WHEN Yasmeen Hussain and her friends were approached to host an event looking at the lives of Muslim women, they thought just a handful of people to turn up.

But they are expecting about 200 women to go along and learn about their lives at the first event of its kind hosted at Mosque in Compton Walk off St Mary's Road, Southampton.

Teachers, police officers, social workers and other professionals will be among the women who have signed up for the Women in Islam - Liberated or Oppressed? event.

Yasmeen and her fellow speakers are keen to dispel some of the myths that surround their religion and lifestyle.

A mother of three beautiful girls, Yasmeen has a down to earth approach to her religion.

"Our main objective is to raise awareness and educate other women about our lives so we can clear up some misconceptions," she said.

Some may believe that Muslim women are repressed, living in the shadows of their men - be he father or husband - forced into arranged marriages and treated as second-class citizens.

But Yasmeen and friend Maryam Klonowska are proof of a very different life.

They have both been to university. Yasmeen chose to put her career on hold to have a family, while Maryam works.

Yasmeen came back into the fold of the religion and Maryam from Poland converted to the religion about three years ago.

An interpreter, who is completing her second degree, Maryam explained: "I was raised as a Catholic in Poland but as I grew older I started to question things and I found the answers in Islam.

"It has changed my life and I feel so much happier now. I was searching and Islam has given me the structure I was looking for.

"Now I know what I'm doing and why I'm doing it."

Yasmeen explained: "Both of us chose our religion. There was no compulsion. We all have free will.

"We all love Islam - it's a way of life and not just a religion.

"When I was at university I couldn't understand how the other girls lived their live. It was something that never appealed to me," she said.

They are happy to cover their heads as part of their religion - and say there are many benefits.

"It protects you. I am not viewed by people in the same way. They go beyond my looks and see the real me.

"Being in a university environment I feel safer wearing the scarf. I don't go out drinking or go to nightclubs.

"By dressing modestly I do not draw attention to myself and I am less likely to be attacked," she said.

Yasmeen agreed that most people are fascinated by the headscarves and they all joked that it means they never have a bad hair day.

"In the last ten to 15 years there has been a real increase in the number of women wearing scarves.

"People seem to have become used to it now and they don't stare so much in the street. I love wearing the scarf," she said.

Maryam added: "We may not have bad hair days but we do sometimes have bad scarf days. Sometimes you just can't get it right."

Headscarves, polygamy, equality and the status of Muslim women will be just some of the topics under discussion tomorrow and Yasmeen and Maryam are looking forward to the event.

"We were a little nervous when they said how many were coming but we hope it will be a worthwhile event, " said Yasmeen.

"Maybe it can be the start of many more events like this."

The organisers wanted to tnak Sure Start, the police and City Link for their help with staging the event.