In fact, according to Gallup polling, majorities in most Muslim countries support the equal rights of women. For instance, 90 percent of those polled in Malaysia, 86 percent in Turkey, and 85 percent in Egypt believe that women should have the right to work outside the home if they otherwise qualify for the job. Large majorities also believe women should have the right to vote without interference from male family members: 93 percent in Turkey, 90 percent in Bangladesh, 89 percent in Iran, and 80 percent in Indonesia.

QUESTION: This Gallup data challenges common Western assumptions, but polling in these countries can have methodological limitations worth noting. XREF: Connects to broader debates about Islam and gender equality, and the gap between Western perceptions and local realities in Muslim-majority nations.

Green, Todd H, The Fear of Islam_ An Intro…, loc. 315