Friday 22 August 2008

My Sisters in Afghanistan

This article has made me feel sick to my stomach. As a Muslim, it angers me that my faith is abused so, as a human being and woman it pains me that people still live like this and the rest of the world turns a blind eye. This is nothing but complete injustice. The way these women are treated reminds me of the time of Jahaliyah – it looks like some people have still not emerged from that time. I cannot see change coming any time soon for these women though. Pakistan has the same problem of treating rape victims as criminals under their Hudood Ordinance Laws.

I know that the Quran says that “Allah does not change a people's lot unless they change what is in their hearts” (13:11), but Allah (SWT) is also just and his mercy and his love know no bounds. How do we allow this to carry on knowing these women are out sisters?

Thankfully there are good brothers and sisters out there that are struggling towards change, more non-Muslim than Muslim, although looking round, there still doesn't seem to be that much focussed on helping women in prisons:

Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan
Islamic Relief
The Afghan Women's Mission
Medica Mondiale
Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission
Support Association for the Women of Afghanistan


"And when the news of (the birth of) a female (child) is brought to any of them, his face becomes dark, and he is filled with inward grief! He hides himself from the people because of the evil of that whereof he has been informed. Shall he keep her with dishonor or bury her in the earth? Certainly, evil is their decision." ~ Quran 16:58-59

"O You who believe! You are forbidden to inherit women against their will, and you should not treat them with harshness, that you may take away part of the Mahr (bridal-money given by the husband to his wife at time of marriage) you have given them, unless they commit open illegal sexual intercourse. And live with them honorably. If you dislike them, it may be that you dislike a thing and Allah brings through it a great deal of good." ~ Quran 4:19

2 comments:

  1. this stuff makes me so sad! there was a similar programme on this a few years back, where young girls and women got put into prison and beaten for the simplest reasons and mostly where men were at fault! May Allah have mercy.

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  2. i agree that the article makes me feel sick -its soo wrong the way that women are treated in poor contries even worse that they treat women like this in the name of Islam, its infuriating
    Inshalla justice will be served to wrong doers and to those that deserve better treatment

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