Scapegoating Middle Eastern women

[Ibtisam]

Measures to further restrict the freedoms of women are being taken by conservatives who see them as temptresses

 

The other day, my wife related how one of the office "boys" at the NGO where she worked in Cairo had been alone in the building with a female cleaner. In itself, it shouldn't been an issue, but when the office's accountant confronted the office boy (who is actually a middle-aged Egyptian), he stated that this was unacceptable. The reason: the woman could have tried to seduce him.

 

In the Saudi city of Asir, women were recently banned from jogging and taking physical exercise in certain areas. The excuse was that the local government had to "guarantee their safety from criminals who frequently harass them as they walk in lonely places".

 

There are many examples of women being "protected" from men in the Middle East.

 

One would think that the rise of ultra-conservatism, namely the Salafi project emanating from Saudi Arabia, would be more tolerant of Islam's historical support for women's rights and their mobility in public – think of the era of the prophet and the openness of that society. The prophet was adamant that all people were welcome in Medina and that women were to be treated with the utmost respect. At the time, unlike today, there was no sexual apartheid in the mosque, with men and women praying together in a show of unity. Now, what we are witnessing is the rise of a movement that is as vehemently anti-women as it is anti-progress.

 

"Whenever the conservatives enter a society they don't talk politics or economics, they talk of the honour of women", said Hibaaq Osman, the founder and chair of the women's organisation El Karama. She argues, rightly, that what is important to these conservatives – and she is quick to point out this is not a problem limited to Islam – is that women are the key to society. She added that in all societies, women are the building blocks of forward thinking. She believes that once women have shaken off the need for a male guardian and have entered the workforce, then freedoms and laws against sexual violence can be implemented for the betterment and progress of society.

 

But, she added: "If the woman is being portrayed as the devil in Friday sermons in the mosque, then in public people are looking for confirmation of what they are hearing."

 

At the same time many Salafis and conservatives put the blame on society going awry; men are unable to take responsibility for their own actions. Osman says that evidence shows conservative religious folk the world over, including the Middle East, are the most sex-crazed.

 

This is shown by the large number of "temporary", urfi and mutah marriages. Urfi marriages have no formal contract, while mutah marriages have a defined period of "marriage". Often, this amounts to a form of prostitution where women are "purchased" for a period of time, from their families or pimps, to provide sex for wealthy gulf Arabs, who at the same time push an agenda that attempts to move women away from the public sphere and back into the home. All in the name of honour and moral uprightness.

 

Men are not the problem, they argue. It is the inherent inability of men to "control" themselves in the face of so much "temptation". It is OK for men to wear cut-off T-shirts and shorts, but for a woman to do so would be tantamount to "asking for it". If conservatives believe men are inherently "weak" in terms of sex, then why do the men remain in public if they can't handle it? It doesn't add up.

 

Women are objects in many conservatives' views. Things that can be owned and used for a man's pleasure when he desires and when he wants. This is why we have seen the growth of polygamy, the shoving aside of a woman's ability to choose her life's goals, and the unending "debate" over the causes of sexual harassment and sexual assault.

 

Two years ago, one woman in Egypt attempted to challenge the belief that men would not be held responsible for their actions against women. When Noha Rushdi went to the police to press charges against a man who had groped her on the street, the police and bystanders, including women, attempted to talk her out of it. They asked what she was wearing, if she had been doing anything suggestive to "entice the man".

 

Rushdi, after numerous attempts to silence her, took her case to court and eventually won, seeing the perpetrator receive a $900 fine and three years in prison. Optimism abounded that times were changing, but in the two years since her case, little has improved. The Salafi grip on Egyptian society seems to be growing ever stronger, and with it the continued backlash against women who attempt to promote freedom and justice.

 

Cairo-based Sheikh Ramadan Mahmoud told me that if women were to get the "freedoms" of the west, "they would resort to promiscuity and this would damage the family and society. This cannot happen because men would not be able to control their behaviour and harassment and sexual abuse would continue."

 

Highlighting how deep the conservatism of Egyptian society has become, a recent United Nations study showed that the vast majority of men and women in Egypt believe that it is OK for a man to beat his wife if she refuses to have sex with him, if she does not do as he says or if she talks to a man on the street. They are simply objects that can be controlled and dominated. All in the name of faith and religion.

 

What should be happening is that women should not be blamed for what they wear, whether it is a full niqab or a bikini. There is no justification for harassment of any kind. By sexualising faith, the Salafis are trying to exonerate men. The fault lies with the women, who are presumed to be asking to be harassed, groped or worse.

