100 Women

The muezzins nearly fell out of their minarets. In mosques and bazaars, hadjis (pilgrims who have gazed upon Mecca's sacred shrine, the Kaaba) nearly tugged out their Prophetlike beards. For is it not written in the Koran: "It is for women to act as their husbands act towards them. ... Yet are the men a step above them?" But 100 women, representing seven Middle Eastern countries, had demanded equal rights for Arab women.

The 100 women, who had challenged the words of the Prophet, had traveled to Egypt by train and plane in search of emancipation. They were seated calmly, if a little self-consciously, in Cairo's ornate Royal Opera House. None wore the flowing charshaf (Moslem robe). Like Egypt's royal princesses, and other upper-class Moslem women, none hid her good looks behind a harem veil. Married delegates had discarded the Arabic word for wife aqila (the tethered one), in favor of qarina (partner). For some of the delegates this was the first congress their governments had ever allowed a woman to attend.

The most heated discussions were about taddad zawjat (polygamy). Said one delegate: a peasant who takes several wives brings misery upon them all. Only a rich man can afford this luxury. Unanimously the women voted: no polygamy for the poor.

A Mohammedan may divorce his wife simply by saying: "Tallaqtuki" (I divorce thee) three times. The Congress urged that it should be made harder for men to say "Tallaqtuki."

But the delegates who disapproved hungry harems disapproved wifeless men no less. The congress favored a tax on bachelors. The delegates also demanded the right to vote and hold public office.

French women were also preparing to shed their political veils last week. In April's municipal elections they will vote, for the first time in French history. They had registered in great numbers (761,428 in Paris alone), but with varying enthusiasm.

Said Mme. Marcelle Delabit, general secretary of the Tobacco & Matches Trade Union: "Women will have great influence in avoiding another war." Said eager Assemblywoman Mme. Gilberte Brossolette: "Women will be interested in social problems." Said another Assemblywoman, Mme. Madeleine Braun: "Of course women should, have the vote. But it hasn't made much fundamental difference in America or England, has it?"

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