It is routine work for 43 year old Helen Rawlins. For years now she finds peace saving women forced into marriages. She knows the way the cruel world acts upon their daughters. She wants a change. She might not be able to change the mentality of the thousands who believe in what they call tradition, but she surely has been able to give a peaceful life to the girls who do not want to surrender to the ’situation’.

For the British Government, a forced marriage is a breach in human rights. As far as arranged marriage is concerned, it is acceptable if both partners agree to it. Most of the girls Rawlins attend to are shockingly very young. Early twenties, and some even legally not of marriagable age. Thankfully for the girls in Pakistan, mjany have found a way to use their burka to conceal a mobile phone- their tool to call for freedom.

The Forced Marriage Unit operates from London. In Pakistan though, Helen Rawlins leads a team with concent of the Pakistan Authorities. It is a sigh of relief for girls who have supportive boyfriends to fight for them and bail them out. For others, it is a struggle alone. In Islamabad Khalida Salimi runs a shelter for women wanting to lead a life away from violence and forced marriages.

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Via: TheAge

The West might rebuff it as preposterous while the East might defend it as its tradition, but arranged marriages nonetheless cannot be ruled out in the Asian culture. Marriages in these countries are more of a contract between two families and little of a choice between two individuals. With changing times and advent of technology, the Asian societies are becoming more liberal allowing more liberty in asserting one’s discretion in choosing one’s life partner. However, the Saudi society has not only maintained its centuries old belief of separation of sexes but any intermingling of the two genders outside marriage is interpreted as blasphemy.

Even after engagement, couples are not allowed to meet each other. If a man is caught talking to an unrelated woman, he will be arrested and flogged for his audacity. Family honor is what the Saudi society stands for. If people in the West feel that the Saudi youths are extremely unhappy with the strict social norms then they are wrong. Despite of flash of rebellions now and then, Saudis by large accept their religious and cultural obligations. Like youthful indulgence, Saudi men and women try to contact each other through mobile phones and taking a cue from the West even plan their honeymoons.

However, one question that remains to be answered is, are these strict social norms bringing real happiness to Saudi households. Divorces are rising at an alarming rate in Saudi Arabia. It has the second highest rate of divorces in the world. The marriage court registers 40 marriages and 20 divorces a day. According to a study conducted by Dr. Ebtisam Halawani at King Abdul Aziz University, main reasons for women, leaving their spouses was ill-treatment and violence. Polygamy was responsible for up to 55% of divorces while involvement of husbands in illicit affairs accounted for 38% of divorces. It shows that not allowing one to know the person who one is going to marry does not guarantee conjugal bliss.

Source: Times Online

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The strict Islamic laws restricting movement of women, takes preposterous dimension in Saudi Arabia where men and women are treated in a manner as if they are two different species. Shrouded in dark colored abayas or traditional Saudi attires for women covering the head and extending to the tow, Saudi women move about the street like living ghosts. Forbidden to move outside their girls’ only circle, interacting with a non-relative male is blasphemous in Saudi Arabia.

Even while interacting with male relatives, women do not have the liberty to talk even to their male first cousins without covering their faces. Marriages in the country are arranged by the male members of the family and the girl is allowed to see her fiancé only on the engagement day under the strict supervision of her family members. While women are not allowed to drive cars, they can move only in cars with tinted windows. They attend girls-only schools, colleges and university departments. There are woman-only gyms, boutiques, travel agencies and even shopping malls. Women can eat only in family sections of restaurants and cafeteria covered in their abayas.

Despite of strict social norms, rebellious behaviors are rising in the Saudi society where women fed up with centuries old restriction are trying in what ever little way it is possible to break away from social stranglehold. Not only are clandestine love affairs between young girls and boys proliferating but also it is also not difficult to come across lesbian relations in the Saudi society. Internet and mobile phones are aiding in relations that are considered taboo. Whether new technology could help in evolving more practicality in the Saudi Arabian society remains to be seen.

