Social Commentary: On Women and Islam

Muslim Woman, Istanbul F LoBuono

In response to a posting on this blog critical of the implicit support of too many Muslims for terrorism committed in the name of Islam, a colleague wrote in opposition of my POV, basically claiming that I paint with too broad a brush. He argued that an entire community cannot be held accountable for the violent acts of a few. My response (and rebuttal) was twofold: first, my original approach with the posting was as much an inquiry as it was an "accusation". I readily admitted that I am not a scholar of any religion in general and Islam in particular. However, I am versed enough to form an educated opinion and curious enough to ask "why". Is there something within Islam that somehow not only tolerates such shocking violence, but actually encourages it? The only responses I received were from those (including an Israeli) who gave me passages from the Koran that could be interpreted as encouraging violence committed on the part of the believers against the infidels. Second, anyone, ANYONE, in any COMMUNITY who does not speak out and ACTIVELY CONDEMN acts of senseless violence, is complicit in that violent act. This includes any group throughout the world. It just happens that, at this moment in time, the great majority of acts of brutality in the world are being committed in the name of Islam. I say again, where is the outrage in the Muslim community?

The US is certainly not blameless. Unmanned Predator drone strikes have killed many innocent civilians in Afghanistan and Pakistan. This can be, and IS, interpreted by many Muslims as terrorism. In a certain sense, they are right. However, that's a separate discussion for another entry! But, in my POV, there is a subtle but very important difference. Radical Islam calculates these acts to have the maximum destructive effective, regardless of (and sometimes INTENTIONALLY) the cost in civilian lives. Their AIM is to create terror. The goal of the US military, I believe, is different. The drone strikes are used solely on military targets. At least that is their impetus. I do believe that a good deal of care is normally given to prevent civilian casualties. However, as is the nature of war, civilian casualties are inevitable. It's one of the reasons, I have been outspoken in the need to abolish war. In the end, there are NO winners. However, this too is a conversation for another day.

I continued to be both inquisitive AND critical in my writing on Islam. I was (and still AM) encouraged by the movement within the Arab world, led by the remarkable events in Egypt, that appear to be throwing off the yoke of tyranny - only to be greatly disappointed by Pakistan's support for an assassin who murdered a moderate politician. It seemed that for every advance in finding peace, their were five setbacks in the Muslim world.

In my research, I discovered the continued inequities in Islam's Sharia Law, particular as it concerns Muslim women. For example, under Sharia Law, the penalty for infidelity is stoning. The convicted is placed in a full body sack and buried in the ground where their fellow Muslims will hurl stones at them, presumadely until they are dead. Now, here's a key component. If you can extricate yourself, you may go free. Pretty decent, don't you think? At least you have a chance. Well, at least MEN do! You see, men are only buried up to their waists. Women are buried up to their chins!

It's actually pretty easy to go on and on concerning (and get REALLY pissed off by!) the inequities between men and women in Islamic culture. It's evident everywhere you go. How many times have you seen a Muslim couple on the street: the man dresses anyway he wants and the women wears a "uniform" which usually covers most of her body in a sack-like garment! If they are not REQUIRED to wear a burqua then it's the hagib. If not the hagib, it's a veil. And I've heard Muslim women call this liberating. WTF?! What's liberating about acknowledging that you are your husband's property by being told by the mullahs (ALL MEN) that this is what you MUST wear. Liberating? Please.

Now this: Tuesday (5/24/11), the NY Times reported that the Saudi Arabian government was taking strong moves to quell a budding women's movement which is attempting to gain more civil liberties for women. One of their demands is to remove the country's ban on women drivers (no bad jokes here!). Manal al Sharif, 32, one of the movement's organizers was arrested Sunday in Damman, Saudi Arabia, for disturbing public order and inciting public opinion. She incurred such serious charges by having the audacity to drive publicly - twice - in her effort to publicize this cause (among others) of giving women the right to drive. Holly shit! Are you kidding me?! Is it 2011 or 1011?!

In fairness, Saudi Arabia is the only country that bars women from driving. It also prohibits them from voting, or working without their husbands' or fathers' permission. And Saudi Arabia is one of our biggest allies?! What a joke. Advocates of the ban see it as defiance in the face of growing Western influence and decline of traditional Muslim family values (see some parallels here?).

I don't want to hear this bullshit about respecting other cultures - not when it's at the expense of the most basic of human rights. And I'm not talking about driving per se. I'm talking about freedom. The freedom to drive. The freedom to think. The freedom to act. The freedom to dress how you feel. The freedom to vote. The freedom to be free.

Wake up Muslim women. Don't take this bull shit lying down! Cast off your burkas, your hagibs, and your veils. Cast off the yoke of religious tyranny. DRIVE down to the local mosque and tell the Imam that your mad as hell and your not going to take it any more and so your support for your REAL sisters in Saudi Arabia and around the world.