Equality in Islam?

[van]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091215/ap_ ... harassment

Harassment across Arab world drives women inside

By SARAH EL DEEB, Associated Press Writer Sarah El Deeb, Associated Press Writer – Tue Dec 15, 8:43 am ET
CAIRO – The sexual harassment of women in the streets, schools and work places of the Arab world is driving them to cover up and confine themselves to their homes, said activists at the first-ever regional conference addressing the once taboo topic.

Activists from 17 countries across the region met in Cairo for a two-day conference ending Monday and concluded that harassment was unchecked across the region because laws don't punish it, women don't report it and the authorities ignore it.

The harassment, including groping and verbal abuse, is a daily experience women in the region face and makes them wary of going into public spaces, whether it's the streets or jobs, the participants said. It happens regardless of what women are wearing.

With more and more women in schools, the workplace and politics, roles have changed but often traditional attitudes have not. Experts said in some places, like Egypt, harassment appears sometimes to be out of vengeance, from men blaming women for denied work opportunities.

Amal Madbouli, who wears the conservative face veil or niqab, told The Associated Press that despite her dress, she is harassed and described how a man came after her in the streets of her neighborhood.

"He hissed at me and kept asking me if I wanted to go with him to a quieter area, and to give him my phone number," said Madbouli, a mother of two. "This is a national security issue. I am a mother, and I want to be reassured when my daughters go out on the streets."

Statistics on harassment in the region have until recently been nonexistent, but a series of studies presented at the conference hinted at the widespread nature of the problem.

As many as 90 percent of Yemeni women say they have been harassed, while in Egypt, out of a sample of 1,000, 83 percent reported being verbally or physically abused.

A study in Lebanon reported that more than 30 percent of women said they had been harassed there.

"We are facing a phenomena that is limiting women's right to move ... and is threatening women's participation in all walks of life," said Nehad Abul Komsan, an Egyptian activist who organized the event with funding from the U.N. and the Swedish development agency.

Harassment has long been a problem in Mideast nations. But it was little discussed until three years ago, when blogs gave posted amateur videos showing a crowd of men assaulting women in downtown Cairo during a major Muslim holiday in one of the most shocking harassment incidents in the region.

The public outcry sparked an unprecedented public acknowledgment of the problem in Egypt and elsewhere in the region, and drove the Egyptian government to consider two draft bills addressing sexual harassment.

Sexual harassment, including verbal and physical assault, has been specifically criminalized in only half a dozen Arab countries over the past five years. Most of the 22 Arab states outlaw overtly violent acts like rape or lewd acts in public areas, according to a study by Abul Komsan.

Participants at the conference said men are threatened by an increasingly active female labor force, with conservatives laying the blame for harassment on women's dress and behavior.

In Syria, men from traditional homes go shopping in the market place instead of female family members to spare them harassment, said Sherifa Zuhur, a Lebanese-American academic at the conference.

Abul Komsan described how one of the victims of harassment she interviewed told her she had taken on the full-face veil to stave off the hassle.

"She told me 'I have put on the niqab. By God, what more can I do so they leave me alone,'" she said, quoting the woman. Some even said they were reconsidering going to work or school because of the constant harassment in the streets and on public transpiration.

Where segregation between the sexes is the norm and women are sheltered by religious or tribal customs, cases of sexual harassment are still common at homes and in the times when women must venture out, whether to markets, hospitals or government offices.

In Yemen, where nearly all women are covered from head to toe, activist Amal Basha said 90 percent of women in a published study reported harassment, specifically pinching.

"The religious leaders are always blaming the women, making them live in a constant state of fear because out there, someone is following them," she said.

If a harassment case is reported in Yemen, Basha added, traditional leaders interfere to cover it up, remove the evidence or terrorize the victim.

In Saudi Arabia, another country where women cover themselves completely and are nearly totally segregated from men in public life, women report harassment as well, according to Saudi activist Majid al-Eissa.

His organization, the National Family Safety Program, has been helping draft a law criminalizing violence against women in the conservative kingdom, where flirting can often cross the line into outright assault. Discussion of the law begins Tuesday.

"It will take time especially in this part of the world to absorb the gender mixture and the role each gender can play in society," he said. "We are coping with changes (of modern life), except in our minds."

[TrueReligion]

Your argument for 21st century shows very childish approach, it means we should abandon all the religions, and live life without any religion.

I don't see the problem with this idea and as has been seen in europe, Japan and parts of america many others also have no problem living without religion.

The person who give this remark for 21st century, is a practical christian, and strong in his faith, sorry but this is only for him. No hard feelings Wyvern

Can you give me the reason that the Taliban are so worrying blowing up girls schools

Its some political issue, rather than religious issue Goat. Maybe its same reason as when Israel blowup children school with children inside in Palestine.
.

Is it the same? when Hamas is using a school to launch rocket attacks, do you think that people won't respond?

What is the political reasoning behind the taliban targeting girls schools? I say it's the same reason they beat women who go out in public.

There is big difference Goat, Hamas are freedom fighters, not terrorists, and also you feel good that Israel throw phosphorus bombs in a school where every1 knows children are taking shelter? is it allowed to use these bombs on any1? can you justify this please?

