Our speaker this week, Vicki Mustafa, is the eldest of five children, born in Footscray with a Muslim father and Christian mother. She was brought up as a Muslim, and became a Christian at the age of 21 when she was a trainee teacher. She was a Christian missionary in the Middle East for 20 years, and is now a Pastor in Glen Waverley. 
 
Vicki stated that to understand the minds of women in the Middle East, it is necessary to understand Islam, and she quoted a number of verses from the Koran which describe the superiority of men over women. 
 
She gave four reasons why these women have difficulty in leaving Islam:
1) Since birth women are not encouraged to discuss religion, just to obey.
2) Many countries punish anyone leaving Islam with the death penalty: in others it is seen as bringing dishonour on the family, and honour killings often ensue.
3) Women are brought up to believe in a God and an afterlife, and that submission is required for this. 
4) Men can readily divorce a wife, and the woman then loses her children and has to return to her parents in disgrace. 
 
 
Vicki described why most Muslims come to other countries: for peace, prosperity and security, and to avoid fear and punishment.  She deftly fielded our questions and Dr John Carre-Riddell thanked Vicki for her frank and enlightening exposé.