In three days last week I heard three remarkable women: New Zealanders Helen Clark and Helen Anderson,
and Canadian Ingrid Mattson.
Dr Ingrid Mattson was raised a Catholic and became a Muslim
in her twenties. A lecturer in Islamic
Studies she was, remarkably, president of the Islamic Society of North America for four years post 9/11. At this
challenging time this diminutive, white woman was speaking for the North
American Muslim community.
With her background she is well placed to speak on gender
and leadership in the Islamic world and she applauded the local Wowma programme which is successfully developing the
leadership skills of young Muslim women in Hamilton.
She also spoke of the range of Islamic communities across
the world with their widely varying cultural practices and the resulting complexities
of identity.
She has experienced the shift from being part of the dominant group to being recognisably one of a minority group. She encouraged Muslims, who are a minority group in this
country, to build bridges of understanding with the wider community. She emphasised the importance of
neighbourliness and contributing generously to the place where one lives.
Informed by a deep scholarly knowledge of the Koran, she
spoke with a quietly compelling voice for moderation and inclusiveness.
