Agime Sogojeva is a spiritual teacher known as a mualime, where she is one of some 100 female theologians hoping to revive Muslim traditions in Kosovo. The mualimes work at the country’s three Muslim high schools and Islamic centers where they discuss the Quran, women’s rights and daily practices pertinent to Islam.
AP makes the point that “the move to establish the religious training of women in mosques — where women are allocated places in a separate room from the men — is seen by some as a way to make Kosovo’s approach to Islam more gender-balanced.”
“Mualime are good for the whole society,” states Resul Rexhepi, BIK secretary general, the country’s executive for the Muslim communities. BIK officials report that the introduction of these female spiritual leaders has reduced sexual violence at home, offered support for women who were raped during the war, helped mothers with their children’s education and encouraged women to vote.
Enisa Bekteshi, a 21-year old student, says it is easier for a female teacher to explain “some delicate issues a woman is reluctant to ask a [male] imam.”
