This article explores the ways in which both religion and gender equality are instrumentalised in the service of diverse political agendas. Building on illustrations from Turkey and Afghanistan, the argument is made that a moratorium should be declared on focusing on the binaries of religious vs secular, Western vs non‐Western or global vs local in favour of more rigorous institutional analysis that will give a better understanding of the politics of gender. This will require detailed attention to fluid networks of influence at the global, national and local levels and engagement with a multiplicity of actors, interests and practices.