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Saturday, October 06, 2007

The Violent Oppression of Women in Islam

It is an utter disgrace that more people the world over - including and especially human rights and women's organizations - are not speaking out loudly against the hideous, violent treatment of women within Islam. This abuse has been going on for centuries, and little has changed over the past decades since the non-Muslim world began to take notice of Islam. In fact, Muslim apologists - including non-Muslim defenders - are very vocal in DENYING that women are abused and oppressed within Islam, an assertion that is patently false and mendacious. All of the apologies and apologetics in the world will not make these facts of violence against women go away, and day in and day out women and girls are treated abysmally in the Muslim world, simply because of their female gender - and because the wanton abuse of women is endorsed by the Islamic holy book, the Quran/Koran, as well as various commentaries thereon, such as the Hadiths, to the evident exultation of misogynists worldwide.

The silence of the non-Muslim world in not criticizing Islam and its proponents especially in regard to the vicious, widespread and ongoing oppression and abuse of women and girls is deafening - and shameful.

Please read the booklet linked hereto by Robert Spencer and Phyllis Chesler, and pass it along to all those who love life and justice. We need many more voices like these hard-working individuals who are risking their necks to expose the harsh realities behind Islam.

The bottom line is that MILLIONS OF WOMEN AND GIRLS ARE SUFFERING EVERY DAY WITHIN ISLAM, and not doing anything about constitutes a tacit endorsement of such suffering.
The Violent Oppression of Women

By Robert Spencer and Phyllis Chesler
FrontPageMagazine.com | Friday, October 05, 2007

The booklet that you are about to read details some of the principal ways in which women suffer in the Islamic world - often with religious and cultural sanction. Many of these crimes against women, such as wife-beating, are ordained by the Qur'an itself; others, such as female genital mutilation and honor killing, are praised by Islamic clerics and hallowed by Islamic culture. That feminists in the West remain silent about this deeply ingrained and institutionalized mistreatment of women, and even ally with groups that have devoted themselves to the spread of Islamic law that justifies this mistreatment, is one of the unconscionable scandals of our time.

This article is a segment of a series being run as part of our nation-wide campus effort, Islamo-Fascism Awareness Week, which will be held on 200 university and college campuses on October 22-26. Islamo-Fascism Awareness Week is a national effort to focus on all the victims of Islamo-Fascist Jihad -- as well as to counter the lies of the academic Left, which seeks to deny the evil, and even the very existence, of our enemy in this terror war. In this way, Islamo-Fascism Awareness Week hopes to educate American students and to enable them to rally to defend their country.

In terms of the booklet of our subject today, its cover is a still photograph that epitomizes Islamic oppression of women, and it has come to also epitomize the Western feminist non-response to it. The picture comes from a Dutch film called De Steen (The Stone), directed by Mahnaz Tamizi, and features the actress Smadar Monsinos. The Stone dramatizes the barbaric treatment of women in Islamic countries. It accurately depicts the reality of Islamic Sharia law regarding adultery: when a couple is caught in adultery, the man is jailed while the woman is stoned to death.

It is a telling indication of the intellectual and moral bankruptcy of the Left that it has fastened upon our use of this picture to try to discredit Islamo-Fascism Awareness Week, since the photo does not depict an actual event - as if women weren't being stoned to death under Sharia law in Iran and some other Muslim countries today. In reality, eight women are currently in prison in Iran awaiting death by stoning for the crime of adultery. A mother was sentenced to be stoned to death in Iran for adultery just last week. It is typical of the Left to try to cast opprobrium not upon those responsible for these harsh realities, but upon us who are trying to draw attention to them in the name of human rights.

It may have seemed inconceivable that feminists and their allies would defend those who bury women in the earth and kill them by throwing large stones at them, but that is the ultimate thrust of the Left's outcry against our use of this picture and against Islamo-Fascism Awareness Week in general. Such are the ironies of our troubled age.

