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the Sonia story

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the Sonia story
timbuktu
09/01/05 at 10:29:25
[slm]

"What are your views on the Sonia story?"

"Sonia, Sonia who?"

"Sonia Naz".

"Who is she?"

"Have you forgotten? So soon!" OK, here is the gist:

Sonia Naz is a 23 year old mother of two. She was doing all right until Asim, her husband, a junior clerk in the Excise and Taxation Department, was arrested along with 17 others on charges of being a part of a gang of fraudsters, which prepared false registration papers for stolen vehicles. Sidestepping the legal procedure, the Faisalabad police kept those arretsd in illegal detention untill the families of some of these gave Rs. 15 million to the police. You can rst assured that a great deal of this money would have found its way to the top. Those who could not arrange the bribes, were kept in lockup. Sonia, pregnant with her second child, visited the police station to bring meals to her husband. To save her husband from being tortured, she gave a hefty amount to the Superintendent of Police, Abdullah Khalid.

Asim managed to break free from police custody. The police arrested two young brothers-in-law of his sister, and the family secured the services of some middlemen, paying yet more money and eventually arranging surrender of Asim to the police, which again kept him in its custody without proper legal documents even though the family had paid Rs. 1.4 million to the SP. The SP demanded an addditional 5 million for Asim's release, while the Deputy Inspector General of Police allegedly wanted Rs one million for himself. This the family could not arrange.

Now the police started propagating that Asim had never been arrested. This frightened the family into thinking that he had been tortured and murdered in custody. In desperation, Sonia first went to Lahore, the Provincial seat of government. Here at one of the offices she complained to, was a friend of the SP, who made sure her compalint was not listened to, but some others advised her to go see the Prime Minister.

She came to Islamabad, to the Prime Minister's Secretariat. The Prime Minister was not in; he was attending a session of the Parliament. If she were to go there, she may meet him or someone else who could help. A member of the Parliament gave her a pass. When she entered the august house, she was lost, but managed to come to a Hall where there was a lot of seating arrangement, and quite a few gentlemen and women were seated therein. She looked and decided to sit next to a woman. Maybe, she thought, she could find some guidance and help from a member of her own gender.

That hall was the holy of holies, the place where the parliamentarians sit and we hope, discuss ways of improving our lot. It is a stupid hope, for all they have ever done is to increase their pay and perks manyfold. And Sonia was mistaken in another notion, too. That woman was Mehnaz Rafi, who upon finding a woman in veil next to her, asked her to identify herself. Upon learning that the Sonia was a commoner, was so enraged that she stood up upon a point of order, and brought this sacrilege to the notice of the speaker. Her rights had been injured by the presence of a commoner in the house. The speaker, Chaudhry Amir Hussain, lost no time in calling security to remove, investigate and punish the intruder.

[i]When the rights of the exalted parliamentarians are slighted by the commoners, hell breaks loose[/i].

Here was a veiled woman, by definition a religious extremist, and most likely a terrorist, for which woman except a terrorist would wear the veil in these [i]enlightengly moderate[/i] times? So security went to work on the woman, and if you haven't learnt this yet, it is time you did that Security is good at that sort of thing!

Security got her story, got her to name all her relatives and acqauintances, and their addresses, and propmtly passed these on to the SP, who was now emboldened into thinking that the high and mighty in Islamabad wree also on his side. So he beagn a crackdown on her relatives.

[i]Have you any idea what happens when the police decide to crack down on families and relatives?[/i]

I pray and hope you never learn this.

Sonia was first sent to a women's police station, and then to Adiala jail. Thinking she was in the wrong place, she tried to get bail, and was granted this. In the meantime, she had been interviewed by the medi which sensed a story, and the Faisalabad police were under pressure, so they turned the screws some more on her relatives.

After getting bail, Sonia vanished.

She now wishes she had never obtained bail.

The media looked for her, and the police said she had jumped bail, and they were looking for her. It now transpires that she was abducted by the police upon obtaining bail, and taken to a village hideout for 15 days, where the police guards did not touch her, she says. On the last day there, though, SP abdullah came with SHO (Station House Officer, Thanedar, the Officer incharge of a police station) Jamshed. He first entered the room alone where Sonia was being kept, and abused her verbally for maligning his name in the media, then tried to tear off her dress and rape her, despite her protests. He was unsuccessful.

This infuriated him so he called SHO Jamshed, and ordered her to be raped in his presence. The SHO relishingly obeyed the orders, ignoring all beseeching from the young woman. Then the guards and all present were called in to beat her with their boots.

The bleeding Sonia was loaded on to a car, and dropped at her in laws, after being warned that if she went to the media again, she would be killed.

