Yahya Hendi: "I am Imam-feminist"

The US Ambassador to Azerbaijan organized on Thursday at his residence a reception in honor of Imam Yahya Hendi, Georgetown University. The reception was organized in the framework of the festival "Days of America" held in Azerbaijan.

Ambassador Robert Secuta during the reception said that Georgetown University is the first and oldest Catholic universities in the US. Despite this, there is a deep tradition of tolerance.

Imam Yahya Hendi in the Days of America in Baku reads religious sermons. He often affects women's rights and calls himself a feminist imam, he said.

In his opinion, women should be well represented in the government and religious structures and have the right to make decisions.

In his speech at the reception Yahya Hendi noted that all conflicts mainly affect women and children.

Those who isolate women from public life should not speak in the name of Islam. "I am against domestic violence. The doors of all schools should be open to women. Educated woman has the best management skills in the family and society," said the imam.

Speaking about the Middle East conflict, the Imam said, "Those who send their messages through violence have no right to speak on behalf of Islam."

He also touched upon the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict, saying that he will be one of the heralds of the restoration of peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

With regard to the impact of Fethullah Gulen on the Islamic-American community, Hendi said that it was "impossible."

According to him, 38% of the Muslim community in America is the Africans, the Pakistanis and other representatives of the Asian countries are 35%, and the Arabs are 18%. So the influence of Gulen on the Islamic community in America is small. -03C04-