Via:IHT

Post Saddam Hussain’s hanging, things haven’t changed much and a new phenomenon is grappling Iraq, with a new trend emerging with the rise in the number of widows. One such widow is Suad Rzuki Aboud who lost her husband, three sons and a son-in-law when their family bakery was blown off by the Sunni militia. She says:

I was pleading for anyone to help. No one came.

One of the reasons attributed to this could be the never-to-end violence in the country which gives birth to many widows each day. The skyrocketing prices of the essential commodities coupled with the poverty in the country makes it difficult for the upbringing of the children by a single mother.

As if that wasn’t enough, the US–backed constitutional changes gives each religious sect to determine its own set of rules concerning marriage, divorce, inheritance and child custody. Maysoon Al-Damluji, a secular member of Iraq’s parliament is of the view that Article 41 of Iraq’s new constitution is ‘a recipe for disaster.’

The social stigma associated with such a woman in a ‘hardline’ society makes doubles her difficulties.

In the eyes of society, women always need a man to protect them and keep them straight. There is still some social stigma about a woman being on her own.

The dogma surrounding such widows has reached such new proportions that family members often fake the identity of their kin. One such unfortunate widow was Nuha Farai, who lost her husband 20 days after she tied the knots, whose in-laws, in an desperate attempt to inherit government pension, faked his status as single!

The aftermath of the bloodshed has left these widows with a very few choices with some even resorting to prostitution and others taking up begging on the streets of the city. It was only this week that the Sunni militants gunned down three such widows in a country where such professions are treated as immoral.

Source: USA Today

Iraq has been in the news ever since 2001. With the country being in the state of a perpetual war, women and children suffer the most, both, in social and economic aspects. Amidst such a climate, the atmosphere in Iraq is not very friendly, especially for women, who face threats not only from the militants and frenetic gangs who go looting Iraq, but also from their own family. The recent news of a murder of nineteen year old girl by her in-laws, just because she had an unknown number in her mobile phone, for the sake of honor, shows how blatant their idea about religion is. All the more, since Sharia law is incorporated in the constitution, the government is only able to sit and watch such crimes. This is true not only of Iraq, but many other middle-east countries.

We all have memories of Taliban. But many other Middle East countries face these kinds of problems. A reason for such incidents is degeneration of the country itself ravaged by wars and suffering from many social evils. There is an unending fear factor in these countries, for most of these countries never know what peace is, because of which they fear change and stick to old laws trying to implement it. Many women in these countries are denied education- Afghanistan is still reeling under pressure. Some of the sects of Islam even prescribe rules and conducts for women, which they have to compulsorily abide by like the dress codes; laws regarding marriage seem quite absurd and many such forbidden laws preventing social upliftment of women. Any women emancipation program is derogatory to these people, for they are fearful of their own society, religion and world around-that seems too progressive to Islamic fundamentalists.

And politics is so corrupt that there are hardly any leaders to curb the hard core fundamentalists and fanatics who make laws as they wish to keep women under control, denying them even basic freedom. The governments should first try to absolve tribal Islamic laws. It is such fundamentalists who are responsible for such honor killings and gang rape, for they try to make it legal. Some of the political governments are either in alliance with them or are silent, too bothered about their own household and their votes. Pakistan – where women are supposed to be free (though many of them suffer), does not find any women activists who have recourse to power to change the tide and though India does boast of Women Emancipation, it cannot deny that there are thousands of women who die everyday fighting for their lives.

Unless the fear factor is removed completely from the minds of both men and women, it is difficult that people in Iraq or elsewhere would stand up to guard their honor and dignity.

Source: The Independent

Image: BBC

What the country is undergoing is a long-battle with a noble goal that if ever it will be pushed to the limits, it will eventually result to women empowerment. Dhaka may seemingly be bloody as riots begin to curtail any movement to give women equal rights as men, but the members of the radical Islamic Constitution Movement should not be violent about their actions to temper down the situation.