At the inlaws, she was asked about her disappearance for a fortnight and her condition. Upon learning that Sonia had been raped, the mother-in-law brougth out her grandchildren and handing them over to her daughter-in-law, orderd her out of the house. The father-in-law also cocurred in this. He had two young unwed daughters, and who would ask for their hands if the daughter-in-law were known to have been raped? Plus having lost his son to the police, he could no longer afford the enmity of the SP.

Turned out of the house, Sonia went to her parents', but here her younger brother came in the way. He felt he could not stand the shame of having a raped sister living in the same house. "She has brought disgrace to our Syed family. If she comes here again, I will commit suicide", he declared to their mother.

Sonia's mother, faced with this, handed her daughter some money and said her goodbye.

[i]Can you feel what Sonia must have felt?[/i]

From her parents, crying, she went to her elder sister. The sister and her brother in law had tasted the enmity of the police, so they too refused to have anything to do with her. SHe turned now to her younger sister. Here she was luckier. This BiL had enough sympathy left to offer her some money, but no refuge. She went from relative to relative, but everywhere it was the same story.

Neither the shame, nor the hostility of the police, could be handled by them.

Then she disappeared once again. Her near relatives locked their houses, and started hiding from the Faisalabad police.

Eighteen days ago, she contacted "The News". She had wanted to commit suicide after her rape, but her children's cries kept her from this.

Where had she been all this time?

After finding no refuge, she managed to get to a locality where a very illiterate relative lived. The neighborhood was so poor and illiterate that they do not have TV or read newspapers, and have no time for socialising with better-off relatives.

What a blessing! Here no one knew of her family having fallen out with the police.

She did not tell them of her rape, but started living with them finding a job as a house-maid. She would have kept quite, and hidden the torture to her soul from the world, but after being turned out from everywhere, she now wanted to tell her story.
Re: the Sonia story
Fozia
09/01/05 at 10:44:17
[slm]


Subhanallah is this true. Because words fail me.....



Wassalaam
Re: the Sonia story
timbuktu
09/01/05 at 11:14:14
[slm]

Unfortunately, very true. :(

Life will never be the same again, cries Sonia
Rauf Klasra
LAHORE: She thinks she would never be able to lead a normal life again. Even justice now, she says, somewhat poignantly, won't alter the dark reality that hers is a life torn and tattered.

http://www.jang.com.pk/thenews/sep2005-daily/01-09-2005/main/main12.htm

Also see the same site for the last two days. I cannot get it to load on my slow net, but the news is there.

There was a case of Dr Shazia, who was raped by an army Captain, but after the news broke out, she and her husband took fright and left for the West.

The powers that be have always recruited criminals in the police, so as to keep the masses in line.
Re: the Sonia story
Fozia
09/01/05 at 12:55:43
[slm]

Someone explain to me how exactly being raped, brings shame upon ones family, the woman did not commit zina, she was forced.
Imho, the womans mother should have called her son's bluff and helped her daughter.

I find it laughable, how people all claim to be Syed's, ones deeds, not family lineage bring us closer to Allah....

Right as to now, what exactly is it that we can do about this???


Wassalaam
Re: the Sonia story
Siham
09/01/05 at 16:35:07
Rape & Incest: Islamic Perspective
Uzma Mazhar © 2002

Incest and rape are not new in this day and age; these problems have always existed and will continue to exist if not confronted face on. If you have ever worked with an incest, sexual abuse or rape survivor you will never be able to forget the devastating impact it has on all aspects of their life, nor will you be able to sit back and do nothing about this issue. These are serious crimes that corrode the fabric of family and society and cannot go un-addressed, since these problems do exist in Muslim families it is about time that we address it openly and take action to put an end to it.

To fully understand this issue we need to examine what Islâm teaches us about the value of human life.

Islâm views human life as a sacred gift from God. The Qur’ân repeatedly stresses the sanctity of life (hurmat al hayat). The life of every single individual regardless of gender, age, nationality or religion is worthy of respect. In verses referring to the sanctity of life, the term used is ‘nafs’ (soul, life); and there is no distinction made in that soul being young or old, male or female, Muslim or non-muslim.

Sűrah al An'am 6.151:
"Do not take any human being's life, (the life) which God has declared to be sacred - otherwise than in (the pursuit of) justice: this has He enjoined upon you so that you might use your reason."
(Also check: Sűrah al Isra 17.33 & Sűrah al Ma'idah 5.32)

Qur’ânic teachings encompass every aspect of life; hence it does not limit the definition of life to the physical body only, but includes the mental, emotional and spiritual aspects as well. There are about 150 verses that define the term ‘nafs’ in various ways making it clear that the concept of ‘life’ is not limited to mere physical existence.

