Asalaam u alaikum, hello, to all,
I did not know whether a topic so explicit should be posted, but it is a problem, and you can only run away from the problem for so long.
I did some recent study on women in Pakistan, and how they are treated. I was very hurt, shocked, worried, and a whole lot of emotions when I read about honour killings (not that I didn’t know about them from before) and also a thing called FGM (Female Genital mutilation). I appologize for using such graphic language, but thats the only way it can be described. WHAT ABOUT THE
The following is an article from the site http://www.webspawner.com/users/jordanwomen/
I must say, the site is probably Indian, or from some anti Islamic group, because it is denouncing the Quran instead of the people who are hiding behind religion to do such brutal acts. Here is the article, it is very very very sad.
WOMEN OF PAKISTAN - WHAT OF THEIR FATE?
In Pakistan, a woman does not need to have been raped to suffer at the hands of her male lords and masters. Investigations carried out in Pakistan by Amnesty International indicate that many women are regarded as chattels - mere commodities - by males, even within their own families. With no dignity or rights, they are viewed as less than human beings and considered to be the “property” of the male members of their families.
As I type this, somewhere in Pakistan, to mention only one of the many countries where this crime is being perpetrated, some girl or young women is being harassed, enslaved, tortured or killed by a male member of her own family ! Every year, in Pakistan, hundreds of its female members of society are murdered by their families’ menfolk, all in the name of “Honour Killing”. Many more are being tortured daily, some simply for having been born beautiful !
A woman in Pakistan does not need to have been promiscuous to qualify for such brutality. There has been a case where a husband merely saw his wife having sex with another man - in his DREAMS ! Although it was all in his imagination, he believed that he had the right to kill his totally innocent wife.
The court “rationalised” the repeated stabbing to death by declaring that - “The wife must have done something unusually bad to enrage the husband to that extent.” The killer believed that he would be acquitted - and he was ! What is the United Nations doing about such crimes ? While there is much criticism of my own country about “Mandatory Sentencing”, nothing is being done to liberate these women victims of male aggression.
Some women in Pakistan, are thought to qualify for such brutal treatment from the male members of their family (father, brother, uncle, cousin) for having graceful physique, feminine bodily movements, daring to challenge or correct a statement made by a male, even if the male is incorrect ! A female must never teach a male or make him “lose face”. A female must never “answer back”. Even failing to serve the meal at the exact time the male demands it, could result in the death sentence within her own family.
For the males, there is no punishment from the courts and the killer males take full advantage of that. A woman may suffer daily beatings, be thrown down the stairs when heavily pregnant, and tortured in many other ways, but even to suggest that she should be granted a divorce, could mean the death sentence at the hands of her father, brother or some other male relative. All this is to preserve the “Honour” and “Dignity” of the family ! On the other hand, it is an easy matter for a husband to divorce his wife, even if she is a totally innocent party to the dispute.
For men, there is no sentence of punishment or imprisonment for illicit sexual relationships but for women , even a false rumour can be fatal.
One might imagine that a race of people with such hi-tech knowledge sufficient to develop nuclear capability might be educated also in ethical matters. Tragically, this is not the case. Amnesty International has on record that, in 1998, in the state of Punjab alone, 286 women died at the hands of male members of their own families, all in the name of “Family Honour”. This does not take into account the thousands of innocent girls and women who daily are raped, beaten and tortured by their husbands.
We demand that Pakistan and other nations with a similar problem, make domestic violence a criminal offence . We also demand that the Islamic Mullahs, who play such an important role in society, teach their people that the Koran does not justify such male chauvinism and barbarity.
Similarly, “Honour Killing” , also of innocent rape victims, is bringing dishonour to Islam itself, and, more particularly, the Name of ALLAH .
If you wish to read about FGM, here is a site which answers many questions. www.dhhs.tas.gov.au/services/healthy_living/pdf/mutilation2.PDF
NOTE: There is graphic information, not for the weak hearted.
It is very depressing to know that such atrocities happen to people, and nothing is done about them. This has opened my eyes to womens problems in Pakistan, and I would like to help in any way possible. Does any one know how?