Since the Sharia Law is the prevailing custom in Bangladesh, women receiving only half as much as men will be unfair to those who want to breakfree to traditions. We are living in the 21st century and the old ways of women being treated as second-class citizens should be abolished. The reality of too much female oppression in the region are still being denied by the radical group and consider violence as a normal way of living in Dhaka.

The Bangladeshi women treading their way to gender equality will open doors to the progress of the country. It is only proper that the women in the region be respected and be given importance by its men. After all, the women in Dhaka are human beings who should be fairly treated and protected from abuses.

Via: euronews

It’s true that consanguineous marriage amongst Muslims is not a new phenomenon, however, when it comes to Muslims living in countries like England, it’s, indeed, shocking! It’s also true that customs prevailing in other communities are full of irrational ideologies but when it comes to Islam, customs and cruelty seem conspiring against women on a larger scale. The main reason for fast growing conflicts between modernity and radical Islam is that both stands head to head, especially when it comes to ideology. Supposing people brought up under the very shade of modernity, to cling to old trite traditions is quite ironic. Isn’t it? At a time when entire world is fast moving ahead, wrapping civilization in its fold, shrunk ideologies deny a woman the right to freedom, right to lead life in her own way, to choose her life partner and most ironically force her to marry her cousin or some other relative, whom she would have called brother or would have played with him. Isn’t it just a subterfuge to ravish her honor?

Here the main issue is not consanguineous marriage but brutality against women, against her honor, which is seething secretly on our world, one way or the other. For instance, the nightmarish treatment meted out to 15-year old Muslim, Turkish-German girl is there, who was rewarded with a vicious blow to the head that knocked her nearly unconscious to the floor. Her fault was just that she snapped out about herself, stating that she was too young to marry. Ironically, it was her father who gave her the deadly blow! It’s not surprising to know that just like England other developing countries also have similar tortuous pangs for Muslim women. For instance, an estimate proves that 30,000 women among Germany’s 3.2 million Muslim populations, of which 2.7 million are of Turkish origin, are subjected to forced marriages every year. In addition, thousands of Muslim women in Germany groan under brutal domestic violence. So, the question arises- Is the violence against Muslim women a global phenomenon.

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The popular allegation against the Arab world is that they have kept their women under veils depriving them of all forms of liberty, education and employment. They are forced into arranged marriages and are victims of triple talaqs, while they themselves do not have the right to ask for divorce. A close look into the realities of the Arab life will show that at least some of these allegations are mere myths far-fetched from the realities of life.

As for education, Arab women especially from the upper echelons of the society attend schools, colleges and universities. Many of them are professionals and even employed. Lack of education and employment opportunities are prevalent among the impoverished Arabs, men and women alike. Gender disparities are common in the Islamic world whereas can we totally rule out gender discrimination and sexual harassment of women in workplaces in the western world?

As for marriages, the Shariah rules allow women right to choose their husbands and ask for divorce. Unfortunately despite of claims made by Islamic scholars the elders in the Arabic society who prefer family value to women’s independence hardly follow these rules. There should not be so many fracases about the veils and burqa worn by the Arabian women as it is part of their culture. Women’s independence does not necessarily mean sartorial revolution where to be independent means to walk in skimpy sexy clothes.

While much remains to be redressed, but the best way the western world can help the Arab women at least for the time being is promising them a descent life away from the devastations of the wars in Iraq and Palestine.

Source:Arab News
Image:Yahoo

Source:ABC News

How can the police function without arms? The Interior Ministry’s order is not only strange but also preposterous, especially their explanation regarding issuing such an order. According to ministry, the female police officers were misusing weapons by either selling them or handing the weapons to their male relatives. Does the ministry have any evidence to prove their contention? Who cares for evidence in a conservative country trying to stifle women’s independence? While the women officers denied the allegations they have pointed out that the administration was trying to push them away from field jobs to administrative jobs. Therefore, what is the use of Iraqi women police officers if they only have to do desk jobs? The only job of the women officers seems to be in Iraq is to search for female suicide bombers.