In this booklet are realities that should be of paramount concern not just for feminists in the West and their allies on the Left, but of all those who are concerned with the universality of human rights and the dignity of every human being.
Final note from Acharya: I don't usually engage in the politics of "right v. left," but I have to say that, in the case of Islam, the lefty liberals have driven me and many others straight into the Neocon camp. For those who are bothered by the "staged stoning" of the pic above, please see this disturbing video of a real stoning - albeit of MEN, who likewise suffer horribly under the sadistic fascism called Islam.

The rest of the images here are unfortunately quite real, including the blood pool from a victim of female genital mutilation, the hanging of an Iranian woman from a crane, and the Iranian victim of a severe beating because she was not properly covered up (reproduced here with permission from Dr. Homa Darabi). I hesitate to post here some of the worst images, including that of the genital area of a victim of female genital mutilation.

25 comments:

john evans said...

The oppression of women under the guise of godliness has of course been with us for thousands of years.

I would love to do something but am at a loss as to what that would be, other than to spread the news of the dangers of faith in general and the desperant need for reason rather than religion.

Do you have any suggestions on how individuals can help these Muslim women?

Thanks so much for all your efforts.

kevin said...

Acharya S. You are a bigot. Your beliefs are very unintellengent, and your education does not impress me one bit. If you want to talk about imaginary beliefs, you should start with yours. There are educated people who are willing to look at reality, you however do not.

Acharya S said...

I see, standing up for abused women constitutes "bigotry." And voicing objections to hatred and abuse for women and girls in the name of God represents "unintellegence" [sic] and "imaginary beliefs." Tell that to the woman who was just killed in the name of "honor" or who had acid thrown in her face.

Please spare us the sick justifications for your own apparent misogyny and sadism. Attacking me will not help these women who are suffering right now under a system that you so self-righteously are defending - much to the detriment of your own credibility and representing an utter lack of conscience and morality on your part.

Meanwhile, some girl was just held down and had her genitals sliced off, while you idiotically took the time to spew hatred at me.

Good job.

Acharya S said...

To John Evans:

Thank you for having a conscience and for caring about humanity. It is heartening to read messages from intelligent and thoughtful people such as you.

As you can see from the venomous spew I receive, there are cretins on this planet who could care less about women and the suffering they endure. Having the courage to stand up to such sick people represents the first step in bringing awareness to this appalling issue. We must never kowtow to the ABUSE that deranged people like this one will shell out to protect their sick system - and not letting such perverse bullies take us down is a MAJOR step in stopping this hideous disgrace.

Anonymous said...

Not all Western feminists have remained silent about the oppression of women in the Middle East. I've been researching and working on the "honor" killings problem for years now.

I'll admit, though, that it's been a very lonely endeavor. There's too little outrage, there's too little support, and there are zero funds (I ended up self funding my work).

Acharya, unfortunately, this kind of venom seems to come with the turf. Stick to your beliefs, and don't let anyone get you down.

John, thank you for caring. The problems sometimes seem overwhelming and insurmountable. But, in the case of "honor" killings, there are some obvious solutions. Unfortunately, most of them take money.

Firstly, the laws that let the perpetrators off the hook must be overturned. Jordan's penal code, for example, results in the average "honor" killing sentence being just six months. Syria has similarly perpetrator-friendly laws on its books.

Secondly, the at-risk girls and women need somewhere to turn when they begin to see the writing on the wall. In Jordan, for example, there is not a single women's shelter that will accept them. If they go to the authorities, they will most likely be placed in protective custody in prison while the people who threaten them walk free. Average stay: about seven years. There is not a network of safehouses, shelters, or violence hotlines. Sometimes even the law enforcement officials show little sensitivity to the danger they are in. Surely, all this can be remedied with some money and some political will.

Thirdly, the imams in the mosques and the educators need to teach people that "honor" killings are un-Islamic. I recently conducted a nationwide survey of "honor" killings in Jordan. One of my findings is that over 20% of the people in my representative sample believe Islam tells them they must avenge affronts to family honor through murder. Islam says no such thing, but there doesn't seem to be a systematic effort to correct this misinterpretation of the faith.