Historically, Islam has addressed serious issues openly and sought to correct actions that constitute harm or ‘zulm’ (ie: cruelty and abuse) to the dignity of humankind. Human life and respect for it has been stressed unstintingly, regardless of age or gender. As a general rule, Islâm forbids all ‘zulm’, be it physical, mental, emotional or spiritual:

Sűrah al An'am 6.120
”Abandon all harm (ithm), whether committed openly or in secret.”
(Check Sűrah al A`raf 7:33)

Sűrah al 49:11-12 points out categorically that emotionally abusive language and behavior is not acceptable.
"You who believe do not let one (set of) people make fun of another set. Do not defame one another. Do not insult by using nicknames. And do not backbite or speak ill of one another."

In the last address to his community, the Prophet (saw) said: "Your lives and properties are forbidden to one another till you meet your Lord on the Day of Resurrection… Regard the life and property of every Muslim as a sacred trust… Hurt no one so that no one may hurt you... You will neither inflict nor suffer any inequity." The Prophet (saw) did not prohibit only the unlawful encroachment of one another’s life and property, but also honor and respect.

Considering that human life is to be valued and cruelty is forbidden, what is the Islamic perspective on incest and rape?

According to Islâm, a woman has to be respected and protected under all circumstances, whether she belongs to your own nation or to the nation of an enemy, whether she follows your religion or belongs to some other religion or has no religion at all. A Muslim cannot outrage her under any circumstances. All promiscuous relationships have been forbidden to him, irrespective of the status or position of the woman, whether the woman is a willing or an unwilling partner to the act. The words of the Holy Qur’ân in this respect are: "Do not approach (the bounds of) adultery" (17:32). Heavy punishment has been prescribed for this crime, and the order has not been qualified by any conditions. Since the violation of chastity of a woman is forbidden in Islam, a Muslim who perpetrates this crime cannot escape punishment. (Maudoodi)

The Quran has, in various ways and in different contexts; impressed on men that they must observe the limits set by God (Hudűd Allah) in respect to women and must not encroach upon their rights in either marriage or divorce. In all situations it is the men who are reminded, corrected and reprimanded, over and over again, to be generous to women and to be kind, compassionate, fair and just in their dealings with women. Even in divorce, when the chances of anger and vindictiveness are high, it is stressed that men are to separate with grace, equity and generosity.

Forbidding cruelty against children and women is apparent from rulings against female infanticide and rights of inheritance given even to an unborn child; and the kindness mandated even when divorcing your wife. There are numerous ahâdîth about the rights of children to respect and dignity. The same holds true for respect and the unprecedented rights given to women.

Relevant verses from the Quran:
Sűrah an Nâs 4.119
'O you who believe! You are forbidden to inherit women against their will...'

Sűrah an Nűr 24.33
'... And do not, in order to gain some of the fleeting pleasures of this worldly life, coerce your slave women into whoredom if they are desirous of marriage, and if anyone should coerce them, then, verily, after they have been compelled (to submit in their helplessness), God will be much forgiving, a dispenser of grace (to them).

During the time of the Prophet (saw) punishment was inflicted on the rapist on the solitary evidence of the woman who was raped by him. Wa'il ibn Hujr reports of an incident when a woman was raped. Later, when some people came by, she identified and accused the man of raping her. They seized him and brought him to Allah's messenger, who said to the woman, "Go away, for Allâh has forgiven you," but of the man who had raped her, he said, "Stone him to death." (Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud)

During the time when Umar (raa) was the Khalifah, a woman accused his son Abu Shahmah of raping her; she brought the infant borne of this incident with her to the mosque and publicly spoke about what had happened. Umar (raa) asked his son who acknowledged committing the crime and was duly punished right there and then. There was no punishment given to the woman. (Rauf)

Islamic legal scholars interpret rape as a crime in the category of Hiraba. In ‘Fiqh-us-Sunnah’, hiraba is described as: ‘a single person or group of people causing public disruption, killing, forcibly taking property or money, attacking or raping women (hatk al ‘arad), killing cattle, or disrupting agriculture.’

The famous jurist, Ibn Hazm, had the widest definition of hiraba, defining a hiraba offender as: ‘One who puts people in fear on the road, whether or not with a weapon, at night or day, in urban areas or in open spaces, in the palace of a caliph or a mosque, with or without accomplices, in the desert or in the village, in a large or small city, with one or more people… making people fear that they’ll be killed, or have money taken, or be raped (hatk al ‘arad)… whether the attackers are one or many."

Al-Dasuqi held that if a person forced a woman to have sex, his actions would be deemed as committing hiraba. In addition, the Maliki judge Ibn ‘Arabi, relates a story in which a group was attacked and a woman in their party was raped. Responding to the argument that the crime did not constitute hiraba because no money was taken and no weapons used, Ibn ‘Arabi replied indignantly that "hiraba with the private parts" is much worse than hiraba involving the taking of money, and that anyone would rather be subjected to the latter than the former.