However, as the news became public there was vehement criticism from all quarters. Succumbing to US pressure, the order was revoked and the women officers can now keep their arms. Nevertheless, it remains to be seen whether these women can function along with their male compatriots and enjoy equal responsibilities and privileges that the male police officers enjoy.

Source: LA Times

In its fight against Islamic extremism, the world has decided to acquire a new weapon — the women in the Islamic society. The women folk are the most neglected lot in the Islamic society, oppressed and suppressed by their male counterparts’ chauvinism and complex socio-religious dogmas. They may prove a surprise weapon in the West’s quest to win the confidence of the Muslims.

The Muslims harbor a long-entrenched hatred against the Western powers, in Britain, particularly in Muslim-majority areas. Everything here is seen as a suspicion by the Christian-dominated administration. When the government has failed to bridge the gap between the administration and the Muslim society, it is worth seeing whether the proposed measure to rope in women to spread the message of tolerance and controlling hardliners ever pay dividends.

No doubt, the women folk played a dominant role in the progress of the civilization including the “Muslim Ummah” and throughout the world. They have earned a well-deserved praise for their role as wives, mothers and daughters. If they can give birth to great prophets like Ibrahim and Muhammad, why can’t they restore the pride of Islamic civilization dented by the fundamentalist spike?

When leaders like late Benazir, Sheikh Hasina, Khaleda Zia, Fatima Bibi, etc. can give leadership to crores of Muslims worldwide, the mothers in the same society are thus, best equipped to heal scores of injuries thrust upon the Islamic society by extremism and revengeful action of the West.

Such an attempt to get rid of the fundamentalism in the Islamic society should begin from within, rather than an imposition by a government, which is always seen inflicting injuries in the Islamic world. Women have a chance to showcase their leadership, well-supported by modern democracies. It is sure to evolve a reconciliation replacing conflicting situation and thereby contributing to the world peace.

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Source: The Telegraph

It’s shameful to say that this brutality is a part of 21st century Britain. Yes! You got it right. No doubt, in the Muslim community, this brutality is prevalent for a long time after it started approximately 2000 years ago. However, one is certainly shocked to know that countries like Britain are also part of it. Here I am talking about a very brutal form of custom called Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)

If you think that FGM is just like male circumcision, in which a small part of thin foreskin is snipped off then you are wrong because it is a surgery of the cruelest kind that involves:

• The removal of the tip of the clitoris, which is very sensitive because it contains the most nerve endings

• Total removal of the clitoris and surrounding labia

• The removal of the clitoris and labia and the sewing up of the vagina, leaving only a small opening for urine and menstrual blood - a process known as infibulations.

Conservative estimates show that 66,000 women and girls living in Britain have been mutilated so far and the practice is still on. It provides a glimpse of the horrific practice, still prevalent in a developed countries like Britain, but the situation is no less than a nightmare in many developing countries. For instance, in around 28 countries in central Africa, it is widely practiced.

Defining it as one of the cruelest surgery, won’t be wrong. However, it’s ironic that instruments normally used for conducting FGM include razor, blade, broken glass, a tin lid and any other sharp-edged glass. In most cases, untrained mid-wives conduct entire procedure, exposing the victim to fatal repercussions like - serious infections, HIV, abscesses and small benign tumors, hemorrhages, shock, clitoral cysts, etc.

The main logic behind such horrendous practice is that it makes women calm and enables her to provide more satisfaction during sexual intercourse. Isn’t it bullshit just, especially at a time when old shackles regarding virginity, abstinence are fast losing their importance? Moreover, such barbaric customs or traditions makes mockery of the very concept of modernization, which we all feel proud of. Isn’t it?

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Source

A section of poor Muslim women often face the brutality of a male-dominated society. Women and girls all over the world(of all religions and nationalities)are not safe from violence and exploitation in the so called ‘age of globalization and information technology’. We still love to follow the cruel adaptations of our primitive lives that structured our religious and national identities.