Fourthly, countries like Jordan receive a disproportionate share of aid money from the States and EU countries. We should be asking our leaders why we aren't tying our aid to improvements in basic human rights, and why we aren't targeting at least some of our aid specifically to projects that will result in real quality of living improvements. In Jordan, I couldn't even get the U.S. Embassy to pay any attention to my work, let alone fund any of it. Some of the EU countries were interested in my work, but wouldn't fund it. It seems this is an area where, for all its talk of democracy, freedom, and basic human rights, the West is much too timid. I found it extremely disappointing considering lives are hanging in the balance.

All these are just for starters.

Ellen R. Sheeley, Author
"Reclaiming Honor in Jordan"

Anonymous said...

1) Muslims are the only ones that their violence is in the NAME of "religion", a woman is just "MEAT" Didn't their clerics say?

2) They always blame the [rape] victim.

Anonymous said...

Kevin, you are pretty dumb. You need more convincing to do why you think she's a bigot.

If you are a Christian or monotheist of some sort, don't you believe that we, disbelievers, are defficient and to be tortured in eternity by your merciful God? And you think that's not bigotry?

Funny how monotheists are the loudest when they demand absolute respect of their beliefs, oblivious to the fact that the very foundation of their faith is of extreme disrespect and contempt of others!!

Acharya S said...

Sorry, but calling me a "Christian Conservative" would be viewed as quite comical by anyone who knows me and my work. I have no love for any religious fascism, including Islam, whether or not it is considered "radical" or "moderate." It still represents enslavement in my book. (And, like many others, I have my doubts whether "moderate Islam" is Islam at all.)

Moreover, I highly doubt that anyone could get emotional enough about this HIDEOUS ABUSE OF WOMEN IN THE NAME OF ISLAM.

Instead of attempting to stop this abuse, you feel the need to STOP ME FROM REPORTING IT, casting aspersions on my character, as I am the one who is being abusive.

It's clearly not I who "need to get my shit together." Instead of attacking me for defending innocent people from being abused, please direct some of your anger and venom towards the people who are actually torturing and murdering innocent people - including WOMEN - around the world.

Acharya S said...

And, by the way, I am unquestionably very bigoted against anti-human and anti-woman ideologies that enslave the human soul.

Moreover, I am extremely revolted by the utter lack of morality of those who are not bigoted against such heinous ideologies.

Talk about not having your "shit together!"

Anonymous said...

Acharya:

While I too am aware of the blantant disregard of human rights where women are concerned in many third world countries, Islam can only account for part of their actions. When the teachings of the Koran and Hadith are not interpreted in the extreme, the foundations of Islam is noble, not unlike Christianity. However, there are those who see the teachings in the Hadith regarding modesty as a tool for the repression of women, and under that guise, engage in the severe and debilitating mistreatment of women. Our role as feminists is attack the long held traditions in fundamentalist Islamic countries and educate the women there rather than attacking a religion.

Anonymous said...

I firstly wanna to ask what do the people understand by the word "women and the image"attached with it.liberty will not come until u fight for it.but for that u need to have a clear mind where u know what u stand for.so until ur mind is not unveiled how will u fight against.so first lets try doing that.respect urself and the world will follow u.

Dhushara said...

MEDIA RELEASE
A Fatwa on Purdah: Unveiling Niqab, Burqa, Chador and Hijab
http://www.dhushara.com/book/sakina/fatwah/purdah.htm

This article is a fatwa to unveil the veil and liberate the world from violent and lethal punishments for adultery. It is an in depth research monograph, designed to be explanatory, for Muslims, and non-Muslims alike, on the status of the veil, and its more oppressive forms. It is in response to a conservative Muslim cleric in Saudi Arabia, who has called on women to wear a full veil, or niqab, that reveals only one eye.

oriental boy 123 said...

It's really shocking,I dont know why these man "love" to beat,kill and use violence with their wives like that.They always talk about their honor ...,but their honor came from a woman's pussy(sorry,i can not find any another way to say it).Islam is cruel and against the social progress,Muslism is stupid and ignorant .How can we(the Western and Far-eastern) stop something like that?WE should act or remain silent for oil.I'm very confused.

Acharya S said...

How can we(the Western and Far-eastern) stop something like that?WE should act or remain silent for oil.I'm very confused.

