An ordered rape of a minor by the elders of the village should shudder the very soul of every human alive at the audacity of the repulsive mind set and moral decay of our society. Yet no single voice was heard in protest, let alone to question this detestable ‘panchayat’ system catering a collateral approach to law, which has thrived in the hands of traditions, religion and politics in Pakistan.
Ordered rape, child marriage, honour killing, acid attacks, domestic violence are only a few of the incongruous tortures inflicted on women under the impunity cloak of manipulated religion. The severity of domestic violence knows no bounds neither the socio-economic circumstances influence the savagery in marriage. Such cases are more prevalent in South Asia than the rest of the world. According to gender parity report 2016, incidents on women have increased 20 % while nearly 200 murdered in the name of honour, and on average eight women are raped in a day. The figures do not account for the multitude of cases that go unreported. Despite these facts, religious parties and members of the law fraternity are fervently opposing the recently passed Punjab Protection of Women Against Violence Act 2016.
Islam at its core is a progressive religion but Islamic feminism will always be abominable to the clerics who hold the reins of power. Women empowerment scares them; power that cannot be executed is useless. While women are being butchered in the name of religion, The Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) in March 2014 concluded that laws relating to the minimum age of marriage were unIslamic. If bounding the fate of young Pakistani girls, even babies, and leaving them vulnerable to abuse, was not enough, the CII further declared on the same day that laws regarding the second marriage of a man in the presence of first wife to have a written approval from his existing wife or wives for another marriage were against religious principles. Where the world is busy pointing fingers at Muslims and especially Pakistanis for having terrorist tendencies; our religious clerics are more concerned with kids getting married, or men marrying numerous times without a hitch. The CII yet again came to the rescue of the unholy western influence of women empowerment within two days of the celebration of International Women’s Day and opposed the Punjab Protection of Women Against Violence Act 2016. The disturbing reasoning to the opposition was that strong women weaken society. Thus the strong fabric of Muslim society will be torn apart if women were given the right to feel human.
World, a global village attributed to social media, means to communicate with masses at one’s palm, still the sad reality alongside this fact remains that according to PEW research (data collected from 151 countries) Muslims tend to have the fewest years of formal schooling. Progression in every aspect of human life around the globe could not help Muslim societies from being dragged into the abyss of darkness through twisted versions of religion. Marriage of one’s choice still welcomes the wrath of elders and the punishment for the woman is to be burnt or buried alive.
Islam is not inherently misogynistic. The principles of female exclusion and male privileges are not derived by this religion. The oppression and dominance faced by women in Muslim societies cannot be attributed to religion or culture; rather the conservative clerics should be given due credit to manipulate the meaning, intent and content of the Holy Scripture, until the true meaning takes the desired shape. Islam has a more superior and civilised treatment towards women than most religions; it sought to elevate them, with an equal claim on life as men. Yet men have been accepted in their demonic role of eternal tormentors. The dauntingly powerful Islamic conservatives force laws to remain harsh against women no matter what egregious consequences that may lead to. It’s a matter of expediency rather than the tenability of another human. Naturally, the west is not rampart of sexual equality but the worst examples come from Muslim societies.
The writer is the executive editor, Daily Times, Lahore and can be reached [email protected]