Adil Najam
Back in July, ATP had posted a picture of former world squash champion Jansher Khan being hauled away in a police van on charges of trespass and violent attack on a woman. Now, Moin Khan, former cricket captain and wicketkeeper, has joined Jansher in the Hall of Disgrace for beating his wife.
Shame on you, both of you. You may once have been stars. You are stars no more. And, Moin, even if you have been freed on bail, that does not absolve you in our eyes for maltreating your wife. No Sir. This is not a private matter between man and wife. This is a matter of national disgrace. But my anger at this incident is making me run ahead of the story.
So, first the news as reported in the Daily Times (17 January, 2006):
KARACHI: Former Pakistan captain Moin Khan was arrested by the Darakhshan police late Monday night after his wife Tasleem alias Shama Seher made a phone call to Madadgar 15, complaining that he had beaten her.
According to Town Police Officer (TPO) ASP Azad Khan, the police received a phone call from Seher after midnight. A police team visiting the house found Seher standing outside and Moin Khan screaming at her from within. After a struggle, Moin Khan was taken in preventive detention under Section 151 of the CrPC, the TPO said. The couple was taken to the Darakhshan police station from where Moin was taken to JPMC for a medical examination. Seher was also taken to JPMC for a medical examination later on.
“If injuries are reported by the doctors examining her or a blood test confirms that he was intoxicated, the law will take its course,” said the TPO. Darakhshan SHO Inspector Zia Rizvi told Daily Times that this was a domestic matter, “but we brought it on to the court record”. Moin was produced in a local court and was granted bail. Seher told Daily Times that Moin had been disturbed for three days. “This isn’t something new, its been like this for a while,” she added. “He accused me of being involved with his friends. I asked why he was beating me and he told me that he hated the look of my face. He said, “Tum apnay gireban me jhanko, apni shakal dekho, apna character dekho” … There’s no special reason. Things were normal but I don’t know what had happened as recently he started to get harsh after drinking. I think that Moin still thinks of himself as a young star, Seher, a showbiz person herself, said. “Cricketers have the same life … (Another Karachi cricketers) wife recently separated and got custody of the children. Complaints remain as (many) cricketers treat their wives like this. Woh apnay beewiyon ke sath is tarha ka rawaiya rakhtay hain … Is tarha kay rawaiye mein kon sath reh sakta he? The problem with (some) cricketers is that they are getting better options outside the house. Unhain ghar ki murghi daal barabar lagti he.”
Both Moin Khan and the police seem to say that this is a ‘personal’ or ‘domestic’ matter. No, it really is not. It is a social matter. A national matter.
This case catches our attention because the man is a former cricket star and the wife a former TV personality. But the story here is repeated every day and goes unnoticed and unreported. His intoxication obviously made matters worse, but the malady here is deeper than alcoholism. It is the way women are treated. The Jansher case was one example, but there have been many others that we have raised here on ATP. Wife-beating is a serious social sin and the sinners here are not only those who do so, it is also those who condone it in the name of tradition or because it is a ‘personal matter’, and it is also those of see it happening and choose to remain quiet.
[quote post=”529″]Akif,it is because your learning process was stopped after eight, this is why you didn’t learn many things in life. Were you homeschooled after eight or what?[/quote]
Adnan, you hurt my feelings ! You are mean !
Anyway, on second thought, perhaps Moin was following the very path prescribed in the verses that have bee quoted by others. He suspected his wife of cheating, he obviously admonished her verbally before, they were not getting along so it’s possible they were not sharing beds; well then, what’s really left for a God-fearing man to do who has exhausted all other means of bringing his wife back to obedience…..but to beat her back to her senses. That was the natural next step using the process of elimination.
Also, for people who think that the system worked in this situation, my opinion is this had everything to do with the fact that the couple lived in “Defence Housing Authority.”
If Moin lived in another area, albiet as well off as DHA, the police would not respond that swiftly.
