Making it as a Palestinian female judge:
Judge Khuloud al-Faqeeh’s biggest fear when she became one of the
first two female Palestinian Islamic judges was that men would refuse
to stand before her. As in every Arab and Muslim country with the
exception of Sudan, only men passed judgment in Islamic courts.“They expect a man with a beard and a turban,” said Judge al-Faqeeh,
smiling wryly from behind her desk as her hand made a circular movement
above her cream-coloured satin head scarf.Considered by many in this male-dominated society to be too emotional
to serve as judges, women in Islamic courts were there to receive
judgments, not to give them. The results were frequently unfair. But
after the appointment of two women judges to Islamic courts in the West
Bank last month, Palestinian women have begun to find an understanding
ear – and more equitable judgments.
