Adil Najam
This photograph was published in Daily Times, January 12, 2009. The caption read:
“Women are not allowed in the market,” reads a banner displayed at the entrance of a market in Mingora. Taliban have banned the entry of women in markets and ordered the killing of women who violate the ban. Most shop owners have sold or shut down their businesses because of falling sales following the restriction.
What would have made this tragic depiction comical had the context been different is that from the picture this is clearly a textile and cloth market – the type of market where, in Pakistan, you would expect most customers to be women!
Thanks for that very good post amina from the north. And good point, Sher Bano that why are most of the comments on this from men? It reminds me of Ch. Nisar recently when he said that the women’s ministry should be given to Hanif Abassi and not a woman! The level of misogynism in our societies in the East is astounding—that is including places like India and Thailand.
Having said that however the problem in Muslim countries is that a very significant number of unread idiots have become the spokespeople for the religion and a lot of the progressives have historically either been afraid to challenge them or been too busy appeasing them. While it is true that when Islam came out, it gave women many rights that women did not previously have, such as the right to inheritance (which came much later in western countries). But the problem today is that while many western secular countries have progressed beyond that, the Muslims are stuck in the “letter over spirit” argument. The traditionalists for instance believe that women must only get half the share of the man in property for instance. While the progressives argue that since this rule was revolutionary when it came out, keeping in mind the spirit of Islam and how the world has progressed, we should have equal shares. But it is rare that progressives win over traditionalists in such matters and that is the tragedy of the entire Muslim world, some countries like Saudi and Iran are affected more than others. But having said that, even in Saudi, the justification for the driving ban is traditional and not religious because even with their narrow interpretation they cannot find anything in the religion to justify it.
Apart from the good comments posted by Eidee Man, however, I am quite astounded by many remarks made by some of the other male members, in particular Adnan Siddiqui…I don’t know why he presumes that if someone argues for women’s rights, that person must be pro-western. Does he not know that many women’s rights activists in Pakistan were beaten up during Zia’s time (who incidentally actively supported the US in the “Afghan jihad” and helped the US become the sole superpower). Does he also not know that apart from benazir bhutto, many other Muslim countries like Bangladesh, Turkey and Indonesia have had women rulers. Finally, his comment to Monkey was absolutely insane. No man has the right to tell a woman on the street what to wear and what not to wear. It is clearly written in the Quran that if you feel a woman is not modestly dressed, then you must simply lower your gaze. You, Mr. Adnan Siddiqui, have no right to tell her anything and must learn to keep your lewd thoughts to yourself if you are really interested in following Islam!
@Athiest
You are trolling this forum and asking irrelevant questions, then claiming to be innocent. Listen to what I, and other Pakistanis on this forum have told you repeatedly: This problem in Swat is due to a group of thugs/gunmen with ideology imported from Afghanistan. Don’t waste our time claiming this has links to Saudi Arabia, 1 million dead during Partition and what else.
Now to get back to more internal discussion among Pakistanis, these Swati Taliban had fled for the mountains when the army first launched their operation in November of last year, then after the February elections, the ANP did a “peace deal” with these militants, which they used to re-organize and re-arm. Since then the militants have made a comeback. I read in Dawn that the army is going to try a new strategy now, however you have to remember that this Taliban cancer has spread a lot in last 3 years, we now have mischiefmakers in Bajaur, Waziristan, Darra Adamkhel, Hangu, Khyber AND Swat.
Islam, The best religion with the worst followers. What more can I say.
Murtad King , unfortunately majority of people follow and believe “Jahil Mullahs” rather then a “Alim-e-Deen”.
I just wanted to share some the quotes of the founder of Pakistan Muhammad Ali Jinnah .
But we Pakistanis are totally against what he said.
“We are victims of evil customs. It is a crime against humanity that our women are shut up within the four walls of the houses as prisoners. There is no sanction anywhere for the deplorable condition in which our women have to live”.
Muhammad Ali Jinnah
@Arjun
Women and men are treated equally in Islam, and in certain cases both genders may get a slighter advantage, but with sufficient justification for such rulings. For example the laws of Islamic inheritance and divorce. (If I’m not mistaken both favor women slightly).
In Swat, and the “Religious Parties” like the MMA and the Taliban the problem has more to do with Male Chauvinism than religion. Empowering women, or even giving them equal opportunity equates to castration for the bearded folk.