""In order to deceive us, men have published those religious scriptures as "God's commandments". In ancient times, the person who was known among the ten for his talent, he tried to rule the barbarians by declaring himself to be an angel or a god sent by God.... As the world gradually became more intelligent, clever and talented men saw that people no longer believed him when he called him a "prophet". Then the great Jesus introduced himself as a part of God (the Son of God) and wrote the book of the Gospel. In it it is written, 'A woman is completely subject to a man, and her husband has full rights over her property.' And the woman, who was devoid of intelligence and conscience, accepted this. Then the great Mohammed made a law that, 'A woman shall always be subject to a man, before marriage to her father or brother, after marriage to her husband, and in the absence of a husband to her son.' And the foolish woman bowed her head and accepted that law. Sister, you see that these religious scriptures are nothing but rules and regulations written by men. What you hear in the laws of the sages, you may find in the laws of a woman sage the opposite of that. The religious scriptures are not inspired or directed by God. If God had sent an angel for the purpose of ruling women, that angel would not have been limited to Asia only. Why did the angels not go to Europe? Why did they not go from America and from the poles to the poles and proclaim this command of God: "The women shall be subject to men." Is God the God of Asia only? Wasn't America his kingdom? God-given water and air are in all countries, but why haven't the messengers spread throughout the land? If the civilized people of today believe what the barbarians believed in ancient times, then what is the difference between civilization and barbarism? Whatever the case, now we will no longer bow down to the rule of men in the name of religion."
January 1, 1970
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Begum_Rokeya