Sexual Harassment in Karachi: Whose Fault?

#79 echo:

the article you have posted is a slap on your face. you shouldn`t have done that.

so you are admitting that infidels of netherlands have created a successful society out of free sex. i can tell you that canada has done that too.

then what wisdom remains in sexual oppression?

#77 by hamidm2 on April 8, 2005 4:34pm PT


........ my many iranian friends assure me that within seven days of the mullahs departure from the scene,


Iranian women in the US workplace already dress like regular American women...and sometimes even more ayatollah-wouldn`t-approve than Indian women....

This article was first published in iranian.com

Payback Time
A woman leads prayers? What`s left of Moslem
men`s dignity?

By: Siamack Baniameri

March 29, 2005

On Friday March 18, 2005, something interesting
happened. Amina Wadud, a professor of Islamic
studies at Virginia Commonwealth University, led
an Islamic prayer service before a congregation
of 100 Moslem men and women at Synod House at the
Cathedral of St. John the Divine in Manhattan. As
expected, a few hours later, all hell broke
loose.

The imam of a London mosque declared the practice
against Islam. A woman should never lead prayers,
he elaborated, because during the menstrual
cycle, there is always the possibility of an
accident during the service: if a man happens to
glance at the female imam`s behind and spots
blood, then the gates of heaven will forever be
shut to the poor chump.

Thank you, dear imam, for clarifying a few things
for me. First of all, I had no idea women bled
from their behind during the menstrual cycle. I
guess that means I was pulled out of my mother`s
ass. Silly me... I was completely in the dark.

Secondly, as an avid ass-looker, I can assure the
good imam that in all my years of looking at
women`s behinds from all different angles, I`ve
never spotted blood. Maybe I`m not looking hard
enough. Who knows? Maybe the imam is a better
ass-looker than I am! I`ve never claimed to be
good at anything.

And by the way, I didn`t know there`s a shortage
of tampons in London. What`s up with that?

Meanwhile Soad Saleh, who heads the Islamic
department of the women`s college at Al-Azhar
University in Cairo, said women should not lead
prayers because ``the woman`s body, even if
veiled, stirs desires.``

What can I say? Like many of my Middle Eastern
brothers, I have a lifetime subscription to Play
Veil magazine. Miss January was absolutely
gorgeous and even though I couldn`t see anything
behind her veil, in some perverted way, she
stirred my desires.

I can`t explain it. Only we Middle Eastern men
are capable of looking at women who are covered
under lumps of unforgiving black sheets and feel
aroused. Heck, I sometimes look at drapes hanging
from windows and get horny!

According to Ms. Saleh, we Middle Eastern men are
sexually so out of control that there`s a strong
chance we might hump a female imam in the middle
of Friday prayers. Thank you Ms. Saleh! Thank you
very much for your in-sight!

But I think the best line came from the cleric of
a mosque in Saudi Arabia. The honorable sheikh
expressed outrage by mentioning several times,
``how can a woman who touches her husband`s organ
lead a prayer... it is inconceivable!``

Obviously the sheikh is unaware that married
women do not touch their husband`s organ. As a
matter of fact that`s the main reason women get
married ... so they don`t have to touch, fondle
or stroke any part of a man`s body. In fact women
are done with sex the day after they get married.
Obviously the sheikh is enjoying an unusually
active sex-life with his wife.

I feel the anger of my fellow fundamentalist
brothers. We`re not only challenged by an
intellectual who knows her Islam but, even worse,
we`re challenged by a woman. The very fact that a
woman is more intelligent, and makes no apologies
for it, insults our very existence.

This has nothing to do with Islam; it`s about
what we`ve learned from our fathers and
grandfathers. This is about money and power --
the very essence of our manhood. This is not
about menstrual cycles, stirring desires or
fondling organs. It`s about fear and insecurity.
Nothing is more intimidating to a man than a
woman who sees right through him.

Personally, as an Iranian Moslem man, it would be
a privilege and honor to stand behind a female
imam and pray to my God. I promise I`ll never
glance at her behind -- unless, of course, God
has blessed her with one that is too divine to
ignore.

Who knows? Maybe one day women can have several
husbands too. Reversal of fortune is entertaining
-- don`t you think? Maybe we`ll see the day when
women with their Gucci purses and Prada shoes
walk in front and we follow them two steps behind
covered in thick dark sheets, pushing strollers
and gasping for air. Imagine me and the sheikh
and a couple of other fellows being some woman`s
bitches. Oh, the payback!

About
Siamack Baniameri is the author of The Iranican
Dream, (Virtualbookworm.com Publishing, December
2004). Also see Iranican-Dream.com.

Re: # 71

echo,

........ my many iranian friends assure me that within seven days of the mullahs departure from the scene, iranian women will throw away their robes and chaddors and tehran will rival paris and milan as a center of the fashion industry ......... autocrats and tyrants cannot suppress the human desire for freedom for ever .......... the flame does not die easily

re: Fizza # 75

Because most people have never met enough Iranis, nor they know the place`s history and culture. To them, it is just another Muslim country.