The crime of rape is classified not as a subcategory of ‘zina’ (consensual adultery), but rather as a separate crime of violence under hiraba. This classification is logical, as the "taking" is of the victim’s property (the rape victim’s sexual autonomy) by force. In Islam, sexual autonomy and pleasure is a fundamental right for both women and men (Ghazâlî); taking by force someone’s right to control the sexual activity of one’s body is thus a form of hiraba.

Rape as hiraba is a violent crime that uses sexual intercourse as a weapon. The focus in a hiraba prosecution is the accused rapist and his intent and physical actions, and not second-guessing the consent of the rape victim. Hiraba does not require four witnesses to prove the offense, circumstantial evidence, medical data and expert testimony form the evidence used to prosecute such crimes.

Islamic legal responses to rape are not limited to a criminal prosecution for hiraba. Islamic jurisprudence also provides an avenue for civil redress for a rape survivor in its law of "jirah" (wounds). Islamic law designates ownership rights to each part of one’s body, and a right to corresponding compensation for any harm done unlawfully to any of those parts. Islamic law calls this the ‘law of jirah’ (wounds). Harm to a sexual organ, therefore, entitles the person harmed to appropriate financial compensation under classical Islamic jirah jurisprudence. Each school of Islamic law has held that where a woman is harmed through sexual intercourse (some include marital intercourse), she is entitled to financial compensation for the harm. Further, where this intercourse was without the consent of the woman, the perpetrator must pay the woman both the basic compensation for the harm, as well as an additional amount based on the ‘diyya’ (financial compensation for murder, akin to a wrongful death payment).

Islamic law, with its radical introduction of a woman’s right to own property as a fundamental right, employs a gender-egalitarian attitude in this area of jurisprudence. In fact, there is a hadith specifically directed to transforming the early Muslim population out of this patriarchal attitude of male financial compensation for female sexual activity. During the time of Prophet Muhammad, a young man committed zina with his employer’s wife. The father of the young man gave one hundred goats and a maid as compensation to the employer, who accepted it. When the case was reported to the Prophet, he ordered the return of the goats and the maid to the young man’s father and prosecuted the adulterer for zina (Abu Daud 1990, 3: Bk. 33, No. 4430; Bukhâri 1985, 8:Bk. 81, Nos. 815, 821, 826).

Early Islam thus established that there should be no tolerance of the attitude that a woman’s sexual activity is something to be bartered, pawned, gossiped about, or owned by the men in her life. Personal responsibility of every human being for their own actions is a fundamental principle in Islamic thought.


Marital Rape
The Quran is very clear that the basis of a marital relationship is love and affection between the spouses, not power or control. Rape is unacceptable in such a relationship.

Sűrah al Baqarah 2.223
'Your wives are your tilth; go then unto your tilth as you may desire, but first provide something for your souls*, and remain conscious of God, and know that your are destined to meet Him...'
* Note in Muhammad Asad's translation: 'a spiritual relationship between man and woman is postulated as the indispensable basis of sexual relations.'

Sűrah ar Rum 30.21
"And among His wonders is this: He creates for you mates out of your own kind, so that your might incline towards then, and He engenders love and tenderness between you: in this, behold, there are messages indeed for people who think!

Sűrah al Baqarah 2.187
"... They are as a garment for you, and you are as a garment for them."

Sűrah al Nisa 4.19
"... And consort with your wives in a goodly manner, for if you dislike them, it may well be that you dislike something which God might yet make a source of abundant good."

"Is there recognition of marital rape in Islam?
In the context of jirah, it would appear so: where there is any physical harm or disease caused to a spouse, there may be a claim for jirah compensation. The law of jirah provides for compensation for physical harm between spouses, and supports Islamic legislation against domestic abuse. Even in these discussions of appropriate jirah compensation, the question of the injured party’s consent plays a central role. Some Islamic jurists considered consent to be prasumed by virtue of the marital relationship, while others maintain that where harm occurs, it is an assault, regardless of the consent, and therefore compensation is due. In our modern era, one might take these precedents and their premium focus on consent and apply the Islamic principle of sexual autonomy to conclude that any sex without consent is harmful, as a dishonoring of the unwilling party’s sexual autonomy. Thus, modern Islamic jurists and legislators, taking a gender-egalitarian perspective, might conclude that Islamic law does recognize marital rape, and assign the appropriate injunctions and compensation for this personally devastating harm." (Qureshi)

An often misquoted and abused hadith that is used to tyrannize women is that women cannot and should not say no to their husband when he approaches them Women are advised not to turn away from their husbands except if they have their period or any other reasonable excuse. So much so that she is to break her voluntary fast if her husband approaches her. And if they do angels will curse them. However, this hadith is not quoted with the complementary one that advises men of the same consideration.