You are correct in your assessment of the cruelty that is Islam. Cruel, brutal, full of anger and hatred, Islam seems to have been made for the express purpose of oppressing, exploiting and enslaving women.

We should never keep silent about such evil - no matter what. We need to STOP USING OIL. We need to press our local, state and federal authorities for alternative energy. We need to enact laws to prevent Islamic/sharia law from taking root in the West - Europe is already down the long slippery path to Islamization. The U.S. is also under assault, as is practically every country on earth.

Here are some sites you can visit. Spreading the word is something everyone can do.

Jihad Watch
Faith Freedom
The Religion of Peace

Anonymous said...

I am appalled to see what pure ignorance you people have about Islam. While I applaud your compassion for those in need, to blame an entire religion for the world's atrocities is absurd and insulting. I am a muslim woman and My faith is a beautiful one, Muslim people are hospitable, compassionate and warm. Yes I agree there are some f#@*d up people out there commiting atrociotices in the name of Islam and that is so wrong and beyond redemption. However I suggest you do more research Acharya.S, for instance, read the Qur'an, Make friends with Muslim women, visit a muslim country, I think you would be pleasantly surprised. Relgion is not evil, humans can be evil and its all about interpretation, I choose to wear the veil, My husband does not mind if I do or dont, we teach our children about the religions of the world and to respect all of them. It is people like you who perpetuate this hatred of the "other" because you have no real idea about muslim women, all you see if what the media feeds you and your ignorance makes me sick. I dont condone what Muslim fanatics have done to women, and I would stand with you in defending those women, but not in laying the blame at Islams feet.It is easy to point the finger at something else other than humanity, It is humans who interpret, twist and modify religion, not religion itself, remember that religion is about faith and there are millions and millions of muslims out there, men , women and children, western nations and eastern, who live fullfilling, warm, successful lives and they live their lives built upon the foundation of their faith. so before you point the finger at Islam see the other side of the coin, there are always two sides to every story, often more. I have been born and raised in Australia and have travelled to my parents country of Egypt and all over northen africa and the middle east and i encountered so many beautiful passionate women who were so proud of their faith and their faith was integral to their lives, all you see is whats in the media, and while im not discounting that all that is true, do NOT assume that Islam is the cause. Because you are soley misguided.

Acharya S said...

That's nice, but you have ignored everything that I have posted here, including all the websites I linked to.

The Abrahamic faiths, including Islam, are based on falsehoods. Neither the Bible nor the Koran is the "word of God." Nor are Jesus, Moses or Mohammed "prophets of the one true god of the cosmos."

It is time to join the human race and drop these false ideologies that divide humanity. In defense of a meaningless ideology that is NOT representative of the god of the cosmos, you have repeatedly made denigrating remarks and insults about my person - and that's the entire problem with religion. You don't know me, but because I refuse to be brainwashed into an "evil foreign cult," you attack me personally. All the hateful remarks you've made about my person perfectly exemplifies the sick cult conditioning you are suffering.

Just let go, and you will feel much better about the world. You are in a good place to become truly enlightened, but you will need to free yourself from this false ideology that divides you from the bulk of humanity and causes you to go to another person's websites and make all manner of insulting comments about them, when you don't know them in the slightest.

With all your hateful and abusive comments - sexist and misogynistic as well - you have simply proved the point that religious fanaticism makes people behave very badly towards each other.

Anonymous said...

hi acharya
good effort keep it on.
i think its a very small part of uncivilized community we have in twentyfirst century. if we do not stop them now they r marching ahead to destroy the world.
beause of the one simple reason islam dose not belive in coexistence.
its now islam or rest of the world.
i think time now for the world to vote .........world would be a better place to live without muslims.

Acharya S said...

This is totally dishonest! You willfully ignore that the VAST majority of Muslims follow a religion that is as - if not more! - peaceful and in absolute respect of women. You know that they, themselves do not regard "islamists" (whom you're obviously referring to...) as true Muslims. If you take off your blinkers and learn a minimum about Islam, you'll see that their religion is surprisingly close to yours (I, for my part, am an atheist...), and perhaps even more humane sometimes. Muslims are YOUR brothers, not your enemies.