 

But men are the ones perpetrating these crimes and making the streets unsafe, so it is about time men started taking action to end this reprehensible current continuing to foment in Egypt, in Saudi Arabia and across the globe.

 

Joseph Mayton guardian.co.uk, Saturday 8 May

[Somalina]

Thanks for the good read.

[rudy-Diiriye]

why r xalimoos so hang-up on western religion propagandas or female genitalia.

 

we are a homeless nation...shouldnt rescuing our country be priority #1. Come on ladies.

[Tuujiye]

^^ Rudy dhibkaas ee qabaan bajaqyaasha maanta jira ninyahoo.... Mid kaste tabeebe aa u xiran oo afcarabi ku qoran lool..

 

 

Wareer Badanaa!!!

[N.O.R.F]

Ok, I got to the 3rd paragraph and then gave up.

[Tuujiye]

^^ Waraa cunug yahoo qaabka daran jooji ceyda!

 

 

Wareer Badanaa!!!

[BUKURR]

Hey Tuujiye, what'up?

[Tuujiye]

^^ Stop "F" word! thats all....

 

 

Wareer Badanaa!!!

[Somalina]

Tuujiye, first practice what you preach.

[NGONGE]

Half here and half there!

 

Measures to further restrict the freedoms of women are being taken by conservatives who see them as temptresses

 

The other day, my wife related how one of the office "boys" at the NGO where she worked in Cairo had been alone in the building with a female cleaner. In itself, it shouldn't been an issue, but when the office's accountant confronted the office boy (who is actually a middle-aged Egyptian), he stated that this was unacceptable. The reason: the woman could have tried to seduce him.

Religious scholars in Egypt rejected a draft law that, if adopted, would authorize abortion and the sterilization of women for financial and health reasons, labeling it anti-Islamic.

 

The Health Committee at the People’s Assembly, Egypt’s lower house of Parliament, approved Saturday the medical responsibility law, which includes an article that authorizes abortion and sterilization if a woman’s health or condition does not make her fit for having kids.

Scholars from al-Azhar, the world’s leading institution of Sunni Islam, labeled the law un-Islamic and argued that such procedures could only be carried out in cases of emergency.

 

Unless the woman’s life is in real danger, abortion and sterilization should never be done and are considered against the teachings of Islam, said Dr. Souad Saleh, professor of Islamic Jurisprudence at al-Azhar University.

 

“This law is un-Islamic because it is considered an intervention in God’s will,” she told Al Arabiya. “This should not be done unless it is absolutely urgent.”

 

Saleh vehemently rejected abortion and sterilization for financial reasons and laid the blame on the government.

 

“Instead of issuing such a law, the government should eliminate poverty and provide for the children of the poor.”

 

Hamed Abu Taleb, Dean of the Faculty of Islamic Law at al-Azhar University, agreed with Saleh and argued that anyone involved in this law would be considered a sinner.

 

“Abortion and sterilization of women because of poverty is definitely against Islam,” he told Al Arabiya. “Those who drafted the law as well as those who will apply it are sinners.”

Unconstitutional

Abu Taleb added that the new law is not only un-Islamic, but also unconstitutional due to the close connection between the constitution and Islamic law.

 

“According to the constitution, Islamic law is the main source of legislation and since the new law violates Islamic law, it violates the constitution.”

 

Sheikh Ali Abul Hassan, former head of al-Azhar’s fatwa committee, argued that a woman is allowed to do an abortion only when her life is threatened. Otherwise is totally illegitimate.

 

“Several religious scholars have even allowed women to postpone pregnancy if they are worried about their beauty and figure, but getting an abortion because of poverty is out of question,” he told Al Arabiya.

 

Defending abortion

Hamdi al-Sayed, head of the Health Committee and chairman of the Doctors Syndicate, defended the law as necessary in the light of the current financial situation.

 

“Many women cannot afford to raise their children,” he said during the discussion of the law at the People’s Assembly. “This is based on official reports released by the Ministry of Social Affairs.”

 

Hamdi explained that the new law allows abortion and sterilization under specific circumstances. According to the law, any of the two procedures require the approval of husband and wife as well as a medical committee made up of three doctors.

 

In case of abortion for health reasons, a report has to be written to the effect that the woman cannot go through pregnancy due to her health condition or that she is the carrier of a disease that might cause fetus deformation.

