Let's be honest sister. If this man really did do his research well, he would've found out that men and women were in fact segregated. The Prophet used to dedicate a different day just for the women so that he may teach them and answer all of their questions regarding Islam. Men and were also segregated in the Masjid. They didn't sit side by side with the men. They were in the back. Matter of fact there is a well known hadith regarding this very topic where the Prophet said the best line for men is the first and the best line for women in jamaa'ah in the masjid was the last. This is all pointing to the segregation of men and women.
There is a whole lot of things that are haraam being promoted in this article. And a lot of things that are Islamic, are simply being called "wahabisim" whatever that means.
I never once said that rape and bad things does not happen in Muslim countries because we all know bad things happen all over the world. But you cannot tell me the statistics are the same when it comes to fornication, STDs, drunk driving and so many other social problems.
You have mentioned that imam in more than one thread now. Yes what he did is disgusting and unbelievable. But how many imams do we hear about doing such things on a daily basis? Almost none.
My issue with this article is its message. Let's forget if segregation is Islamic or not. Even if it's just cultural, what I don't understand is why is it considered bad? There are many benefits in it for women in their opinion. So why can't this author and us in the west accept that and move on?
I think Brother Mehmet said it correctly, that when you are completely segregated the women get less opportunities - for work, for earning income, for access to health care, for education, for transportation. It is very difficult to find a workplace that has separate office space for men and women, separate "bosses" for the women and for the men, etc. An employer would have to have a lot of money to set up that type of structure in his/her office. So the default becomes a male-oriented workplace.
Imagine, if I lived in a segregated society I would not be earning income right now. I would have no way to get to work if I was not allowed to drive. And if I was sick and needed medical attention, I would have to seek out and find a female-only doctor --- which would be difficult in itself because the female-only doctors would have to have been educated in female-only universities and trained with female-only doctors....It all results in a vicious circle that proves no benefit to women.
And if I need repairs to my car, where would I be able to have that done? What type of automotive garage employs "women for women"? If my car breaks down, I have to go to a garage and deal with male servicemen in an open environment.
This is why Islam created hijab and modesty. This is why men are instructed to lower their gaze. Yes, of course women will pray separate from men. Of course women will seek knowledge in a forum separate from men - why would they ask questions about menstruation, breastfeeding etc in front of the men? Even non-muslims observe those types of boundaries!
Realistically, it is only women who are married and well-supported financially in all aspects, that can thrive in a segregated culture. those who are not married, including women who are divorced, will just struggle, struggle, struggle.