It pains me to read widespread reports of ‘Honour Killings‘ among the Islamic society. According to old Muslim values, its the female who bears the family decency and the males are to defend it at any cost. In simple words, its the woman or girl who must pay with her life for any dishonor that befalls upon her family and society due to her actions. In most Arab societies, women are solely responsible for the protection of their virginity, the loss of her most precious asset in incidents, other than in proper marriage, would inevitably lead to death.

Most honor killings are done by the girl’s own family members. Sometimes it is astounding when people justify honor killings in the name of Islam. I am absolutely sure that the Great Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, would not have advised such horrific followings. The killings are extensions of old Arab and nomadic rituals that have been in existence long before Islam’s advent to this plane.

Due to the raising of voice among many Muslim women with the help of media, we are coming to know the senseless violence that are being meted out to the women who knowingly or even mistakenly fail to follow the rigorous steps. These conservative religious teachings are results of personal radical ambitions and age-old beliefs of depriving the feminine society.

Media is not the only way of relieving these poor women. The time has come for the heads of states to come up with modern ideas to combat radicalism and blind beliefs.

Image: Hinduonnet

Source: Boston Globe

It is still a paradox as to what many religious leaders of the Islamic community preaches and practices. Some says that it is the duty of the Muslim women to draw the veil whether they are amidst the public forum or at home, but the unfortunate killing of an innocent 16-year-old Canadian Muslim girl has nothing to do with Islam, this is what the Islamic community has to say to the world. As word goes around and the entire nation is mourning her death, the leaders are refusing any connection of their faith to the victim’s death.

Since time immemorial, every Muslim woman around the globe is following the practice of wearing hijab very religiously. However, this duty is being vehemently criticized by many organizations and high profile figures. Yet, even today, since it is a cultural phenomenon, no one dares to defy the practice. Yet, the refusal of Aqsa Parvez, the victim, to wear the hijab snatched the girl’s life. The girl was caught up in a never-ending battle with her family because of her reluctance to wear the Islamic veil, said one her school friends. Ultimately, her denial took the family by storm and this resulted in her brutal murder by her father.

This gruesome case has kicked off serious debates in the public, in regards to the rights of a woman in Canada’s Islamic society. While many say that, it is indeed an act of savagery; whereas, Islamic leaders say that Aqsa’s death has nothing to do with their faith.

This riddle is open for discussion and is still present in the society and no one knows whether anyone can solve this issue ever.

Ultimately, it is upon the global society how they deal with such unfortunate incidents and what laws will be constituted and implemented to tackle such grave matters.

Image Credit: NationalPost

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This is just a tip of the iceberg, while the core issue is quite grave. In other words, it merely percolates the fast growing conflict swirling up between modern lifestyle and the so-called chauvinism, which is, indeed, a strong pillar of Islam. Not only this but it also puts forth a new debate; are rigid Muslim rules still applicable for the fast changing society or isn’t this trite rigid structure proving a stint for the development of Muslim community?

The case of Aisha clearly depicts the manner in which aspiration and willingness to come up with the modern lifestyle is being crushed under the juggernaut of Islamic rules. And if modern girls like Aisha are under so much pressure to adopt fake methods just to prove their virginity then what would be the situation of other women in the Muslim community, could be assessed easily. This is issue not just of virginity but of other aspects too where we find man always having the upper hand. He is free to do what he likes, can mould laws as per his comfort. Alas! Women are supposed to follow their edicts with downcast eyes.

We are living in 21st century still after first wedding night, a woman is supposed to show her bed-sheet blotted by her blood to prove her virginity. This is something, which blows out smell of barbaric and uncivilized society. After all, we need to introspect that how far strict Islamic rules are relevant in the modern perspective; otherwise, religion that is supposed to be there as a guiding star, would herald doom for the society.

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