The recent incident of a father murdering his daughter, Saba and her husband, Karamat Ali, happened within a few days of the incident of a mother who burnt her daughter, Zeenat Rafiq, alive for eloping with a man of her choice whom she wished to marry. This is just another incident amongst many in a series of violence against women. Approximately, 1,000 women were killed in Pakistan in 2015, according to the Pakistan’s Human Rights Commission. And they were killed by relatives who believed that the girls/women had “compromised” their family’s name. A majority of these crimes are known as “honour killings.”
We are plagued by a virus that is deeply embedded in the flawed thought processes of certain “identity groups.” Obviously, these parents were influenced by their own dysfunctional mindsets when they committed these deplorable crimes. Were these so-called parents oblivious to the fact that they took a human life and the law in their own hands? Were they unaware of the fact that 1,400 years ago Islam gave women the right to choose whom they wished to marry? And they certainly did not care that the law of our state has legalised women to marry whomsoever they wished to once they reach adulthood.
According to some surveys conducted recently, such acts are less common amongst the educated/liberal’ segment of our society. These crimes are more common amongst the ones living in remote rural areas or those who have been deprived of proper education and have been raised in a male dominated, patriarchal set-up. In such set-ups, women are taught from a young age that their brothers have a right to education and a better standard of living, and they are being raised merely as chattel that are there only to be a submissive species amongst males.
It is strongly ingrained in these women that their main purpose in life is to be obedient towards their husbands, parents and in-laws, no matter how extreme the torture bestowed upon them is. Their own views, preferences and outlook on how they wish to live their lives are denied to them from the very beginning. I’ve heard, many times, what is said to a number of women by their own parents once they are married, “Do not come back here unless it is in your janaaza (funeral).”
Whereas, education does play a role in grooming a person’s personality and way of thinking, and it is one very important factor that contributes to a person’s upbringing. Social environmental factors, and cultural and religious elements that they are raised in are very important attributes that form and shape an individual.
Hence, it is justified to say that this society is divided not only in terms of its diverse cultural aspects, way of thinking, and social and religious standpoints, but also in terms of knowing what fundamental human rights actually are in the true sense of the word. Whereas one segment of our society consisting of male-female human rights activists and parliamentarians are working towards eradication of these crimes, yet another group believes them to be un-Islamic due to their own system of beliefs.
The passing of Women Protection Bill has been a long-awaited step towards empowerment of oppressed women. However, similar bills were passed during the tenures of governments of Asif Zardari, Pervez Musharraf and Benazir Bhutto as well. Having a bill passed is an easy step, having it incorporated and implemented is an entirely different matter. This new legislation faced criticism from some parliamentarians who publically stated that this law would only lead to further divorces.
It is a matter of common sense that no happily married couple opts for divorce, and any parliamentarian suggesting that women should remain in shackles of torment and suffering even if they are being oppressed is of course wrong. All who oppose bills like the Women Protection Bill should be aware of the rights bestowed to women 1,400 years ago by Islam, but alas, they seem to be oblivious to the fact that Islam gave women the clause of khula (right of divorce), and that Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) himself married a divorcee. Zaynab bint Jahsh married Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) after her previous marriage ended. (Source: Sahih al-Bukhari)
In Sahih al-Bukhari (Volume 7, Book 63, Number 197) Ibn Abbas narrates: The wife of Thabit bin Qais came to the Prophet (PBUH), and said, “O Allah’s Apostle! I do not blame Thabit for defects in his character or his religion, but I, being a Muslim, dislike to behave in un-Islamic manner (if I remain with him).” To that, Allah’s Apostle said, “Will you give back the garden that your husband has given you [as mehr]?” She said, “Yes.” Then the Prophet (PBUH) said to Thabit, “O Thabit! Accept your garden, and divorce her at once.”
In Pakistan, there is a strange law that the families of those who murder a human may be granted forgiveness by the other party and reach a mutual agreement. This is another hindrance in decreasing these crimes. Perhaps if a severe penalty was given without any right of negotiation or compensation then others would be hesitant in committing such aggravated acts of murder in the future.
It is appalling to see popular public figures mislead the public and glorify misogyny, when another segment of men and women and parliamentarians are trying their best to enlighten citizens. A famous person like Junaid Jamshed, on national TV, stated that women “should not be allowed to drive cars.” Such views only serve as a catalyst for those elements that already hold women as a “root cause from which all evil is derived.” How is driving a car un-Islamic? It is a historical fact that Hazrat Ayesha (RA), daughter of the first Caliph Abu Bakr, and widow of the Holy Prophet (PBUH), commanded an army battalion in the battle of Jamal (The Camel). Hazrat Ayesha (RA) mounted on a camel, and marched from Mecca at the head of 1,000 men. (Sahih al-Bukhari, Volume 9, Book 88)
If a camel was the mode of transport for women in Prophet Mohammad’s (PBUH) era, then I cannot comprehend what that makes a car. Is a car something other than a mode of transport, commutation and travelling?
Honour killings are crimes of passion, revenge and show of misplaced manhood, where thinking faculties of people become dysfunctional and they are only overpowered by an emotional reaction, based on their faulty idea of “honour” instilled in them from an early age. Crimes against women can be eliminated from society with the help of inter-governmental organisations, NGOs, human rights activists and clerics of Islam who can propagate enlightened concepts and condemn these outrageous acts as strictly un-Islamic. When severity of punishment is strictly granted to criminals instead of a pardon, things will change. A pathway towards a secular society that Mohammad Ali Jinnah intended to lay the foundations of can be achieved. This would be a society where people of different sects and religious beliefs are free to practise their religion, and live with freedom, unless they are sabotaging another’s right to live with dignity.
The writer is a lawyer, social activist, and an aspiring author