In the same manner men are advised that meeting the needs of their wives takes precedence over voluntary worship. Narrated Abdullah bin Amr bin Al-As: "Prophet Muhammad (saw) said, “O Abdullah! I have been informed that you fast all the day and stand in prayer all night?” I said, ‘Yes, O Allah's Apostle!’ He said, “Do not do that! Observe the fast sometimes and also leave them at other times, stand up for the prayer at night and also sleep at night. Your body has a right over you and your wife has a right over you.” (Bukhâri)

To a certain degree these ahâdîth are used to confuse and distract from the issue, since rape does not have anything to do with permission or lack of permission. In a marriage abusive or forced sexual activity cannot be justified by abusing this hadith. Rape is defined as unwanted, violent and forced sex, whether this occurs in a marital context or outside it. The definition of rape does not change because of the relationship.

It is important to not confuse the issue of mutual rights that a couple has on each other with the misguided, distorted and misogynist assumption that women become a husband's property. Islam does not allow for or tolerate ownership of human beings. Human dignity does not allow that any one person has the right to own, mind/body/soul, another human being... and Islam demands that all human beings respect the humanity of everyone.

Incest & Child Abuse
The Quran clearly outlines those with whom marriage is not permitted, we can extrapolate from it that any sexual relation with these would be unacceptable.

Sűrah an Nisa 4:23:
Prohibited for you (in marriage) are your mothers, your daughters, your sisters, the sisters of your fathers, the sisters of your mothers, the daughters of your brother, the daughters of your sister, your nursing mothers, the girls who nursed from the same woman as you, the mothers of your wives, the daughters of your wives with whom you have consummated the marriage - if the marriage has not been consummated, you may marry the daughter. Also prohibited for you are the women who were married to your genetic sons. Also, you shall not be married to two sisters at the same time - but do not break up existing marriages. GOD is Forgiver, Most Merciful.

This includes your foster parents, siblings and children.

Al Hasan reports: ‘If somebody commits illegal intercourse with his sister, his punishment is the same as for any other person who commits such a crime’. (Bukhâri Vol. 8 pp 526)

Thus, these same laws mentioned above in cases of rape would be equally applicable, and incest can be prosecuted as a crime within the bounds of Islamic law.

According to Islam, all aspects of life, ie: the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual, are sacred and must be respected. No gender or relationship has been given the power or right to hurt or harm the other. Domestic violence, rape and incest are all violent and criminal abuses that are outside the bounds of what is permitted in Islam and there is absolutely no justification for it whatsoever.


References:
-Ghazâlî; “Ihya Ulum ud Din”
-Hasan, Riffat; “Religious Human Rights in Global Perspective: Religious Perspectives” John Witte, Jr. and Johan D. van der Vyver Eds. Martinus Nijhoff Publishers, 1996
-Maudoodi, Abu al Ala; “Human Rights in Islam” The Islamic Foundation UK 1976, 1993
-Qureshi, Asifa LLM; “Her Honor: An Islamic Critique of the Rape Laws of Pakistan from a Woman-Sensitive Perspective”
-Rahman, Afzal ur; "Role of Muslim Women in Society" Seerah Foundation, London, 1986
-Rauf, Muhammad Abdul; “Umar al Faruq” Al Saadawi Publications, 1998

Abridged version of article published in the September issue of 'Islâmic Reflections 2002'

Contact Info: UzmaM@aol.com


09/03/05 at 09:11:17
Siham
Re: the Sonia story
timbuktu
09/02/05 at 09:31:28
[slm]

Siham: [quote]Also, you shall not be married to two sisters at the same time - but do not break up existing marriages.[/quote]

Is this the correct translation. It seems to suggest that in those days if a Muslim man was married to two sisters at the same time, he should keep the two in his nikah. I don't think that is true.

Fozia: [quote]how exactly being raped, brings shame upon ones family[/quote]

I agree that it is shameful for the rapist and for those who turned Sonia away, not the victim, but there are [i]jahilliyyat[/i] and [i]jihalat[/i], both at work.

After a lifetime of struggle against these, I am exhausted.

This isn't just a problem in Pakistan only. Such misconception and abuse of powere exist in all third world countries, although perhaps more acute in Muslim ones.

[quote]What can we do?[/quote]

There is so much injustice and such acceptance of it, that one doesn't know where to begin.

Draft letters, pointing out the ills in society, and send them to the respective national papers through email. Send them to the governments, and the parliament, and the real power behind the scenes - the aristocracy, the bureaucracy, the military, the religious leaders and political parties.

Most of those in power are sensitive to criticism from abroad. They want to keep a good image, as this keeps the money flowing in.

What really is needed is action on ground.