Ibrahim, as a married Muslim woman, I am speechless at your comments. You say you respect the women in your life, and I have no reason to believe otherwise since I do not know you. Yet, you believe in an Islam that believes women are inherently weaker, stupider, not fit for leadership. This contradiction dumbfounds me, though I suspect its very very common among Musim men.
Did you know that the word “daraba” in that verse is also interpreted to mean “separate” rather than “beat”? Allah’s word is perfect, but man’s interpretation is not.
[quote comment=”29273″]Wife-Beating Mullah
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZiYT1ywtXxA[/quote]
Absolutely horrified to see this. Although this clip is NOT from Pakistan (it is from Afghanistan) we must all work to make sure this type of action never becomes Pakistan.
Salamalikum,
[quote post=”529″]So if I decide to marry Joanie Laurer aka Chyna from WWF in which case Allah has definitely given her more strength than me and she can surely support me too because she is a lot richer than me, Does that give her the right to ultimately beat me as a “last resortâ€Â? if I an not obedient? Perhaps she could give me a couple of powerslams in case I am really bad.
This logic would apply if the world was black and white but I am afraid it is a lot more complicated…;) [/quote]
I’m surprised at your audacity. You are responding as if it was my own quote. These are Allah’s words. When you die and if you have an opportunity, why don’t you ask Him what logic He is using. And, by strength, it doesn’t just mean physical strength? It is emotional, mental, physical…all of them. Regardless of money and physical strength, Chyna has a low intelligence level because no dignified person would act like her. Also, it is common knowledge, East or West, that in general women are emotionally and physically weaker. There are billions of examples of this. This doesn’t mean there are no exceptions, but this is how Allah has created people. And, this is in no way disrespect to women or a chauvinistic stance of mine. Islam is not teaching that since women might be weaker, men should degrade them or try to dominate them. If people think as such, then it’s because of their lack of knowledge and understanding. Do Muslims who believe in this distinction between men and women not respect their mothers, sisters, wives, daughters, etc.? Of course, they do. In fact, if they are true good Muslims, they will show utmost respect to them and have compassion for them while still believing in the verse of Surah an-Nisaa.
In fact, why don’t you go to Adnan Siddiqi’s blog and read an article by Sara Booker who reverted to Islam and pay close attention to how she talks about her husband and advices other women. If this “logic� is so out of place and backward and old, then why did a Western, non-Muslim WOMEN decide to adopt it?
If I give some Muslim case, people wouldn’t buy it. So, let’s look at some other examples. How many women Pope have there been? How many women Rabbis have you heard of? Bible is said to be written by Matthew, Luke, etc, etc. Why didn’t a woman write one of the books of Bible? Has US ever had a women president? The fact of the matter is from day one, whether people like it or not, Allah has given the mantle of leadership to men
Wife-Beating Mullah
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZiYT1ywtXxA
“Men are the protectors and maintainers of women, because Allah has given the one more (strength) than the other, and because they support them from their means. Therefore the righteous women are devoutly obedient, and guard in (the husband’s) absence what Allah would have them guard. As to those women on whose part ye fear disloyalty and ill-conduct, admonish them (first), (Next), refuse to share their beds, (And last) beat them (lightly); but if they return to obedience, seek not against them Means (of annoyance): For Allah is Most High, great (above you all).�
- So if I decide to marry Joanie Laurer aka Chyna from WWF in which case Allah has definitely given her more strength than me and she can surely support me too because she is a lot richer than me, Does that give her the right to ultimately beat me as a “last resort” if I an not obedient? Perhaps she could give me a couple of powerslams in case I am really bad.
This logic would apply if the world was black and white but I am afraid it is a lot more complicated…;)
It’s really sad when people resort to such means. Wife beating is not something a man should be doing. I guess only a weak man would resort to something like that. Shame on you Moin.
bro Ibrahim , I was also appreciating his cricket skills only nothing else:-)
Dear Omar, thankyou. I know that your thinking capability doesn’t allow you to go beyond this sentence