The recent debate stirred by claims that Islam is the most feminist religion (Q&A Feb 13, 2017) and Islamic law bestowed women’s rights (junkee.com Oct 8, 2014) opens a Pandora’s box of thorny questions. If Islam is feminist, why is discrimination institutionalised in Saudi Arabia and Iran, the pillars of Sunni and Shiite Islam? If Islam improved the lot of women, what was their status in pre-Islamic Arabia? What is the position of Muslim women reformers on feminism in Islam?

Guardianship laws in Saudi Arabia restrict and infantalise women, as male kin have control over their medical treatment, education, choice of...