More Afghan women dying by self-immolation (interesting proposal to combat Islamic misoginy)

Majikthise ^ | November 15, 2006 | Lindsay Beyerstein

[Clintonfatigued]

Increasing numbers of Afghan women are dying by setting themselves on fire, according to reports by NGOs. This year, thirty-six cases of self-immolation have been reported in Kabul alone. [BBC]

The answer is not military conflict in Afghanistan. The answer is taking gender-based oppression into account in refuge claims. We could "rescue" every oppressed Afghan woman who wants asylum by simply opening our doors to all female refugees from Afghanistan, and any other regime that doesn't afford full civil rights to women.

The message to patriarchal regimes: Keep this up, and we'll take all your women and children. Heck, if you don't knock off this tinpot dictator shit, we'll take all your scientists, all your engineers, all your doctors, and all your journalists--regardless of gender! Our gain, your loss.

[Clintonfatigued]

This is a facinating proposal, and one which could be effective. You don't have to agree with the author's politics to take this idea seriously.

[HitmanLV]

Flame on, Johnny!!!!

 

[oilfieldtrash]

I have heard from iranian muslim men that the rate of suicide of women in the muslim world is very high and not something they like to discuss. The reason being as he told me is their lack of choices in life.

Makes me mad when I see women in England insisting on face veils when women in Afghanistan are so miserable they kill themselves. Let them go back to Pakistanand experience how it really is.

[Clintonfatigued]

That's a good idea.

I also like the idea of letting oppressed women in radical Islamic countries have refugee status. However, if the USA were to adopt such a policy, we'd have to not draw a lot of attention to it.

[353FMG]

"We could "rescue" every oppressed Afghan woman who wants asylum by simply opening our doors to all female refugees from Afghanistan, and any other regime that doesn't afford full civil rights to women."

Why should we give asylum to Muslim women when we don't give it to our Christian brothers who are persecuted in Muslim lands? Typical "feel good" BS.

[LongElegantLegs]

And we're going to do...what, once they get here? Make them do yard work, pick strawberries? You think the democrats would be happy with anything but total support by the government? Also, how are you going to separate the oppressed masses from the radical islamists? Women wear bomb belts, too.
It'd be cheaper and a lot more satisfying to bomb Mecca, then kill off the radical nutjobs one by one until the "moderates" (if they truly exist) could seize control of the government.

[Clintonfatigued]

"Why should we give asylum to Muslim women when we don't give it to our Christian brothers who are persecuted in Muslim lands?"

We should give asylum to our Christian brothers in Muslim lands, as well.

[mockingbyrd]

"Why should we give asylum to Muslim women when we don't give it to our Christian brothers who are persecuted in Muslim lands?"

Does it have to be either or? Let's welcome them both in. If Muslim women are fleeing presecution demanded in the Koran, then they might not stay Muslim once they are free. But even if they did, every person has a dignity due to the fact that they are created in the image and likeness of God. No one deserve to be treated the way these women are.