 

In case of poverty, the Ministry of Social Affairs will issue a report on the financial situation of the woman or the family, according to which it will be decided whether the abortion or sterilization should take place. The number of kids the woman already has will also play an important role in the decision.

 

“We have to do our best to bear into consideration the harsh conditions those families go through,” Hamdi concluded.

 

 

(Translated from Arabic by Sonia Farid)

 

http://www.alarabiya.net/articles/2010/03/22/103775.html

[Cabdow]

Originally posted by rudy-Diiriye:

why r xalimoos so hang-up on western religion propagandas or female genitalia.

 

we are a homeless nation...shouldnt rescuing our country be priority #1. Come on ladies.

Rudy, it's not only the ladies, our whole priority is messed up as a nation, don't know meeshay inkaarta naga heesato!

 

But the thing i don't get the most about some xalimo's are, for instance, if you go to FB, you'll see many Xalimo's there promoting the awareness of Gaza and how their people should be freed and whatnot (either through their profile pics or in their foto albums) But you'll never see them (waa habeenkii xalay ahaa oo tagay, not even one foto) promoting the awareness of their own brothers/sisters in the O'gaden region, whom can be said are going through similar ordeal as the Gazans

 

PS. For the record i have nothing against the Gazans, mater of fact as Muslims we should feel their pain, but this just shows how of a messed up priorities we have as a nation!

 

PSS. Sorry, off toppic!

[Ibtisam]

Canjeex people like you do my head in walahi. I don't have the energy right now to put you in your place, but your kind of thinking is why we (Both as Somali and Muslims) are so messed up.

 

I asked these young Somalis to come to the charity event on the 5th June. They asked where the money is going, I said an orphanage center in Hargisa, one of them said, my own people are burning in Moqdisho, I might as well give the £50 to them, maxa Hargisa iga shan iyo toban ah.

 

So you think you have a valid point, but the people with that level of thinking never end up doing anything for anyone, not even their own brothers, excuses, excuses, please. I’ve worked in this area long enough to know, such people send all the their time saying, why is she raising funds for Palestine, Iraq, instead of Somalis, then it is why not people for X place or X clan.

 

**Rant Mode off*

 

P.s. By the way I do have “stand up for Gaza” as profile picture, and “close G-bay”, “Islamaphobia watch,” “Somali IDP” among other things. It is impossible to care for the suffering of Somalis, without feeling or caring for the suffering of OTHERS. I will bet my bottom dollar anyone who claims to care about Somalis and no one else really cares about NO ONE but them and their family. Sheego ciid leeh diis.

[rudy-Diiriye]

Originally posted by *Ibtisam:

I asked these young Somalis to come to the charity event on the 5th June. They asked where the money is going, I said an orphanage center in Hargisa, one of them said, my own people are burning in Moqdisho, I might as well give the £50 to them, maxa Hargisa iga shan iyo toban ah.

[/i]

Ibi...they are smart gals. kids in hargeysa are in good hands. U should be donating this money to the kids in xamar. After all, they are our brothers and sisters in a much deeper problem!!! think about that, plz.

[5]

Originally posted by *Ibtisam:

Canjeex people like you do my head in walahi. I don't have the energy right now to put you in your place, but your kind of thinking is why we (Both as Somali and Muslims) are so messed up.

 

I asked these young Somalis to come to the charity event on the 5th June. They asked where the money is going, I said an orphanage center in Hargisa, one of them said, my own people are burning in Moqdisho, I might as well give the £50 to them, maxa Hargisa iga shan iyo toban ah.

 

So you think you have a valid point, but the people with that level of thinking never end up doing anything for anyone, not even their own brothers, excuses, excuses, please. I’ve worked in this area long enough to know, such people send all the their time saying, why is she raising funds for Palestine, Iraq, instead of Somalis, then it is why not people for X place or X clan.

 

**Rant Mode off*

 

P.s. By the way I do have “stand up for Gaza” as profile picture, and “close G-bay”, “Islamaphobia watch,” “Somali IDP” among other things. It is impossible to care for the suffering of Somalis, without feeling or caring for the suffering of OTHERS. I will bet my bottom dollar anyone who claims to care about Somalis and no one else really cares about NO ONE but them and their family. Sheego ciid leeh diis.

*Applauds* MashaAllah you nailed it.

[rudy-Diiriye]

loves in the air!! thats what it looks like even though its the wrong love... loool.