The political wings of the Islamic parties have oversimplified the situation by thinking that if they were to get into power, everything will be all right. In their view all that is needed is application of the "shariah" by which they often mean the Taliban-type enforcement of keeping the women in purdah, while denying them the means for sustenance, and the compulsory herding of males into mosques at prayer times. Because of their abdication of human rights issues, or maybe their work in this field isn't being projected enough, and because of their alliance with traditional repressive society structures, human rights activism has devolved by deault to a Westernised elite, that may have ulterior motives. Human Rights groups in these countries have often been rendered ineffective because of external agendas, real or perceived, so it has to be in a way that emphasizes the Islamic nature of these rights.

The dawah-type organisations have also a simplified notion that saying the kalima properly, praying the salah, etc. are what is needed. There is no emphasis on "Huqooqul Ibaad", or "muamlaat (dealings)".

The politics is mostly based on traditional tribal and clannish loyalties, hence you see gang-rapes still being ordered by panchayats. Other power bases are dedicated to maintaining the status quo, and only increasing their share of the pie.

[i]Enlightened moderation[/i], the new catch phrase, means enjoying this life - cinemas, wines, dancing, music, and seeking help and salvation from those in the graves.

Something like the modern adaptation of Christianity - [i]all you need is love[/i], type of philosophy.

For those in the West, a two-pronged attack may work. Bring such abuses to the notice of Western opinion makers, so as to exert pressure on the governments; and secondly to exert this pressure yourself by writing to the newspapers in third world countries. Some within these countries will have to be brave, and take up the fight from within. Who will that be?
Re: the Sonia story
Siham
09/03/05 at 09:16:39
[quote author=Fozia link=board=sis;num=1125581365;start=0#3 date=09/01/05 at 12:55:43] [slm]

Someone explain to me how exactly being raped, brings shame upon ones family, the woman did not commit zina, she was forced.
Imho, the womans mother should have called her son's bluff and helped her daughter.

I find it laughable, how people all claim to be Syed's, ones deeds, not family lineage bring us closer to Allah....

Right as to now, what exactly is it that we can do about this???


Wassalaam[/quote]

[slm]

I think people need to be educated about this matter, and according to Islam, women have to be respected and protected under all circumstance therefore they should speak up, and oppose any injustice whether it is from the perpetrator or their own families.

SubhanAllah during the time of the Prophet [saw] punishment was inflicted on the rapist on the solitary evidence of the woman who was raped by him. Wa'il ibn Hujr reports of an incident when a woman was raped. Later, when some people came by, she identified and accused the man of raping her. They seized him and brought him to Allah's messenger, who said to the woman, "Go away, for Allah has forgiven you," but of the man who had raped her, he said, "Stone him to death." (Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud)

This is a clear evidence how women are being honored and respected in Islam (e.g precious pearls) that need to be protected and cared for and not be abused and misused wa Aoudubillah, – Its certainly disturbing to see the fact that some families actually blame their own daughters, for a crime they didn’t even commit. instead of supporting and empowering them, they tend to only blame them. which is really a shame!

wasalams.

09/03/05 at 09:41:08
Siham
Re: the Sonia story
Siham
09/03/05 at 09:20:48
[quote author=timbuktu link=board=sis;num=1125581365;start=0#5 date=09/02/05 at 09:31:28][slm]

Siham:

Is this the correct translation. It seems to suggest that in those days if a Muslim man was married to two sisters at the same time, he should keep the two in his nikah. I don't think that is true.[/quote]

[slm]

Divorce is lawful in Islam, but of all lawful things, the most detestable to Allah is divorce. So it should be avoided as much as possible in sha Allah.

wasalams.
Re: the Sonia story
Siham
09/10/05 at 15:54:45
[quote][slm]
"What are your views on the Sonia story?"
[/quote]

[slm]

Once upon time sexual assault, adultery and sexual relations before marriage, prostitution, homosexuality, were all looked upon in this same way that we look to bestiality (i e. with shock and horror) - We all witness how these attitudes change over time.

Alhamdulilah Islam will always be consistent regardless of what others think of our thinking and behavior. Allah certainly knows what behavior is pure and acceptable for the sons and daughters of Adam.

http://216.239.39.104/translate_c?hl=en&u=http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp%3Fvnu_content_id%3D1000981095

When a Man Dies in a Sex Act with a Horse -- What's a Reporter to Do?

By Lesley Messer

Published: July 18, 2005 10:20 AM ET

NEW YORK How do you report a story about a man who dies while having sex with a horse? With a snigger? Or straight?

Last Friday, the Seattle Times got wind of an Associated Press item about a local man who died after having sex with a horse. "The sheriff's department didn't expect us to report it because it was too gruesome," said Jennifer Sullivan, the Seattle Times staff reporter who would eventually author two stories on the ordeal.

The AP story gave basic facts about the case. It mentioned that the man -- who died of internal bleeding from anal sex with the animal -- died after visiting a farm in nearby Enumclaw that attracted "a significant number of people" looking to engage in bestiality.

