ED ZIEGLER: FEMALE SUPPRESSION IN ISLAM
By:- Ed Ziegler – Columnist
In America and all westernized countries females have the same rights as men. It is safe to even say women tend to receive a little more respect then men. In many Islamic societies women are openly treated as the property of men, of lower value, perhaps even as slaves. Where Muslims have emigrated to other countries there are numerous instances where they maintain their custom of abusing women.
The authority allowing men to control women comes from the Hadith and the Quran. One such verse (4:34) in the Quran reads “Men are the protectors of woman, because Allah has given one more than the other. Therefore the righteous woman is devoutly obedient.”
According to the ISNA news agency, the Euro 2012 games are aired on television in football-mad Iran. However women are banned from watching with their menfolk. Bahman Kargar, Iran’s deputy police commander in charge of social affairs, said “It is an inappropriate situation when men and women watch football in theatres together,” “Men, while watching football, get excited and sometimes utter vulgar curses or tell dirty jokes,” he said. “It is not within the dignity of women to watch football with men. Women should thank the police for the ban.”
In a sermon, former Pakistani lawmaker and prominent Islamic cleric, Maulana Abdul Haleem, justified Honor killings of women who opt for secular education. He threatened to forcibly marry off Western female staff of secular non-governmental organizations who visit the district of Kohistan to work with women’s education, health, and other welfare projects. He termed formal education for women un-Islamic.
In April 2012 the Egyptian website Youm 7 reported Azza al-Jarf, a female Member of Parliament representing the Muslim Brotherhood’s “Freedom and Justice Party,” was trying to abolish laws enjoyed by Egyptian women—including preventing them from divorcing or even separating from their husbands, because “the man has the authority and stewardship.”
Another female politician, Mona Salah, declared that “women are deficient in intelligence and religion,” and that, in agreement with Sharia law, they are banned from running for the presidency.
On June 25, 2012 “The Sun” reported “I wed age FIVE in the UK “ (http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/4244979/I-married-at-the-age-of-FIVE-in-the-UK.html ). Samina, the subject of the article, has decided to speak out after Britain’s Forced Marriage Unit revealed that last year they investigated 1,468 cases of forced marriage including another girl of five.
In March 2012 Mohamed al-Omda, deputy head of the People’s Assembly’s Constitutional and Legislative Affairs Committee, has submitted a resolution draft to cancel a woman’s right to divorce (Khula) or separate from her husband.
On June 4, 2012 “The Independent” reported Charlotte Proudman, has represented Muslim women pro bono at Sharia courts across the UK. Proudman received a call from Nasrin, who pleaded for help to obtain an Islamic divorce from a forced marriage characterized by rape and physical violence. The Sharia council refused to provide her with a divorce. The Sharia council told Nasrin that her gender prevents her from unilaterally divorcing her husband. She was told to return to her husband, perform her wifely duties and maintain the abusive marriage.
On March 15 the “AKI/Jakarta Post” reported that six major Indonesian Islamic organizations have voiced objections to the gender fairness and equality bill. What is surprising is that the objections came from female organizations.The representatives, all women, said that the bill could further violate Islamic law on inheritance sharing, marriage and women’s rights to be a mother and housewife.
On March 12, 2012 the “Express Tribune” in Faisalabad reported, arrest warrants were issued on a 12 year old girl’s complaint about her forced marriage to an elderly man. Her father, Muhammad Nawaz, sold her to repay a loan.
Angry Moroccans are demanding a change to the country’s strict Islamic penal code after a 16-year-old girl killed herself after being forced to marry her rapist. Article 475 of the Moroccan penal code allows for the ‘kidnapper’ of a minor to marry his victim to escape prosecution.
The above presents only a few ways females, including little girls, are very poorly treated in Islamic societies worldwide. Another part of verse 4:34 states “As to those women on whose part you fear disloyalty and ill conduct, admonish them first, next refuse to share their bed and last beat them.”
On behalf of your loved ones make it your responsibility to learn about the Islamic fanatics who are working to force the world to submit to Allah and Sharia Law. I can’t imagine any women wanting to live under such restrictions and barbaric treatment.
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