Speaking of women, perhaps more Persian women living in the U.S. marry outside of their religion than do Muslim women of many other middle eastern nationalities.

These women may be all headed to hell in the unpleasant company us non Muslim men, but that fact of gender conjugation may surprise people who do not know Iran at all.

I`ve wondered why the world assumes Iran`s an extremist mullah hub. Women are very liberal out there compared to most Muslim countries.

A_G

Peace, bro.

Re: # 56
kalachakra,
At the age of 28 sure I dont need to learn that eve teasing is wrong but at an age of 8 when you are influenced so much by your friends and some of whom are older for sure a talk with parents will go a long way.

re: Echoboom # 71

Iran is a fascinating place. It is not all Islam (despite the black robes of its rulers).

Iran and Turkey are the only two (major?) islamic nations where any moral principles and considerations other than Islam have managed to survive in the minds of local intellectuals.

Theirs are two amazing stories of survival which we need to study.

A glimpse into FUNDAMENTALIST, MULLAH-RULED, SHARIAH-LAW, HUDOOD-ORDINANCE ENFORCED nation

news.bbc.co.uk

THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN!

The Raushan-khayal KanjaRRs from the secular/munaafique/libseral/human should know where the best education & learning is acquired--Madressas! Look at the leaders--fluent & scholars an farsi, arabie, angraizee, franceesee, german, these mullahs are also doctors, lawyers and engineers from Harvard & Sorborne ( piece of Jalaibee--if you got your early education at a Madressa--Like our own Jinnah[Sind Madressa-tul-Islam& Gandhi--Islami Maktab & hindu Paatshaala)

---

Iran salutes female `Schumacher`
By Natalia Antelava
BBC correspondent in Tehran

Laleh Seddigh behind the wheel
Seddigh has been given the title of Iran`s best female racing driver

Women car racers in Iran have been awarded prizes for the first time in the history of the Islamic republic.

At a racing event for women organised by Iran`s automobile federation, there was one woman who many in Iran believe could outperform me
news.bbc.co.uk

re: echoboom # 69

``Abdul-hates`` could not be more lucky. :)

They are winning, with (except hamidm2 and a couple of others) none of their so-called ``Muslim-liberal`` foes recognizing how decisively the latter are losing political battles. Nor have these `Muslim liberals` ever figured out a mechanism for defeating the ``abdul-hates.``

---

With such ``enemies,`` the only better friend of ``abdul-hates`` will be Allah himself. :)

Re: # 41: Hamidam2
[``but the abdul-hates are winning :``..]

Of course the abdul-hates(Mullahs) are winning. Alwaya have, Always will. And AbdulAmreekaas (Ba Ba Blacksheep) are losing. Always have. Always will. It is nice to see you see a little light now. Your eyes will open quite blindingly if you refuse to wake up even now.

Tiktikees & lashes are lonely without you & your kind. Moose the goose will soon have the noose around his neck.

& it won`t be a loose one.

and this `encore` is especially for you--to pry open your drunkard eyes.

---

``tuumharee tehzeeb, upnay khanJar sey aap kee khuud kshee kray gee``--Iqbal

tr:your (western) civilisation, using its own dagger, kill itself

and the good news is:

Two German States Reject Hijab Ban

By Ahmed Al-Matboli, IOL Staff

BERLIN, March24 , 2005 (IslamOnline.net) – The legislatures in two German states have turned down proposals by the opposition Christian Democratic Party to ban Muslim school teachers from wearing hijab.
e of hijab and that a legislation was needed
Two German States Reject Hijab Ban

and another interesting development

FRANCE: THE POPE, ISLAM AND THE FRENCH SECULARITY COMPLEX

``tuumharee tehzeeb, upnay khanJar sey aap kee khuud kshee kray gee``--Iqbal

tr:your (western) civilisation, using its own dagger, kill itself

and the good news is:

---

Two German States Reject Hijab Ban

By Ahmed Al-Matboli, IOL Staff

BERLIN, March24 , 2005 (IslamOnline.net) – The legislatures in two German states have turned down proposals by the opposition Christian Democratic Party to ban Muslim school teachers from wearing hijab.
e of hijab and that a legislation was needed
Two German States Reject Hijab Ban

and another interesting development

FRANCE: THE POPE, ISLAM AND THE FRENCH SECULARITY COMPLEX

A good article on ``pakarva vivah`` in Bihar. Thought you guys might find it interesting

Shotgun weddings with a sinister difference
(Filed: 27/09/2003)

Increasing dowry demands in India have led to a wave of groom kidnaps, writes Rahul Bedi in New Delhi.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2003/09/27/wedd27.xml

