ARAB WOMEN : Victims of Islamic Gender Discrimination, Part-II
Submitted by Dr Radhasyam Br... on Thu, 02/12/2009 - 05:45
Printer-friendly version
Send to friend
PDF versionBy Dr Radhasyam Brahmachari
Once upon a time, Egypt was the Arab’s pioneer in women’s rights. “The Liberation of Women”, the first Arab feminist manifesto was published in Cairo, more than a century ago, in 1899. And by 1920s, women were dropping veils; by 1960, the country had more female doctors than many in the West. They won the right to vote and entered politics in 1956 and they could also secure a ban on the despicable practice of female circumcision. At that time, a new bill called the “Personal Status Bill”, that sought to establish absolute equality with males, was in the pipeline. But unfortunately then came the war with Israel and the move died.
In those days of political turmoil, a conservative tide spearheaded by the Islamist fundamentalists snatched away most of the rights women had won so far and under a constitutional amendment in 1980, Islamic law was enshrined and as a result, women were reduced to the status not better than pet animals of males. For example, the practice of female circumcision was reintroduced. In medical term, it is nothing but a surgical operation that removes the part called clitoris of the female genital. At present, hundreds of Egyptian girls die every year due to excessive bleeding that follows the trauma. In 1994, the American television channel CNN telecast such an operation worldwide and sparked a heated debate in the Egyptian parliament. Egypt’s topmost religious authority, Mufty, appealed to the members of the parliament to vote in favour of banning the practice. But the fanatic Islamist leader of the Al-Azhar University, Gad al-Haq Ali Gad al-Haq, promulgated a fatwa directing the Egyptians to continue the practice and the parliament also honoured his fatwa.
As a result of these gruesome developments, women’s rights movement in Egypt has lost steam. With the Islamic law on their side, Egyptian men now divorce their wives with simple oath or triple talaq, while women have to seek a divorce in the court of law, a process that generally takes several years. At present, a third of the Egyptian women are reported to be beaten by their husbands and in such a state of affairs delay in getting a decree of divorce from a cruel husband remains nothing but punitive torture. Furthermore, a divorced mother, according to Islamic law, enjoys the right of custody up to the age of 12 years for the girls and 10 years for boys, after which the child must be surrendered to their father, even if he is a brute and a sadist.
It is much publicized by the Islamists that the Koranic law protects women’s right to property. But, in fact, it is also discriminatory, and allots them only half of the share of what a male relation gets in inheritance. They are the victims of discrimination even in the court of law and their testimony is considered half as weighty as men’s. It should also be mentioned here that, Islamic criminal law is also discriminatory. For example, a man who catches his wife in an act of adultery and murders her can expect a maximum jail term for 3 years, while his wife, in a similar circumstances, would face a full life-term sentence. Furthermore, according to the Islamic law in Egypt, a woman does not have the right to pass on her nationality and as a result, nearly 80,000 Egyptian children, most of whom are products of brief (mutah) marriage to the Gulf Arabs, have no nationality. In fact, according to W. Muir, the most renowned biographer of Prophet Muhammad, this mutah or temporary marriage, sanctioned by the Koran, is nothing but prostitution. It may be mentioned here that in India, especially in Hyderabad in Andhra Pradesh (AP), rich and aged Shaikhs of Arab countries come to marry (mutah) young Muslim girls by paying lucrative mehr ( a kind of dowry that the groom has to pay to her guardian or parents). Last year, AP police arrested a 73 year old Arab, Mohammad Jafer Yaqub Hassan al Jorani, for marrying three teen age Muslim girls in quick succession within 7th to 24th May, 2005.
Yet the picture is not all bleak. More and more Egyptian girls are now receiving education and between 1970 and 1998, the number of girls attending primary schools rose from 50 to 72 per cent. In Oman, the number of school-going girls has more than quadrupled since 1970. In Lebanon, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and United Arab Emirate, more women than men are now attending universities. Especially, in Kuwait and Qatar, women make up about 70 per cent of the students. Female education has been dramatically improved in the Arab countries and at present, women literacy rate is 80 per cent in Tunisia and 100 per cent in Jordan. Still, only in 3 out of 22 Arab countries, women have the right to vote and in Yemen, the illiteracy rate among young women is 54 per cent, which is three times that of men. While Arab women are working as ambassadors, Government ministers, top business executives and even army officers (in Bahrain), barely 6 per cent of total workforce in Saudi Arabia is female. While a fifth of Algeria’s Supreme Court judges are women and they hold 15 per cent top judicial posts in Tunisia, baby girls are twice as likely to die as baby boys in Egypt. And “honour killing” (killing female relations suspected of tarnishing the family honour) is still a social custom in the Arab world. For example, more than 20 young women are still murdered by their relatives every year in Jordan.
