Believing Women in IslamDoes Islam call for the oppression of women? Non Muslims point to the subjugation of women that occurs in many Muslim countries, especially those that claim to be "Islamic," while many Muslims read the Quran in ways that seem to justify sexual oppression, inequality, and patriarchy. Taking a wholly different view, Asma Barlas develops a believers reading of the Quran that demonstrates the radically egalitarian and antipatriarchal nature of its