Further you totaly ignored the fact, that many hindus were found disguised in Taliban dress, so its something political and another plan, not a religious issue.

[TrueReligion]

Its some political issue, rather than religious issue Goat. Maybe its same reason as when Israel blowup children school with children inside in Palestine.

If you are going to use a school as a launch site for rockets you have to expect counter battery fire is going to hit it. Terrorists commonly use civilians as unwilling human shields so I don't think hamas is in any position to complain when what they knew would happen in relation to their action happened.

So you called Hamas as terrorists as Israel act as right? wow Wyvern, this realy shows good work.
Also, do you allow in war to use these bombs ? and on children specially? Hamas are fighting for their freedom, and your statement of justifying them brought a lot of question here now about how much neutral the issue is

If it was religious issue, other local religious people would also be involved in this, but every1 condemn that.
Also, many official news were given by Pakistan Army as well, that in the dress of Taliban, they found many Hindus, which were disguised in Taliban dress, and making trouble in Pakistan and doing terrorist activities.

It is well known that the two countries have been squabbling since their founding as you say, this is political not religious.

http://www.pakspectator.com/indians-fig ... res-proof/

Can;t put the picture here Goat, as its not good, better check yourself, I'am giving you Pakistani site, which is more official than your yahoo site.

Actually the article came from former Pakistani journalist Ahmed Quraishi and is not in any way official. http://www.ahmedquraishi.com/article_ ... p?id=685

The picture is also not official? which are circulated by Pakistan army? so how you know about girls school bomb? that link also shows from yahoo, its also not official till now,
Further, you are not living in SWAT and Pakistan, so ofcourse you dont know whats in real going on..
Your statement again is invalid, as its weak and not with genuine proof.

[TrueReligion]

It will bring only counter attack from my side, as you have given only 1 incidence, and I can give plenty of these, which rejects that muslims are doing most rape in west.

I disagree with you and you disagree with me, I agree with you and you still disagree with me. I guess there's no pleasing some people. If you had actually read the link I gave you would have noted that it shows a number of individual cases along with stats from most of the scandinavian countries which show that over 65% of all rapes in those countries are being committed by muslim immigrants. If you want to counter those numbers feel free to go over the crime data of the countries noted.

And ofcourse it looks funny what you said, as its proven already by all media, that the rapists are all either christians, or other non-muslims.

The data from these countries say otherwise.

But realy what youve shown here, is showing how much false attack on Islam is done by west

Simply because it shines an ugly light on an aspect of a culture coes not mean that it is wrong. The west has a long history of shining that same kind of light onto many of its own bad behaviors.

Told you already Wyvern, that as per adviced by other members, I won't give counter reply with any facts, so please dont insist on anything now. this part is closed already. only discussion is going on now.

[Goat]

There is big difference Goat, Hamas are freedom fighters, not terrorists, and also you feel good that Israel throw phosphorus bombs in a school where every1 knows children are taking shelter? is it allowed to use these bombs on any1? can you justify this please?

Further you totaly ignored the fact, that many hindus were found disguised in Taliban dress, so its something political and another plan, not a religious issue.

That is semantics. When you have a group of people sending suicide bombers into busses and targeting civilians, such as Hamas does, or if they shoot rockets into civilian areas, they are terrorists. End of story.

[TrueReligion]

There is big difference Goat, Hamas are freedom fighters, not terrorists, and also you feel good that Israel throw phosphorus bombs in a school where every1 knows children are taking shelter? is it allowed to use these bombs on any1? can you justify this please?

Further you totaly ignored the fact, that many hindus were found disguised in Taliban dress, so its something political and another plan, not a religious issue.

That is semantics. When you have a group of people sending suicide bombers into busses and targeting civilians, such as Hamas does, or if they shoot rockets into civilian areas, they are terrorists. End of story.

How can its be end of story? its just the begining, who raged the war this time? Its again the biggest terrorist in the world -> Israel. for which whole world protest, but Israel didnt listen to any1, the viewo I just showed, was given by Human Rights International.

Furthermore, Hamas did the right thing, as Israel capture their homeland, and start killing civilians and childrens, so no other choice to do same with Israel, which they very much deserve.

It was a good thing with Hitler did with Jews, just unlucky few of them remained, and they are again the biggest terrorists in the world now. Maybe we need more Hitler to kill the remaining Jews, and world will be in Peace (amin)
Ho

[Wyvern]

Its some political issue, rather than religious issue Goat. Maybe its same reason as when Israel blowup children school with children inside in Palestine.

If you are going to use a school as a launch site for rockets you have to expect counter battery fire is going to hit it. Terrorists commonly use civilians as unwilling human shields so I don't think hamas is in any position to complain when what they knew would happen in relation to their action happened.

