Book on Feminist Responses to Fundamentalism Launched

24 September 2007

The Centre for Interdisciplinary Post-graduate Studies of the University in Sarajevo (CIPS), the Woman and Society Centre and Women in Black, organized a book-launch in Sarajevo, September 20, for Fundamentalism Today: Democratic and Feminist Responses.

The book offers a selection of essays by Marieme Heli Lukas, sociologist and psycho-therapist, and founder of the WLUML network (Women Living Under Muslim Laws). The BHS edition was edited by Sta�a Zajović and Nada Ler Sofronić, for the publishers Women in Black, Belgrade, and Woman and Society Centre, Sarajevo.

Nada Ler Sofornić, Sta�a Zajović, Zilka �iljak, Esad Bajtal and Mariame Heli Lukas spoke at the promotion.

As all speakers noted, the book has the goal to introduce the general public, and women in particular, with the term, content, area of action of retrograde cleronationalist, clerofascist, fundamentalist movements, both on global and local levels.

It also aims to warn of the consequences and dangers that fundamentalist movements present to the youth, young women in particular, as well as return of traditional roles for women.

Finally, the book intends to enable the women, in particular the civil society activities, to recognize such retrograde trends.

The participants also pointed out the need for joint action against all forms of fundamentalism, transgressing state, ethnic and religious boundaries and lines of division. They emphasized the need to support the victims of fundamentalist violence and oppression of women, but in the local environment and wider, as well as strengthened solidarity of women coalitions and mutual global support.