The Muslim Woman

Just a few days back, a survey was made among the ethnic minorities in UK, which states that the Muslim women from Pakistan and Bangladesh are suffering from job discrimination because of their religious attire. A lot of outcry was heard from many outgoing young Muslim women who feel quite differently. However, coming back to the issue on the recent report published by Minister for Women Ruth Kelly, she says that ‘Women in Hijab’ should get more job opportunities in the front-line media irrespective of their headscarves. Now what pointed Mrs. Kelly to point this thing? Well, as everyone knows, according to survey, employment rate among ethnic minorities from Pakistani and Bangladeshi origin is just about 24% and this precisely had pushed the minister to come up with refreshing idea to help the Muslim women. Via: THE TELEGRAPH

According to a recent analysis made by the Central Statistics Bureau data, in the year 2005 the fertility rate in Israel witnessed a significant fall. The data report states that the number of newborn babies was 143,913 in 2005, out of which nearly 70% were born to Jewish women and only a handful of 24% were that of Muslim women. Another important fact is that the overall figure of newborns dropped dramatically and this was due to the fertility ratio of the Muslim women, who were giving birth to fewer babies. Via: YNETNEWS

Men in Islam are allowed to have more than one wife and this is prevalent not only in the Middle East countries but in India too – the land of Democracy. Paradoxically, despite the constitution of India bestowing the citizen to assert their right to freedom, women in the Muslim community still suffers from the biased laws of the Islamic religion. A recent case of a Muslim woman locked up in a room without any ventilation and toilet for long three years, should open up the eyes of the Indian government and it’s so called political leaders who are busy making big-time speech but no action at all. In a suburb area of Hyderabad, a man confined his wife in a room for three years and made her drink her own urine because she refused to grant him permission from getting married to another woman. The criminal in question is Mohammed Shadulla, who works as a foreman construction. He tied his wife Asha Begum in chain, forced her into a dark room, and ultimately carried on his wishes. However, by luck, one day he forgot to close the door and Asha escaped. The police have arrested the culprit. The point here is that the religious leaders instead of preaching should at least for once get into their senses and see what the cultural practices are doing to the Muslim women community. Via: IOL

The year 2006 remained quite eventful for the Saudi women with women emancipation gaining momentum with the help of the liberal King Abdullah. Lot of talks were going on among the higher authority regarding creating more job opportunities for the Saudi women. The media was abuzz with the Saudi Arabian Airlines decision to recruit more female staff and replace the non-Saudi crew. However, the idea now faces a setback, because according to a statement made by Khaled Al Mulhim, the Saudi director general, no women will be appointed either in the airport or as flight attendants in the airlines. Via: TRADEARABIA

Muslim women often face obstacles at every stage of their life, be it education, choosing their own husband or in decision making matters. Even those who have migrated to the European nations are not free from the prejudice that is generally held against them. The former Dutch Parliamentarian and a Muslim woman, Ayaan Hirsi Ali had met with lot of unfortunate accidents in her life. In an overwhelming piece she has discussed few true facts that women in Islam has to go through every day in her life- the hurdles, which is stopping the progress of the Muslim women community. -FGM (Female Genital Mutilation) is widely practiced among the Muslim community. Girls as young as four years old are forcefully made to go through this procedure. Sometimes they even die during the process. -Girls having incestuous relationship are often looked down upon and ultimately killed. The relatives murder even those teenagers and young girls who are victim of sexual abuse. -Sexually exploited girls are forced to stay quite and not allowed to report the authority. -Girls are not allowed to pursue their education. -Pregnant victims of sexual abuse and incest are made to abort to restore family honor. -Instead of directing any punishment towards the abusers, the girls are made to suffer for no offence made by them. -The parents often beat women and teenagers who dare to raise their voice. -Girls are married off to men old enough to be her father for the sake of monetary benefits. Via: JAYREDING

Women in Tehran have once again come under heavy pressure of the Tehran Police to dress appropriately and in accordance with the rules laid down by the religion. In a crack down drive launched by the Police department, so far 64,000 women are already issued warnings because they are said to have dressed indecently. According to reports from the police force, some of the women have handed over a written statement promising to dress in the Islamic way. All these women were warned, mainly because during the summer most of them were seen sporting Capri pants, bright colored apparels, and not the traditional veil. Via: GULF DAILY

Somaliland women are challenging the rules of Islamic society and taking up independent working style to support themselves and their children. One visit to the market place in Hargeisa says it all. Trying to cope up with the daily needs, women are increasingly laying hands in different ventures and clothing business is the most popular one. Women emancipation in the capital has taken a U Turn after the fall of the nation’s dictatorial rule in the year 1991. Due to the sudden crisis in the economy of the nation, the men folks had no jobs and thus came the excellent opportunity for women community. Harowo reports A large chunk of women are running textile shops and earning enough to support their family. 38-year-old Amina Jama and five more women are working together and producing colorful cloths and they are getting good results. Some other women are working as vegetable vendors, selling fruits, opening tailoring shops and even beauty parlours. Shamis Barre, a member of the Humanitarian organization ‘CARE’ has helped a lot in grooming the Somali women in direct marketing skills. She further said that men are too proud to do jobs such as selling things and working in a tailor shop, but the Somali women are too practical to care for such trivial matters. Since the outbreak of the civil war, most of the men are unemployed and this has given the women a chance to stand on their own overthrowing the age-old tradition of Islam religion that women cannot take up any job.

To protect the rights of the Muslim women there is a certain legislation that has come to force these days in America. Under this legislation, a Muslim woman can make her husband sign a contract according to which, she can divorce her husband and ask for alimony if he abuses her. In the Muslim community in America, these kinds of marriages are now becoming popular as ‘Contract Marriage’. Otherwise in any other religion be it Hindu or Christian, such a condition is generally coined as prenuptial agreement. Now, a devoted group of young Muslim women lawyers is working meticulously to create a systematic contract that will help the American Muslim women in asserting their rights. Via: FLADIVORCELAWBLOG

A lot of controversy is going on regarding the restructuring of the Hudood Ordinace that was introduced in the year 1979. Doing away with the requirement of four male witnesses to prove the women innocent, the new law states the need of any four person irrespective of caste, creed, and sex to testify for the women. Despite the women rights organization reacting strongly against the stiff opposition of the Pakistani Muslim League (PML), the atmosphere is perpetually hot with controversial debates among the radicals and the liberals. According to a new provision incorporated within the bracket of Hudood Ordinance, the name of the woman who is subjected to rape will not be made public. Neither will anyone be allowed to disclose about her family. Any individual or group who is found making this offence will be sentenced for six months behind the bars or pay fine for the same. Via: TELEGUPORTAL

The Canadian convert to Muslim and the first female president of the leading Muslim organization in North America is one among those women who have always believed in the positive things of life. Ingrid Mattson becomes the first women to lead the Islamic Society of North America. She has a strong belief that nothing at all can stop her from taking decisions regarding religious matters and issues related to women so that she can give them their rights. Mattson strongly opposes any sort of discrimination and says that women in the Muslim community should be active enough to get involved in social activities- it might be anything from providing suggestions regarding the controversial religious practices or having equal opportunity with the men folks while attending any lecture. Read more