Undoubtedly, Tunisia is the most advanced and progressive among the Arab countries. As far back as 1950, secularist Tunisia granted women the full equality with men – polygamy was banned and women were allowed to vote, contest elections, divorce their husbands, work in any profession and etc. But male attitudes have not really changed. Many marry village women as additional wives and incidents of wife-beating still remains very high. In 2004, Morocco, by the initiative of the foreign educated King Muhammad VI, adopted a progressive family status code which grants both sexes equal rights to seek divorce and to argue before a judge for custody of children. It also has placed such tight conditions on polygamy as to render the practice virtually impossible. On the other hand, Algeria’s family status law 1984, gives men the autocratic Koranic right to divorce by oral talaq, with no obligation to the divorced wife. And the Koranic law of inheritance has been enforced. But in a 2002 survey carried out in 7 Arab countries by Zogby International, a NGO, 50 per cent of respondents considered the improvements of women’s rights a high priority. Most surprisingly, firmest supports came from Saudi Arabia, a country that is famous for its extreme phobia regarding ikhtilat, or mixing of sexes.
So, it appears that the attitude of even Saudi Arabia to its womenfolk is changing. In fact, in May 2004, Saudi women were granted the right to hold commercial licenses and, as a result, Saudi women now own a quarter of $100 billions deposited in Saudi Arabian banks. In 2001, women won the right to have their own identity cards and since January 2004, Saudi Arabian state television has started recruiting female newscasters. Kingdom’s best known TV personality now happens to be a woman, named Rania al-Baz, whom her husband once beat almost to death. She, instead of staying silent, what her mother and grand mother would have done, invited photographers into her hospital room to tell her tale and to show her broken face to the world. Now she has formed a group to combat the abuse of women in Saudi Arabia.
Today, 1.3 billion Muslims account for nearly 32 per cent of the world population, but this 32 per cent Muslims publish less than one per cent of world’s scientific research papers. Countries belonging to the “Organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC), according to their share of world population, should have 4 million scientists and engineers, but in reality, the figure is only 200,000, merely 5 per cent of the expected figure. Furthermore, the Muslims have little contribution in the high-tech fields like computer software or information technology. Islamic countries, to be at per with the world’s budget, should spend 4.7 million per year for higher education and research. But they spend as low as $120,000. Many similar studies have revealed severe dearth of creativity in the Muslim world. The authors of the “Arab Human Development Report 2000” have rightly traced the root cause of the said backwardness of the Arabs in the oppression of their womankind.
In this context, one may recall that in 1996, Islamist fanatics butchered 300 girl-children in Libya for pursuing the un-Islamic practice of attending schools and in Afghanistan, fanatic Taliban government once closed all schools and colleges for girls and forced women to remain indoor. In December, this year, Taliban gunmen killed two women teachers for educating girls, along with their mother and their grandmother. A couple of months ago, a girl was brutally killed by the fanatic Muslims for attending school and another girl student Kulsooma of class IX was blinded by throwing acid in Kashmir. So it appears that the condition of Muslim women is worse in India, with 40.6 per cent literacy, than their Arab counter parts. And it can safely be said that, so long the Muslims will continue to oppress their women, the prospect of their advancement in civilization would also remain bleak. ”As we all know, birds have two wings. Unless both the wings grow equally, the bird cannot fly. Similarly, the society has two wings, man and women. Both have to be developed equally. Then the society will fly”, says his Excellency, India’s former President, Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam.
Sir,excellent article.
Sir,excellent article.
Another beautiful article
Another beautiful article from a great guy! Good work...
The image of the typical
The image of the typical Muslim woman wearing the veil and forced to stay home and forbidden to drive is all too common in most peoples’ thoughts. Although some Muslim countries may have laws that oppress women, this should not be seen as coming from Islam. Many of these countries do not rule by any kind of Shari'ah (Islamic law) and introduce their own cultural standpoints on the issue of gender equity.
Islam on the other hand gives men and women different roles and equity between the two is laid down in the Qur’an and the example of the Prophet (peace be upon him). Islam sees a woman, whether single or married, as an individual in her own right, with the right to own and dispose of her property and earnings. A marriage gift is given by the groom to the bride for her own personal use, and she keeps her own family name rather than taking her husband's. Both men and women are expected to dress in a way which is modest and dignified. The Messenger of God (peace be upon him) said: "The most perfect in faith amongst believers is he who is best in manner and kindest to his wife."
Violence of any kind towards women and forcing them against their will for anything is not allowed (4:19). A Muslim marriage is a simple, legal agreement in which either partner is free to include conditions.
