Islamic law and women

Perhaps this is stating the obvious but most therapists are in the business of helping their clients, male and female, to solve their own problems. It is called “empowerment”. Therapists do not make judgments about who should do what and when, especially if it may cause one or the other party to feel compromised. Pobjie continues his comments on Bettina:

“Not for nothing has she been frequently called ‘man's best friend’ - admittedly not in those exact words. Men everywhere owe her a debt of gratitude for standing up for their sexual rights, defying the feminism industry to give men a sporting chance at sexual happiness.

“Sexual rights”? “Sporting chance”? Women are not here just so men can assert their perceived sexual “rights” - rights that have no moral or legal basis - nor are women just the fodder for men’s sport. Or are they?

Pobjie has a penchant for satire and behind the smiling face of this journalist there is surely a gentle, sensitive male; we hope! Notwithstanding, his black humoured commentary serves to compound the realities of a growing trend in the revival of women’s oppression by an insidious and covert means.

A step by step invasion

On March 30, 2008 the International Humanist and Ethical Union posted an article on the Internet describing how the Islamic states led by Pakistan had fought for 12 years to achieve an amendment on the Freedom of Expression. It was that day, March 30, 2008, that they succeeded. This new amendment has profound ramifications. “The UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression will now be required to report on the ‘abuse’ of this most cherished freedom”; this includes reporting anyone who dares to speak out against Sharia law.

Sharia law requires women to be stoned to death for adultery and young men to be hanged for being gay. It allows the marriage of girls as young as nine in some countries, for example in Iran. Not only does this decision mark a shift in the balance of power in the UN towards Islam, it demarcates the rising power of religious fundamentalists across the world and the revival of women’s subjugation.

Sharia law has become part of the law of the land in Britain in matters of divorce, finances and domestic violence. It gained credence on the basis that both parties request this alternative dispute resolution model of justice. If British-Muslim women are happy about their inferior status that is one thing, but do they ever consider the impact this has on women who do not wish to be second class citizens?

And, are they really as happy as they pretend to be? They inherit considerably less than their male siblings. They frequently fail to press charges against husbands who assault them because if they do they must face the wrath of the rest of the community. In order to remain within their religion, family and communities these women must submit to Sharia law or risk ostracism, isolation, or the possibility of being killed.

British women (and men) are so concerned about the implications of Sharia law that they are now taking to the streets en masse in protest.

Popularising oppression

UK jihadist Anjem Choudary uses YouTube to explain how Islam will take over Britain. He claims that the Islamic flag will soon be flying over 10 Downing Street because the British Muslim population continues to grow and there will be more conversions. He is probably right. The problem is the mainstream population in Britain are beginning to make a distinction between violent terrorist extremism and Sharia law. Instead of seeing Sharia law as oppressive and a violation of Human Rights, they see Sharia law as a return to religious values at a time when the old British values are falling apart.

Australia has not yet seriously confronted the issues of Sharia law.

Let me be clear, I am not anti-Muslim or anti-immigration. Indeed, I love our cosmopolitan environment and I have many friends and associates from different religions and cultures. I am anti-discrimination. Sharia law is a cruel and oppressive regime that keeps women in silent imprisonment; let us not tolerate it in Australia.