Doha - Should Arab women enjoy equal status with men? Does equal status necessarily mean the same rights?
This will be the topic of the seventh edition of the monthly Doha Debates being held at the Qatar Foundation headquarters today at 7.30pm. This is also the last edition of this year's debates hosted by the Qatar Foundation.
The motion for the day will be "This House believes that women in the Arab world should have equal status as men." Two speakers argue for the motion and two speak against it.
The event is chaired by former BBC presenter Tim Sebastian, who draws out the speakers, challenging their positions, and then opens the debate to questions from the audience. Finally the audience votes to accept or reject the motion, based on the merits of the arguments the speakers have made.
Speaking in favour of the motion will be Dr Tareq Al Suwaidan, a Kuwaiti presenter of numerous Islamic programs on local and satellite television. He will be joined by Toujan Faisal, the first woman elected into the Jordanian parliament.
Speaking against the motion will be Sheikh Jihad Brown, an Islamic scholar and a consultant for various Islamic projects in the region. He will be joined by Khola Hassan, an author and outspoken figure on the position of women in Islam.
The Doha Debates are taped in the foyer of Qatar Foundation's headquarters in Education City before a live audience, about half of whom are students.
BBC World has broadcasted the past four debates in their entirety, and will broadcast today's debate on June 11 (6.10 pm and 1.10am) and June 12 (1.10pm and 11.10pm).
A second season of the Doha Debates will begin on September 28, said a press statement issued yesterday.
© The Peninsula 2005