Marriage customs thus vary widely from country to country. Divorce is not common, although it is acceptable as a last resort. According to Islam, a Muslim girl cannot be forced to marry against her will: her parents simply suggest young men they think may be suitable.
For example, the practice of
For example, the practice of female circumcision was reintroduced.
Hi,i heard about this concept in saudi arabia.I did a bit of research then.Let me tell u how it is done.A female child of about 5 years is held down with legs wide apart.Then a razor blade is used to SCOOP,YES SCOOP out the female genitalia cutting the clitoris from above downwards,which includes the labia majora.then what ever remants of the labia majora is sutured.This is done by a country bump.The child may die of sepsis,tetanus or bleeding.Long term problems are due to fibrosis of the genitalia such as--1)urinary retention &/or chronic infection.2)blocks flow of menstraul blood.then a opening has to be done to allow normal flow.3)when she grows up to be a woman,she may not be able to consummate her marriage.women have been divorced for this reason also.DID U NOTICE THE SUFFERING OF THE FEMALE CHILD.
PURPOSE OF THIS CONCEPT---1)TO STIFLE NORMAL SEXUAL FEELINGS,SO THAT THE WOMEN DON'T STRAY & BRING DISHONOR TO THE FAMILY & RELIGION.2)SEXUALITY OF THE WOMEN IS LOST FOR EVER.in other words she cannot have a orgasm.Love making to this sort of women is like making love to a piece of furniture,NO FEELINGS.3)Effectively makes the women a production house for babies.
THE W.H.O. has banned this practice as evil.THIS IS NOT EQUIVALENT TO MALE CIRCUMCISION.Hence it has been named FEMALE GENITALIA MUTILATION or FGM.An american super model(i think naomi campbell,who is said to be a victim herself) is the WHO spokeswomen.Her brief---to educate people against this practice in countries which follow it.Contrary to belief,that it is an african practice,IT IS SEEN IN SAUDI ARABIA--cradle of islam.
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE,SAY NO TO FGM.IF U COME ACROSS IT PROTEST AGAINST IT.
PLEASE NOTE--AS DR.RADHASHAYM RIGHTLY POINTED OUT,ORIGINALLY IT WAS NOT A ISLAMIC PRACTICE,LATER INCORPORATED.I AM AFRAID THIS PRACTICE COULD SPREAD TO ASIAN COUNTRIES.WE SHOULD NOT LET IT HAPPEN.
FGM was originally an African
FGM was originally an African witchcraft ritual to prevent girls and women from starying from their one man. Because the one man could not satisfy all of his young wives, he had them FGMed so the desire vanished. Due to trade from East Africa to Arabia this became acceptable among the Arabs, especially Muhammad who had said Arabs were allowed 2,3,4 wives and as many temproary wives as they wished. This prevented their many slaves, concubines from straying. Muhammad knew about it and never stoped the practice, but said to the African vagina cutter,"dont cut too much". Muhammad was evil,misogynist prophet of incest, pedophilia, murder, slavery, FGM, power grabbing, psychopathic leaning all with the Allah Satan sura 3:54.
An excellent and eye opening
An excellent and eye opening article.
I like your comment AMMIN so
I like your comment AMMIN so wonderfully crafty...
Muslims are afraid of the
Muslims are afraid of the fact that educated women may outdo them in all aspects. Therefore, they subjugate women from all fronts, including genital mutilation. As Dr. Brahmachari's article indicates, Muslim women are slowly gaining their rights. The day when majority of the Muslim women become liberated, Islam will be doomed. Unless and until that happens, Islam shall continue to breath.
I remember reading Ali Sena's book in which he explains why some non-Muslims in the west convert to Islam. The reasons he gave are absolutely correct. In the west, 4 out of 5 marriages end up in divorce. The parents never worry about the future of their children (emotional aspects not financial). The guy ends up fathering children through different mothers, but shall be able to spend time with them only on weekends because the mother is married to someone else or she is in defacto relationship. This puts tremendous pressure on males. I have seen this personally. To let out their emotional outburst, they seek Islam, where woman are totally confined to their husbands and four walls. Once they convert, their children become naturalised citizens of Islam. It is essential for west to look into this aspect asap.
AMIM, you haven't told me why
AMIM, you haven't told me why Allah's army lost three huge battles with kaffir Indians? Do u remember how 95,000 captured Pak soldiers paraded before the kaffirs? It seems now-a-days Allah has become impotent!
rationalist do you really
rationalist
do you really think that AMIN will answer your question. The fact that India beat pakistan thrice is something that hurts every pakistani. for us Indians it does not mean much, as we really dont put in much iof our rime thinking about pakistan. Unfortunately the pakistanis are the opposite, they spend most of their time plotting against our country.
they are a hateful people, who would rather see every indian die. As an Indian I feel sorry for Pakistan, who becos of they hateful thinking are today a failed nation, with a GDP of $ billion dollars while India is a great economy with a GDP of 1.5 billion dollars and will soon overtake many Western countries in terms of GDP.