Therefore, Sullivan said, "We thought if there was more than one person participating in this, it needed to be reported."

In her first probe, Sullivan wrote that the farm was discussed in Internet chat rooms as a "destination" spot for people looking to have sex with animals. She reported that this prompted an investigation into whether the chickens, goats and sheep on the property had also been victimized.

"We tried to make it as tasteful as possible keeping out the cause of death. As a surprise, I had at least 70 emails from people and the vast majority wanted to know what killed this guy," she said. "So on the second day we had to be more specific."

Although she never reported the man's name, in her second article Sullivan did say that he was 45 years old and added that he died of acute peritonitis due to the perforation of the colon. But because Washington is one of 17 states that does not outlaw bestiality, having sex with a horse is not a crime and his death will not be investigated.

(((Perhaps the most lurid detail she added, however, was that when they searched the farm, police had found hundreds of hours of videotape showing men having sex with horses. Police are still making sure that sex was not forced on the smaller, weaker animals, thus constituting animal cruelty (which is a crime). Investigators are also checking to see if other crimes like child abuse or rape occurred on the premises)))

When asked if the reporting was especially difficult due to the subject matter, Sullivan explained that she's been working on the crime and court beat for the past six years, three of which have been at the Times, and so is rarely shocked by anything anymore. The community of Enumclaw, however, was not braced for this type of scandal.

"People were very, very willing to talk but they almost thought of it as a joke. It was sort of surreal for a lot of people," she said. "I was surprised with how willing the relatives were to talk."

She said that the man's family -- whom she interviewed for the second story -- asked for anonymity, which the newspaper granted. They never suspected that he was involved in bestiality, and were surprised when they learned that he had purchased a thoroughbred stallion earlier in the year, apparently one of a pair he kept at the farm.

Sullivan also spoke with two neighbors -- a husband and wife -- near the farm who had no idea that this kind of activity had been going on. A few days ago, they were shown a tape of men having sex with horses -- one of which belonged to them.

"It was a really rural community," Sullivan explained. "They were pretty devastated."

But so far, despite the subject matter, public response has been positive, she said. She explained that out of the many emails she's received, only one has been negative. Most of them express sympathy to Sullivan for having to write such a horrific story and thank her for leaving out gratuitous aspects, or using phrases like "horsing around."

The two articles also have prompted a local senator to start drawing up a bill that would outlaw bestiality. Sullivan also reported the opinions of a local animal activist who also is calling for reform.



09/10/05 at 16:30:04
Siham
Re: the Sonia story
Siham
09/10/05 at 16:31:24
P.S Thank God for animal rights  :(
Re: the Sonia story
timbuktu
09/18/05 at 12:10:25
[slm]

Sonia Naz, the rape victim of Faisalabad police, recieved her divorce papers by mail. The husband had resurfaced from his hiding just a few days ago, and then divorced her verbally on the phone a couple of days back.

I think that man is spineless, and I wish there were some way I could help Sonia Naz, who is presently living in "Dastak" - Asma Jehangir's centre for destitute women.

Revealed: police ‘planned to eliminate Sonia’s family’
SP prepared fake travel documents
showing the family was abroad even as he bugged 60 of their cell phones

By Rauf Klasra

ISLAMABAD: The Punjab police inquiry team has been given evidence that Faisalabad police had planned to eliminate the whole family of Sonia Naz as it had prepared fake travel documents in advance showing that they all were out of the country despite clearly having proofs of their presence in Pakistan.

The inquiry team formally finished its fortnight-old job of investigation into the Sonia Naz case Saturday.

The inquiry team was told it all could be established by the single fact that about 60 mobile telephones of different companies being used by the whole family members and relatives of Sonia Naz in hiding to avoid the wrath of police, were being bugged on the orders of SP Khalid Abdullah in a bid to trace the family and he had the complete cooperation of a mobile company in Faisalabad.

But, Faisalabad police had prepared fake documents to establish that they were out of the country simply to get rid of all of them after capturing them.

An official said an evidence placed before the inquiry committee revealed that SP Abdullah was in full knowledge of the presence of Sonia Naz and her family in Pakistan and that was why he produced official record of Sonia's mobile phone calls made to her family members before Faisalabad sessions judge inquiry tribunal to establish that Asim was in touch with his family.

But, an official said the police inquiry committee in Lahore was at a loss to understand that despite having information and proof about Sonia's presence within Pakistan, why Faisalabad police had prepared fake documents showing that Sonia, Asim and others were out of the country. Sources said the committee had observed a big contradiction in the statement of SP Khalid Abdullah who had told sessions judge inquiry that Asim, Sonia and other family members were in touch with each other and were in Pakistan and using mobile phone.

