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Madinat al-Muslimeen Islamic Message Board
| rape and loss of other human rights |
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| timbuktu |
| 09/26/05 at 09:59:30 |
| [slm] The story of Sonia Naz has been in the news for sometime now. Earlier it was Mukhtaran Mai who had been gang-raped on the orders of a Panchayat. The humiliation of rape or parading naked appears to be acustom that has survived so far. Why? Perhaps it is the Jagirdari (feudal) system, for Jagirdars hold absolute rule in their fiefdoms, and use illegal imprisonment, torture, and rape to keep the serfs in line. I think this Jagirdari attitude has permeated into all sections of the society. I cannot forget my boss insistence that I call him Raziq. At work I saw that attitude of wanting to be God almost universal. Perhaps it is simple jahilliya (ignorance), but it is galling that such things should take place in Muslam countries. It is not exclsuively in Muslim countries. India and other parts of the sub-continent share this abhorrent practice. A recent case in Chandigarh (India) of a gang-rape. And what is more, those entrusted with protecting the population, themsleves perpetrate these crimes. Dr Shazia was raped by an army captain. Sonia was raped by a Station House Officer on instructions of a Superintendeant of Police. We know that in the West where sexual permissivity is at all-time high, rape and incest are still far from low. And that their police and army is also simialrly inclined towards criminal activities against those it holds. Witness Abu Gharaib, Bagram, Guantamao. I find it even more disturbing when victims of rape cannot find shelter with Muslim organisations, and end up in NGOs with ulterior motives. Why aren't Muslim organisations doing something for it? I asked the Executive Director of a multifacetted Muslim organisation which is very well organised, includes an active female membership and has political as well as public service sections. His reply was that things are being doen, but the media highlights only the so-called secular ones. I asked some Muslim ladies, wife included, but they are far too busy. Middle class religious Muslimahs in the East apparently do not have time for society's ills. Where are Muslim women who practice the deen, and are willing to help other women? In almost every case I have come across, it is the secularised or even atheist women who have these organisations for help. |
| Re: rape and loss of other human rights |
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| jannah |
| 09/26/05 at 10:16:28 |
| [quote] Where are Muslim women who practice the deen, and are willing to help other women? [/quote] Most Muslim women in the east are raised with the mentality that being a good wife and mother IS the deen. They are not taught anything, supported or encouraged in any |
| Re: rape and loss of other human rights |
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| timbuktu |
| 09/26/05 at 10:30:28 |
| [slm] I agree most South Asianwomen are taught that way, but surely there are a few who have concern for society and their rights. See, the Tablighi Jamaat and the Jamaate Islami and some others do have women sections in their Jamaats, and these women do go and carry out their extra-curricular activities. Why can they not form shelters and legal/ social advice and help centres for women who have been abused? Why leave it to secular women? And it isn't exclusively a [i]South Asian or Muslim[/i] phenomenon. ALmost all third world countries share in this. |
| 09/26/05 at 10:40:41 |
| timbuktu |
| Re: rape and loss of other human rights |
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| jannah |
| 09/26/05 at 11:09:08 |
| wlm, Sorry I was writing more but there was a fire alarm here so we had to leave. So yes basically women in those countries (AND here because they bring over those teachings and mentality) are taught that their roles are different. That the role of protecting and helping society openly belongs solely to the male domain. Despite this, there are Muslim women groups that try to do things, but unfortunately they get a lot of flack and sometimes outright opposition from Muslims themselves. I'll give you an example I saw on Islamchannel from the UK. They had some guests on from a Muslim woman's hostel/helpline and they had 3 muslim women guests who had their back to the camera talking about their stories how they were forced into marriages. One girl in pak went to school and then her friend told her on the way home she had been married! When she went home her parents said she was nikahed and there was nothing she could do. Then she was sent to the UK where the husband was like I never wanted this and proceeded to abuse her. So then some guy calls up from the UK and says that these women were not forced or abused and that they do not need any help because they willingly entered into the marriage and there's no way anyone can come into this country against their will, and the marriage was their own business etc etc. I mean this guy is not alone, there are a lot of Muslim men who think like this... that either 1. these women are not being abused 2. that men have the right to abuse them. There are even "bounty hunters" who are paid certain amounts of money to find these girls who run away or refuse to marry. Some mosques even get into the act by putting pressure on the girl to marry against her will and using the muslim community to ostrasize her if she does not comply. I mean what is this?? Complete jahaliyya. Anyway my main point is we have to stop asking "why aren't muslim women doing xyz" and ask "what am i and the community doing to encourage muslim women to do xyz" This reminds me of the article Halima posted about some Muslim country where they are now lamenting over the fact that there are no women oby/gyns like jeez really? You dont encourage women to educate themselves and when there's a need they are puzzled??! |