It is a big mistake to venture out at night if you are young, male and unmarried in India`s Bihar state.
Subhash Kumar, a bank clerk in Patna, let his guard down and paid the price by being kidnapped.
Four days after being carried off by a gang of thugs, manacled to a bed, starved and severely beaten, Kumar found himself married to a girl he had never seen before.
His tears and offers to pay ransom led to beatings, at least until the nuptials were complete. To his horror, even the household`s women joined in, wielding slippers and brooms whenever he begged to be freed.
During the marriage ceremony a rope was tied around Kumar`s waist in case he disgraced the bride`s family by trying to flee. But by then, the resistance had been beaten out of him.
In those dark hours, all he wanted was for the nightmare to end, even if it meant being married to a complete stranger. The next day a sullen Kumar took his wife home, vowing vengeance against his in-laws.
But, like thousands of similarly married Bihari grooms, he feared the kidnappers` vengeance. Unwilling to face more beatings he resigned himself to marriage. ``After marriage, compliance [of the groom] is guaranteed by the kidnappers for an extra fee,`` said Mithelesh Singh, a political activist from near Patna.
This is marriage season in the eastern Indian state of Bihar, and it is a dangerous time for young men.
Bihari social workers say excessive dowry demands by grooms, particularly among the upwardly mobile Bhumiar agricultural class, has forced the parents of young women to hire men to organise such ``shotgun alliances``.
Bihar is among the most violent of India`s 28 states, where politicians and landlords own private armies and the rule of law barely exists.
Officials in the state capital Patna said scores of bachelors were abducted each year in the state`s Gaya, Darbangha and Purnea districts and, after being beaten senseless, are married according to Hindu rites, in a custom that has gained tacit social approval.
In northern states such as Punjab and Haryana, the marriage market has the opposite problem, a shortage of brides partly driven by parents hoping for male babies aborting female foetuses.
But in parts of Bihar eligible grooms remain on the run, conscious of the dowry they can demand if they remain free to select their bride.
Payment of large dowries - banned by law - is widespread in Bihar, where the bride`s family usually compensate the groom`s parents for the money spent on his education. She is expected to bring with her a wide range of consumer goods and presents and jewellery for her husband and family.
Dowry demands often continue well into the marriage. When the bride refuses or is simply unable to meet them she is brutally treated, at times even forced into an inflammable nylon sari, doused with paraffin and set on fire. Husbands often claim the victims caught fire while cooking.
In the early 1980s such deaths became so commonplace that anti-dowry activists forced the government to change the law. Today, any such death by burning within seven years of marriage is deemed unnatural and the husband and his parents are charged with murder.
More than 12,612 dowry deaths were recorded across India in 1998 and 1999, the largest number in Bihar and neighbouring Uttar Pradesh.
But anti-dowry activists and non-governmental organisations said the true number was much higher and estimate that a woman is burned to death every 10 minutes across India.
Activists in Bihar said the groom kidnapping system was well honed, with parents choosing a victim according to caste and community. A marriage fee is negotiated, depending on the prospective groom`s status, and specialist bachelor kidnapping squads then move in.
Delivery by the ``groom contractors``, known to shadow their victims for days, even snatching them off buses and trains in daylight, is guaranteed within days. Also assured is a compliant, if somewhat bruised, groom.
Middle-class professionals are among the top targets. Government employees are the favourite, followed by doctors, businessmen and company executives.
``Eligible bachelors are so terrorised by these enforced nuptials that many rarely ever venture out alone during the marriage season,`` said Singh. Many even leave the state.
Ultimately, official apathy and Bihar`s social mores, dominated exclusively by caste, leads to the victim and his parents compromising and accepting the bride as part of their family.
But she is rarely looked upon kindly, adding to her woes of being a woman in an inconsiderate, male-dominated society.

Few comments:
Eve teasing is only one form of sexual harrassment.It occurs in so many forms and is prevalent more or less in all societies

Rape is much more than sexual harrassment.Its intent is violence,which is perpetrated through sexual means and the impact is psychological and social more than physical.It is ``show of strength`` or ``imprinting the authority``on the victim or the family of the victim.In latter case,the female is actually the scapegoat and hence undergoes double trauma.

Lot of cases of sexual harrassment are not reported for the fear of ``badnaami`` and often the victim is advised to keep shut even by the close relatives.In most cases there is literally no support from the closest relatives.

If reported,there is hardly any chance in countries like India and Pakistan to get justice and the laws are such that they do not help the victim.Even the justice delivery system is such that it ultimately helps the criminal.

Bribery,nepotism etc......go again in favour of criminals

Often the role of press and electronic media in such cases is not positive.

All these factors plus may be more,reinforce the idiom,``jiski laathi,uski bhains``.

This vicious cycle can only be broken by women`s resolve to fight out and an active movement at social level-they have to take the laathi in their hands and dont look for protection from males.