So you called Hamas as terrorists as Israel act as right? wow Wyvern, this realy shows good work.
Also, do you allow in war to use these bombs ? and on children specially? Hamas are fighting for their freedom, and your statement of justifying them brought a lot of question here now about how much neutral the issue is

Any group that randomly throws rockets at people and sends suicide bombers into a populace can be defined as a terrorist. About the bombs, depends has hamas signed the Geneva conventions? If they haven't all bets are off and any and all means can be used in warfare only limited by the desires of the individual combatants. Hamas is the ruling government in PA they already have their freedom, they are fighting for the destruction of Israel. In fact it has been stated that things would improve dramatically for the PA if they would drop the language in their constitution about destroying Israel but they refuse.

The picture is also not official? which are circulated by Pakistan army? so how you know about girls school bomb? that link also shows from yahoo, its also not official till now,
Further, you are not living in SWAT and Pakistan, so ofcourse you dont know whats in real going on..
Your statement again is invalid, as its weak and not with genuine proof.

Are you living in Swat or the PA? if not then you know just as much as I do from first hand knowledge. Did you take the picture? If not how do you know where it was taken. Are you in the Pakistani army? if not how do you know that picture is being circulated.
My only statement was that Mr. Quraishi is the author of the article and is in no way official in that he is no longer employed by state media.

[VermilionUK]

It was a good thing with Hitler did with Jews, just unlucky few of them remained, and they are again the biggest terrorists in the world now. Maybe we need more Hitler to kill the remaining Jews, and world will be in Peace (amin)

All people are allowed to express their views freely, but racism and anti-semitism should be out of bounds. Calling for another holocaust is possibly one of the most barbaric statements I've ever read on this forum.

Whether what I have said is a "personal comment" or not is irrelevant, what you have just said has removed what little respect you had.

[Wyvern]

How can its be end of story? its just the begining, who raged the war this time? Its again the biggest terrorist in the world -> Israel. for which whole world protest, but Israel didnt listen to any1, the viewo I just showed, was given by Human Rights International.

Actually if we are going to argue about who started this round of fighting that would be elements of hamas that started lobbing rockets into israel.

Furthermore, Hamas did the right thing, as Israel capture their homeland, and start killing civilians and childrens, so no other choice to do same with Israel, which they very much deserve.

Actually Israel simply closed the borders. As stated elsewhere if Hamas is going to use a school as a launch site it is simply stupid to think it wont get hit by counterbattery fire.

It was a good thing with Hitler did with Jews, just unlucky few of them remained, and they are again the biggest terrorists in the world now. Maybe we need more Hitler to kill the remaining Jews, and world will be in Peace

You say a lot about yourself and your religion if you hold these views. Nice religion of peace you got there.

[TrueReligion]

It was a good thing with Hitler did with Jews, just unlucky few of them remained, and they are again the biggest terrorists in the world now. Maybe we need more Hitler to kill the remaining Jews, and world will be in Peace (amin)

All people are allowed to express their views freely, but racism and anti-semitism should be out of bounds. Calling for another holocaust is possibly one of the most barbaric statements I've ever read on this forum.

Whether what I have said is a "personal comment" or not is irrelevant, what you have just said has removed what little respect you had.

You are telling me, but what about other say about Muslims,? did you ever made comment or remark there as well?

[Wyvern]

Actually if we are going to argue about who started this round of fighting that would be elements of hamas that started lobbing rockets into israel.

Thats the story which Israel gave, but ever listened to the story from Palestine side? that say totaly opposite, that the offense started from Israel side.

Explainer: Israel's attack on Gaza

By Katherine Butler, Foreign Editor


Monday, 29 December 2008
Why has Israel launched the deadliest attacks on Palestinian territory since the 1967 Six Day War?

Israel's onslaught is a reprisal for a week-long barrage of rocket and mortar attacks from Gaza. Israel says it had to safeguard the lives in towns bordering the strip. Palestinians, and many others, believe the Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert also ordered the raids to achieve what his government had failed to achieve through other means: the removal from power of Hamas, the Islamist political movement elected to run Gaza in 2006, which it accuses of being controlled by Iran and Syria.

Do you even bother ever reading what you post? Your article states that it was Hamas that started this round of fighting, just as I did. You bomb people then complain when they counterattack, what world do you live in that you think you can attack whoever you want but will not suffer any reprisals.

The question stil remain, why did Israel attack Palestine and capture Palestine? for wat reason? Ofcourse Hamas have right to defend their homeland.
Can you justify this act of Israel.

The Palestine Authority is still a political entity, Israel did not take over. I already explained why Israel attacked them and it was in defense of their citizens who were being attacked by Hamas in the PA with rocket fire. It's sad that these people would knowingly sacrifice their own children just to score sympathy points in the media. They used a school as a launch site for the rocket attacks only a fool or a complete idiot would think they would not recieve return fire.

It was a good thing with Hitler did with Jews, just unlucky few of them remained, and they are again the biggest terrorists in the world now. Maybe we need more Hitler to kill the remaining Jews, and world will be in Peace

You say a lot about yourself and your religion if you hold these views. Nice religion of peace you got there.

Jew was not a muslim, he was a christian:) so means christians are not peaceful [/quote]
What you wrote made absolutely no sense, plus of course I was talking about you and your religion thinking Hitler was a great guy. If you weren't muslim you could join the KKK here in the U.S., you share many of the same views.