| Re: rape and loss of other human rights |
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| timbuktu |
| 09/26/05 at 11:41:27 |
| [slm] true that Muslim men are to blame. Asma Jehangir and Hina Jilani, secular, can form and run help centres. There are numerous others that are run by secular women, but not bu practicing Muslimahs. And no matter how much I try here, these women still think it is outside their domain. The women, Shazia and Sonia, are middle class, educated women. Sonia went out of her way to help her husband, visiting him in prison, going to the Parliament, ending up in jail, and all that, My point is that this can happen to anyone. It doesn't just happen to illiterate girls from rural backgrounds. Yet, there is [u]NOT[/u] one group here run by Muslimahs whichs work for the establishment of the deen, or for that matter, by Muslim men who do this work. |
| 09/26/05 at 12:03:00 |
| timbuktu |
| Re: rape and loss of other human rights |
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| Siham |
| 09/26/05 at 12:06:44 |
| Btw, I’m just curious did Sonia go to the prison by herself or not? Moreover, doesn’t her husband have some family members or relatives that could have gone along with her? Indeed this can happen to anyone, but I think women should take the necessary pre-caution, to overcome these kinda of incidents from accruing. Bottom line, the sick-minded people are everywhere be it a Muslim or a Non-Muslim. wassalaams. |
| 09/26/05 at 12:18:32 |
| Siham |
| Re: rape and loss of other human rights |
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| timbuktu |
| 09/26/05 at 12:07:14 |
| [slm] and of course, those men too who want to establish the deen, aren't interested in these [i]little[/i] things. Establish the deen, and all will be OK. The JI says establish Islam politically. The Tablighi Jamaat says go on "chillas" and get people to start praying. Not one group of people with an Islamic agenda to sort out problems of society. |
| Re: rape and loss of other human rights |
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| safa |
| 09/28/05 at 12:01:17 |
| [slm] Don't u guys think that if women were allowed to like extend their shelf-life by a coupla years they could actually do more for the society than just make chappatis just the way hubby dear likes it? And not be social lepers by being unmarried at 25 (or even earlier)? I mean u could be married and helping society but u ll have 2 b reaaally lucky to have an egoless hubby who appreciates the fact that instead of bring him his slippers his wife is out soothing a rape victim r something... |
| Re: rape and loss of other human rights |
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| timbuktu |
| 09/29/05 at 09:42:12 |
| [slm] Siham wrote: [quote]did Sonia go to the prison by herself or not? Moreover, doesn’t her husband have some family members or relatives that could have gone along with her?[/quote] Sonia did not go the jail of her own will, but definitely alone. She was ordered there by the speaker of the Parliament, for daring to enter and sit in the august house. The family members probably did not go because they were afraid of the SP, who had already taken such huge bribes that their middle class living had dropped. Apparently they dissuaded her from taking such action, because they knew the SP had very powerful friends, but Sonia thought she could get justice. jannah is right about the attitudes of society. I don't think there are many activists in this world, and Islamic activism, that too from the women, almost non-existent. Rape is such an abhorrent crime, yet the police of almost all Muslim countries also practice it. Why? Are the police recruited from criminals? Or do these policeman not know it is a serious sin and crime? Bribery is rampant in third world countries. Why? In fact, the concept of halal and haram in income and consumption has disappeared. |
| 09/29/05 at 09:58:44 |
| timbuktu |
| Re: rape and loss of other human rights |
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| Siham |
| 10/05/05 at 10:03:42 |
