Bismillah

"Islam does not oppress women. Men oppress women."
She tucks at her scarf.
Continues.
"You must remember, before Islam, the Arabs were a people lost in ignorance."
Peter-John takes another pastry and listens intently.
"It is known as Jahiliyyah, the period of ignorance. That was not a good time for women."
Maryam shudders.
"To be a woman, back then, was worse than being a dog."
Peter-John looks at her curiously.
"The Arabs, then, buried there daughters alive. To have a daughter, was seen as something shameful. A disgrace."
She takes a sip of her spiced tea.
"Islam came to liberate the women. The Western world speaks of women rights and all these things only as of the 70's, 80's. Allah freed us and gave us rights more than 1400 years ago."
She gives the woman in the corner a quick glance.
Smiles.
Continues.
"The prophet, sallallahu alayhi wasallam, came to free us. All praise belongs to Allah."

InshaAllah