of Southern California in Los Angeles following Friday prayers, a male worshipper approached and chastised her for not wearing a headscarf. 

"If you were a true Muslim," he snapped, "you would keep your hair covered." 

Al-Marayati, a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles-based Muslim Women's League, was taken aback and too shocked to be able voice her anger. 

Looking back, she wishes she could have given him a piece of her mind. 

"And if you were a true Muslim," she would have told him, "you wouldn't be staring at me."