| In the Name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful Issues of Concern for Muslim Women Renewed interest in and enthusiasm for Islam as a means of change is emerging in many parts of the world. By implementing Islamic principles, Muslims are hoping to improve their condition on many fronts, be they social, political, economic or others. The Muslim world is comprised of people of a variety of nationalities and ethnicities which, combined with geographical realities, determine priorities of action for improving the lives of women. Most Muslims are taught that Islam liberated women by giving them rights not previously enjoyed. Some examples include rights of ownership, decision-making in marriage, divorce and so on. Indeed, when reviewing primary Muslim sources of Qur'an and authentic Hadith (words and deeds of Prophet Muhammed), one is impressed by an overall image of men and women as equal partners as those who are expected by God to "enjoin the doing of what is right and forbid the doing of what is wrong" (9:71) in all spheres of life, and to act as His vicegerents in ensuring justice, freedom and equality for all. The importance of developing a strong family as the major building block of a strong society is clearly expressed in Islamic literature. The family unit is solidified by mutual respect, understanding and compassion that applies within the family and among all members of society in general. Unfortunately, over time, many of the original principles have been abandoned or modified to suit political agendas, thus presenting Muslims with laws and images that hardly resembled the original Islamic community led by Muhammad. Many of these laws were generated between the 10th and 12th centuries, long after the death of Muhammad, and are particularly reflected in legislation today related to marriage and divorce which often place women at a distinct disadvantage. Muslims who live as minorities in non-Islamic countries are also affected by the sexist and authoritarian attitudes that pervade many communities and impact behavior in terms of marriage, divorce, abuse, exclusion of women from the mosques and decision-making bodies, double standards applied to male and female children and so on. Because of a belief in a liberated, equitable and dignified position of women outlined in the Qur'an, many Muslims, men and women alike, are calling for reevaluation of attitudes and practices that, although done in the name of Islam, are actually contrary to the basic messages found in the primary sources. To question and possibly oppose entrenched positions that are based on archaic laws, weak Hadith, or cultural trends, requires courage and conviction on the part of religious leaders. But this is necessary and worth any risks in order to enable women to achieve liberation through Islam as originally intended. Major problem areas that need to be addressed include the following: * Family laws pertaining to marriage and divorce that reinforce the image of relationships based on a hierarchy with the rights of the husband superceding those of the wife and that prevent women from being in control of their lives. * Violence against women which occurs in the home, community, and as a consequence of warfare which is claimed by some to be allowed by Islam when it is not. * Abuse of certain Islamic practices that affect women negatively, such as polygamy and temporary marriage, when applied out of context and without abiding by Islamic restrictions. * Excluding women from religious activities such as attendance in the mosque which has clearly been established as the Muslim woman's right. * Failure to promote the importance of a woman's contribution to society beyond child-bearing. * Failure to enable women to take advantage of rights of property ownership and inheritance outlined by Islam. * Focusing on the behavior of women as a marker for morality in society and subjecting them to harassment, intimidation or discrimination. * Lack of awareness of the important role of men in contributing significantly in sharing household responsiblities and child-rearing as exemplified by Prophet Muhammed. Until recently, because of a pervasive sexist and oppressive presentation of women in Islam, Muslim women often felt the only way to be liberated intellectually, socially, politically and economically was by abandoning Islam. There appears to be a growing movement of Islamist women who are demanding that the rights guaranteed by Islam must be applied in their communities. In addition, women are joining the ranks of Islamic scholars, thus providing alternative points of view to what has heretofore been addressed by men. Reviewing Islamic history from an egalitarian perspective, recalling contributions of Muslim women over the centuries, exploring current practices and laws and criticizing them from an Islamic point of view, examining texts as they pertain to women specifically are a few examples of some areas addressed by women scholars today. Muslims today are facing great challenges from within and without. Oftentimes, calls for change are seen as tools of an outside power that is seeking to undermine the efforts of Islam and Muslims. Certain geopolitical realities lend credence to this view. However, the current desire for change on the part of Muslim women is perhaps more borne out of the fervent belief in the image of the Muslim woman as communicated by God in the Qur'an of a liberated, vital human being who can work in cooperation with men on many levels to contribute to the betterment of society. They seek to expose this concept which has been buried by the persistence of attitudes that focus on competition and subsequent subjugation of one sex over the other in direct conflict with the spirit of the Qur'anic verse: "And thus does their Lord answer their prayer: I shall not lose sight of the work of any of you who works (in My way) be it man or woman: You are members, one of another." (3:195). |
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