Wrong on practically all counts. I don't have any religion that Islam could possibly be like. Islam is an atrocious male-dominated cult of enslavement.

Before you go around making such ridiculous claims, perhaps you should actually study the subject? Actually reading the post you are commenting on is a good step, but here are some websites for your edification:

The Religion of Peace
Faith Freedom
Islam Watch
Jihad Watch
Prophet of Doom

Regardless of all the mindless appeasing and blather, the fact will remain that Islam is absolutely horrible for women. Only extreme ignorance of the world's cultures dating back thousands of years could allow for someone to claim otherwise.

Anonymous said...

www.forum-islam.ch

Islam is the solution for humanity said...

hello Mr. Acharya..first of all i request you to not publish anything which you do not know..If u realy want to know abt islam then please look at the life style of Prophet Muhammad(PBUH)..and the holy Quran..and please note that islam gives equal right to women. and it teaches us that heaven lies in the feet of mother.
Even i can shows thousands of incidents which tells us even hinduism against womens right.can u pls tell which religion was following "sathi" system.? and allah challenging the world that if u think this book not from god then creat a book similar to this or create atleast a phara similar to this book..u can take whole worlds help.
Mr.Acharya please read Holy Quran with clear mind..Insha allah deffintly u wil convert to islam..
And dear sir if u want to check the performance of a car.u wont luk at the driver of that car who is do not know how to drive..? but u will try urself driving and wil understand the performance.. Right..?same way if u want understand islam better pls read holy quran and sahih hadid.pls dont luk at others who is not at all know what is islam..

Islam is very beautiful religion..its way of our life..pls read holy quran u will feel the purity of it..u will feel the meaning of ur life..

Islam is the solution for humanity said...

Mr.Acharya can u pls answer today why islam is fastest growing religion in the world..? after 9/11.

and 2/3rd of covertees are female and educated..do you think they converted islam without studying the religion..?

Acharya S said...

Thank you for the load of Islamist propaganda.

You are quite incorrect in most of your contentions, including my not having read the Koran. I have read it many times, with the original Arabic next to it.

Perhaps YOU actually need to read the Koran? Where it says to kill infidels and that women are worth one-half of men?

Quotes from the Koran

Sorry, but you are brainwashed. But you can free yourself from this violent cult of infidel-hatred and women-enslavement. Here are some good links:

The Religion of Peace
Faith Freedom
Islam Watch
Jihad Watch
Prophet of Doom

Good luck.

Acharya S said...

Why is Islam fast-growing? (There's some question as to whether or not it's the "fastest-growing," which sounds like unstatistical propaganda.)

Because its women are enslaved and must spend their time reproducing - more proof of Islam's misogyny. And of Islam's child abuse, since there's pretty much no escaping Islam once you're born into it.

Why are people converting? Because they're misled by Muslim apologists such as yourself. And many seem to be quite damaged from childhood.

What they need is LOVE, which is utterly lacking in Islam.

For others who may be reading this page, do be sure to check out the following link so that you will be know how to deal with these Musbots and their propaganda:

How to Debate a Muslim

thisworld said...

I sum it quite simply. The islamic prophet is a pedofile and there is no way in the world anyone can talk circles about this - it is written in history, documented and proven as a fact. The proof is in the pudding!

Marwan Yafi said...

If you read the generous Qura'an you do not find this "oppression" of some Arrears or fanatics, in the verses.
Who says: The islamic prophet is a pedophile?
He is not the myth Jesus, gay.
Islamic "family's & society's" moral values do not exist not in NT neither in OT (Tana'ch).
You should read the generous Qura'an not even carefully to find it. Church & pagan religions copied, after Islam, many moral descriptions & values, as relation between man-woman, paradise, hell...etc
take care.. You will, one day, regret what you say without studying Islam not "its" pagan Shiite sects'tree, established by the Jew Abdallah bin Saba', as Saul-Paul's sect of the Nazarenes-Christianity not of Messiah's call, heresy(Acts 24:5-19) he was a pest...etc