The SP had even produced record of the mobile calls made by Sonia and her family. But, on the other hand, the police inquiry team was given travelling documents in the name of Sonia, her children and Asim to establish that they all were out of country.

A top level source has confirmed the inquiry team was told before launching countrywide search for Sonia and her in-laws who had fled their houses from Faisalabad after regular raids, police had prepared fake travelling documents of members of Sonia family that spoke volumes about their intentions.

The inquiry team was told that this was being done only to permanently silence Sonia and her relatives from revealing at any stage about the abduction and rape of the victim.

The inquiry team was told that a police team was also sent to a remote relative of Sonia when she along with her two kids was hiding in Landhi Karachi to save herself from the police in the early week of August despite the fact that no case was registered against her.

The police team had almost captured Sonia in Landhi but she escaped along with her little children at the eleventh hour.

Sources said startling evidence was placed before the committee headed by DIG Zafar Qureshi during the investigation of Sonia Naz case when Sonia and her in-laws in their statements recorded before the committee claimed that SP Khalid Abdullah had prepared these fake travelling documents of a foreign country only to eliminate the whole family after capturing them so that none of them could ever pose any threat to him.

The inquiry team was told that because of fears of police raids, Sonia, her in-laws and sisters and brothers used to open their mobile telephones from 8-10 pm every night to stay in touch during hiding in different cities. They also used to send mobile text messages to each other for communication purposes.

While rest of the day, their mobile phones remain switched off as they had come to know that the SP was using his influence over mobile companies to trace their where about.

But the committee was told by Sonia family that before SP Abdullah could implement his plan to arrest them, the rape story of Sonia was brought into the limelight by the media and they were all saved.

Meanwhile, Sonia Naz formally received papers of divorce from her husband Asim Yousaf Saturday inside the four walls of the shelter house in Lahore.

On the occasion she said, "these are testing times of my life but I will not give up for the sake of my two children. I will continue my fight for justice without Asim."

Talking to The News from Lahore, she said, "Earlier, I was only verbally informed by Asim that he would divorce me. But I did not believe him as I had some hope that sanity would prevail and he will not leave me at this stage and think many times before divorcing the mother of his two kids.

"See, the worst has happened as today I have received the first legal divorce notice from Asim and I cannot explain my feelings after receiving these papers."

The rape victim admitted that she was depressed and would not beg Asim any more for herself.

"Let Asim take care of the concerns of his parents, married and unmarried sisters who want to save their own skins after destroying mine and my children. My entire life has already changed after my kidnapping and rape by police cops. President General Pervez Musharraf says I planned my rape to get money and settle down in some foreign country though I don't have a single penny to get my ailing son treated.

"My in-laws say you cannot live with us after the rape. My brother says if I enter his house, he will commit suicide. Where should I go?"

"The sudden departure of Asim from my life at this stage has further alienated me as I am losing my own trust and faith in everybody," she said.

"If Asim can leave me for whom I suffered everything, I cannot blame anyone else," she wondered.

When asked what she would do now, Sonia said the immediate worry for her was to leave the shelter house and live with her kids as she was missing them terribly. Sonia said she had not met her children for the last many days.

"I want to do a job now as I am an educated girl to stand on my own feet. I want to earn bread for my children. But, the very thought depresses me that who will give an honourable job to a woman raped by cops".

"Let's forget about all the bad things that happened to me in a year's time. Just see what Asim has done now because of whom all hell was let loose upon me. He, too, has changed to an extent that even I cannot believe I was his wife and doing all this to enable him win his freedom from mighty police cops," Sonia concluded.
Re: the Sonia story
Fozia
09/18/05 at 14:27:14
[slm]

Could you post the link from where you got the story please, I'm goingto post it on some other websites too. See what happens.


Wassalaam
the link
timbuktu
09/19/05 at 10:31:47
[slm]

http://www.jang-group.com/thenews/sep2005-daily/18-09-2005/main/main4.htm

There are earlier stories, so if you look or search for "Sonia Naz" within that site, more will come up, but this was the latest.
Re: the Sonia story
timbuktu
09/19/05 at 10:43:29
Sonia Naz Case: CM Punjab orders to sack SP Investigation
(Updated at 1850 PST)
Lahore: Chief Minister Punjab Ch. Pervez Illahi ordered to lodge First Information Report (FIR) against SP investigation, Faisalabad, Abdullah Khalid along with the legal action for his dismissal from the post, following his involvement in Sonia Naz rape case.

Moreover, DIG Faisalabad Ch.Sajjad Ahmed has been demoted to OSD on CM’s direction here on Monday, keeping in view of the inquiry reports of both the officers.

Pervez Illahi, further ordered for probe of fake vehicle documents of stolen cars in Faisalabad, under direct supervision of Chief Minister Inspection team.


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