1917, the year of the revolution and the Provisional Government coming into power, was marked by reform-induced changes in the country’s national and state structure. The newly-formed Russian leadership put the equality of citizens, irrespective of their social status, ethnic origin or religion, at the forefront of its reforms. However, the issue of granting equal rights to women and men, which was repeatedly debated by various women’s communities, was left aside. In March 1917, chairman of the Provisional Government, Prince Lvov, promised to introduce laws and regulations to reform women’s rights.
By that time, a new image of an independent, active and educated woman had been forming in Russia for several decades. In the early 20th century, a number of education groups operated in the country and various women’s communities were set up. In Kazan, working Muslim women were no longer regarded as violators of religious canons. Young Tatar women attended cultural and educational events and visited public places without wearing a hijab. Russian cities with large Muslim communities opened girls’ schools.
The revolutionary developments of February 1917 gave a new impetus to the women’s movement in Russia. In mid-April, a Muslim women’s rally was held in Bakhchisaray to discuss the issues concerning the discrimination against Muslim women caused by wrong interpretation of the main religious tenets. The women participating in the rally formed a women’s revolutionary committee, whose members arrived in Kazan at the end of the month to attend the All-Russia Congress. The stages of preparation for the event hosted by Kazan’s New Club were described in Muslim women’s magazines.
The All-Russia Muslim Women’s Congress held in Kazan on April 24-27, 1917 was attended by more than four hundred delegates. The congress discussed political and civil inequality of women, aspects of family law, the role of women in public life and raised many other issues relevant to the congress agenda. The attendees of the event had different visions of the forum’s goals and objectives, necessary reforms and innovations. The most liberal in their attitude towards drastic changes were young delegates – gymnasium graduates and university students – but different beliefs held by the participants did not allow them to resolve some of the issues.
The outcomes of the event were announced at All-Russia Muslim Congress held in Moscow in early May of the same year. The forum was held in a building located in Maliy Tatarskiy Lane bringing together about a thousand delegates. At least a tenth of them were women, who for the first time ever attended a congress as its equal participants. The chairman of the Central Bureau of Muslim Women Selima Yakubova joined the presidium. The resolutions proposed by the women’s forum were adopted unanimously and unconditionally, and were interpreted as the opinion of the country’s entire Islamic population.
By that time, a new image of an independent, active and educated woman had been forming in Russia for several decades. In the early 20th century, a number of education groups operated in the country and various women’s communities were set up. In Kazan, working Muslim women were no longer regarded as violators of religious canons. Young Tatar women attended cultural and educational events and visited public places without wearing a hijab. Russian cities with large Muslim communities opened girls’ schools.
The revolutionary developments of February 1917 gave a new impetus to the women’s movement in Russia. In mid-April, a Muslim women’s rally was held in Bakhchisaray to discuss the issues concerning the discrimination against Muslim women caused by wrong interpretation of the main religious tenets. The women participating in the rally formed a women’s revolutionary committee, whose members arrived in Kazan at the end of the month to attend the All-Russia Congress. The stages of preparation for the event hosted by Kazan’s New Club were described in Muslim women’s magazines.
The All-Russia Muslim Women’s Congress held in Kazan on April 24-27, 1917 was attended by more than four hundred delegates. The congress discussed political and civil inequality of women, aspects of family law, the role of women in public life and raised many other issues relevant to the congress agenda. The attendees of the event had different visions of the forum’s goals and objectives, necessary reforms and innovations. The most liberal in their attitude towards drastic changes were young delegates – gymnasium graduates and university students – but different beliefs held by the participants did not allow them to resolve some of the issues.
The outcomes of the event were announced at All-Russia Muslim Congress held in Moscow in early May of the same year. The forum was held in a building located in Maliy Tatarskiy Lane bringing together about a thousand delegates. At least a tenth of them were women, who for the first time ever attended a congress as its equal participants. The chairman of the Central Bureau of Muslim Women Selima Yakubova joined the presidium. The resolutions proposed by the women’s forum were adopted unanimously and unconditionally, and were interpreted as the opinion of the country’s entire Islamic population.
