The women’s protection bill of Pakistan — which will dramatically alter the rape laws of Pakistan — has a chance of being passed this coming Monday. The bill is an attempt to reform the draconian rape laws of Pakistan from 1979, passed by then dictator Zia ul Haq under the auspices of the religious establishment (part of the hudood ordinance).
This has been a contentious issue in Pakistan (see my commentary on it here). I have been in correspondence with individuals who are involved in the Women’s Protection Bill. While on one hand they have had to contend with the religious establishment, they have also ran into opposition by some liberal groups, and international NGO’s like Human Rights Watch, who find the proposed amendments inadequate.
What the reformists are trying to explain, however, is that while total repeal of the bill would be wonderful, politics is a process, and that means taking whatever progress that can be gotten right now. While concerns about the fact that the bill is being pushed through by a dictator (Musharraf) are valid, they are unfair in light of the tremendous abuses that will be alleviated if this bill is passed. In the short term, the reformists — and those backing the bill — need our support. Later, more progress can be made.
In an op-ed that appeared in The Daily Times today (10 September, 2006) Feisal Naqvi points out:
…the response from women’s groups to the proposed Women’s Protection Act has either been hostile or at best, tepid. Instead of supporting the bill, women’s groups have only reiterated their demand for the complete repeal of the Hudood Ordinance. What these groups forget is that politics is the art of ‘the possible’. The Women’s Protection Act may not be perfect but it will certainly bring relief to millions of oppressed women. In any event, the fight for repeal can always be carried on later.
The reformists need to be recognized for the good they have achieved despite the enormous difficulties, and not to be criticized for what they have failed to achieve. The full article by Feisal Naqvi in The Daily Times is worth a read because it clearly explains what the issues are and how they are being dealt with in the new law. It concludes:
If all goes according to the government’s plan, much of what is undesirable in the Offence of Zina (Enforcement of Hudood) Ordinance, 1979 (to give the law its full name) will be quietly gutted through the proposed Protection of Women’s Act… The proposed law marks the absolute limit of what is possible in terms of today’s political climate. More importantly, the Protection of Women’s Act is not a whitewash job: instead, it addresses and fixes the major sources of women’s oppression under the Hudood Ordinance.
The best thing to do right now is to support the efforts of the reformists and later carry their torch further. It would be a terrible tragedy if after decades of efforts the amendments were tabled due to inadequate support by progressives. Well intentioned people around the world need to express their support. (For more see: ‘The Right To Own Women’ and Women’s Protection Bill Cheat Sheet). [Also see earlier ATP Poll on related issue].
Ali Eteraz describes himself as “a continental philosopher, essayist, novelist, student of Islamic arts, philosophy, jurisprudence and a practitioner of global nomadism” and blogs under this pseudonym at Eteraz, where you will find much on this and related subjects.
Islam means peace and peace means Islam. Every effort for the protection of woman is good effort. The main thing is that the Act / Bill not use in negative espect. Specially the Hudood Laws are used for the girls who marriage with their own free will and intention.
Hudoos Laws are not wrong but their use is not right. I think that Government of Pakistan will make the rules for use of the protection of woman bill.
Islam is the first religion who provide the protection to woman and share of woman as inherited in Property. No other religion give the respect to woman which is available in Islam. Islam is the complete code of life and provide a very important role to womans. Womens in Islam are high respectables.
Islam is against the life of jungle where no relation is existed. In civil society, the Islam is the only religion which is moderate, best and advance in all ways of life. Other religions are just the words and not the ways of life.
Thanks.
Muhammad Khurram
G.M.
Muneeb Book House
1-Turner Road, Lahore Pakistan
Warren,
The question you are asking is a very valid one and the answer is: because as long as we are able to shift the blame on anyone else, we feel comfortable with the whole issue.
Jazakum-Allahu Kharian Sister Umera!
Reading through all of the discussion on this topic I’m very impressed with your articulation of the facts. But most of us are missing the central point behind these laws. Why are we, Muslim men, not taking responsibility for our own thoughts, words, and actions? Not one of you including Brother Adnan is bringing up THIS issue up.
It’s not one that is unique to Islam or Muslim countries, 90% of all of the violent crimes in the US are committed by men. It is true in every country.
Why do we as men always try to lay the responsibility for our monsterous crimes on someone elses shoulders instead of our own?
ASSALAMO-ALAIKUM
Your Brother Warren Kundis
The latest is that mush is in USA now and will discuss new WPB with Bush.I think this is wrong becasue as somenoe said that why US would take intrest in our *domestic* issues,specially hudood ordininance?
It is also a rumor that Fazlur rahman made a claim that Mush will show latest ammendments to Bush.It is also not true that govt disturbed with this claim so much that yesterday Tasnim Aslam coming up with statment that Nahi nahi hum amerika se dictation nahi ley rahey.Zahir hay how could we.We make our policies ourselves for sake ofour national intrest rather US.
[quote comment=”2751″]Umera
Again I would say that you really not have gone thru the entire old hudood law.hudood law is not all about rape as you and other propaganda people are making it too.
Again,I would say that the current issue is nothing but a political drama.You were provided stats that how many women and men suffered due to such law.You once opened
JewGeo TV and watched Zara sochiye then suddenly you realised its Islamic or Unislamic.For God sake please why do you educated people make us embarass all the time?I never said that laws should have never been changed.They should be but should be done by people who are expert in the field.Right now whoever proposed ammendments doesnt appear experts anyway.For Instance Kishmala Tariq.The problem is that everyone starts considering himself master in religious issue because religion is such an easy target.If I ask you to shed some light upon Quantum Theory or upon Copernicus’s theory then I will not get a single answer.Why?Becasue you guys would feel that its not your field then how come all of you become expert of a relgiion while you[doesnt mean you,a general term here] never opened Quran,read its meaning,never opened Hadiths,neither understood its science of authorizing a hadith?
Religion is nothing but a toy in our hands.Due to this habbit we see lots of differences with in a religion.
Again I would say Fix your judiciary system.Do you believe in theory that Pakistani laws are followed in our villages?Do fudals follow any such law?Comeon Mame!Most of such laws are violated in rural areas rather in cities.You better need to crack down against those fudals who dont accept any law rather they follow Jirga System.Mukhtar Mai suffered due to Jirga system not due to hudood.So better accept the realities and then work on it.Hypocrisy will neitther help you nor me.
p.s: before you go again and say I didnt asnwer you.I answered you more than one.My answer or solution is:
Fix the police,Fix the police and Fix the police[/quote]