The advancement of women’s rights in the Middle East is an important gauge for the progress of reform. Under the Middle East’s repressive regimes, women’s liberation will be a sure sign of the advance of universal freedoms. But what political reforms are underway for women’s legal rights across the region? Have pro-reform religious leaders succeeded in promoting new interpretations of Islamic texts regarding women? What roles do women have in the broader movement for political and economic reforms? What are the next steps in the battle for women’s rights?

These and other political, social, and religious questions will be addressed at a day-long conference hosted by AEI. The conference will bring together women of different nationalities, ethnic backgrounds, and religious and secular convictions to discuss the prospects for reform and radical change across the region. Participants will represent Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Libya, Tunisia, Israel, Iran, and Iraq.