This can happen only in a positive environment, which countries like India can provide. Pakistanis have nothing to be proud of, and hence their hate speech.
sorry, there was a typo.
sorry, there was a typo. Indian GDP is 1.5 trillion dollars
did u know what happened to
did u know what happened to the 95,000 surrendered paki soldiers??????They were removed from combat duties,since the paki govt felt they cannot be trusted since they surrendered.Many from paki navy got jobs in saudi arabia.This story was told to me by one of them.IMAGINE A COUNTRY DISOWNING ITS OWN SOLDIERS.
In 1962 war against china,the Indian politicians GAVE NO CLEAR COMMAND to the army.The army was in 2 minds,whether to hold the position or retreat.In some places they held to the last man,in some places they retreated.Before losing the physical war,we lost the mental war.BUT WE NEVER DISOWNED OUR SOLDIERS.IN FACT LATAJI SANG A SONG FOR THEM--"AYE MERE WATAN KE LOGU".THAT IS INDIA.
In kargil war again paki govt disowned the dead bodies of paki soldiers disguised as "freedom fighters".
According to the beliefs of
According to the beliefs of islam,they give lot of respect to the dead bodies & a proper burial is a must.Then how come paki bodies were left rotting in the peaks of kargil.Then the rulers of paki(govt +army) must be tried under sharia law.
MY DEAR AMIM WHAT PUNISHMENT WOULD U DESIRE UNDER SHARIA LAW.PLEASE NO CUT & PASTE ANSWERS. NO THEY WERE NOT KILLED BY THE JEWS.
Similarly, the society has
Similarly, the society has two wings, man and women. Both have to be developed equally. Then the society will fly”, says his Excellency, India’s former President, Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam.
What a wonderful thought!!! From a wonderful man.I once had a interaction with a DRDO scientist(hindu).our topic shifted to Proff KALAM.Believe me whenever Proff KALAM'S name appeared,he would bow in reverence.This was much before he became President.
Likewise i had a interaction with an Indian(muslim) who was an Honorary consulate general of another country.He abused Proff KALAM in the choicest words.He told that Proff KALAM sucks Indian leaders.(read hindu)
SEE THE DIFFERENCE!!!!!!!!
Once i saw on Tv Proff KALAM inaugurating a scientific convention in Zurich(i think)when he was the President.The entire hall gave him a STANDING OVATION.It was such a beautiful sight.
Worse was the treatment meted by the "secular" congress.They refused to give a 2 term to the PEOPLE'S PRESIDENT.
[...] ARAB WOMEN : Victims of
[...] ARAB WOMEN : Victims of Islamic Gender Discrimination, Part-II Women in Islam Add comments [...]
Note: i have a problem with
Note: i have a problem with many thing of the Muslim Faith... but the one thing that seems to get me every time is... femail circumsicion... why is this allowed.. yes i know that the Qu'ran has it's reasoning but... the woman have there own minds to make up.. ues it's ok for an elderly lady to make that choice for herself... but the small children having to have it done is not right... why? They are small and they don't have a say in anything.. why are the woman not allowed to have the pleasures of sex... then the man mustn't either. But the reasoning behind the circumsicion is so that the woman can stay faithful.. but if the man doesn't trust her from the beginning.. then is the marrage even worth it?
Yes so there are inter family marrages... but these should also be stopped... the number of deformities in the muslim children are so high at the moment. Do you really want your grandchild to be deformed? do you really want to live with the pains of having your own child deformed when you can cut that risk by almost 100 % and YES there are other way that you can get a deformed child.. butthis is cutting down the costs by huge numbers.. then the country can cut down costs for surgery for the deformed children in the country.. because there wont be so many of the deformities in the country.. and then the counrty can spend that other money on anything... childcare, other health related problems.. like HIV/AIDS cures.. H1N1 medicine.. education.. all these things can then help the counrty benifit from the extra money coming out of the more qualified people in the country... on then lessoning the amount of money needed for the H1N1 virus or HIV AIDS virus.. because they will be depleating with the uses of the cures. That money then that is then being saved from the health care can then be used even further, and then there is a chain reaction from then on, and then the counrty will be a more wealthy country, and then the other counrtys can become as wealthy and then the world will be a better place with less crime because of the less amount of poverty or corruption. so basically, inter family marrages, are effecting the world, maybe by a miniscule amount at the moment, but in the long run, can effect the whole world.