Islam: Archaic, antediluvian & anti-female

Philly.com ^ | 02-05-04 | LLOYD WILLIAMS

[veronica]

BELIEVE IT or not, right now I'm about as fed up with Islam as the Revs. Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson and the rest of the Christian Coalition combined. But for a different reason. I just can't stand the unwavering, arrogant contempt that that repressive religion exhibits toward women.

The straw that broke the camel's back for me was the proclamation a couple of weeks ago by the grand mufti, Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Abdullah al-Sheikh, during a three-day conference in Jeddah. (The grand mufti is the highest religious authority in Saudi Arabia.)

His offensive remarks came at a time when millions of his faithful followers from all over the world were convening in his country for the Hajj, the annual holy trek from Mecca to Medina.

When Mr. Mufti talks, Muslims listen, for it falls to him to interpret the Koran and issue religious edicts. This makes him about as close as Islam gets to having a pope. So, it's incumbent on responsible westerners to take note of the nonsense coming out of his mouth. He has a litany of liturgical complaints about the opposite sex, and basically dismisses the idea of equal rights for women as a violation of Islam.

This shameless sheikh said, "Allowing women to mix with men is the root of every evil and catastrophe." The Saudi political ruler, Crown Prince Abdullah, rubber-stamped this notion with a shrug, acknowledging, "This country is either Muslim or nothing at all."

So being a women in that Muslim nation means living with laws prohibiting you from leaving the house unaccompanied or with any man except a close relative. The authorities enforce a strict social code mandating that all females dress in black shawls and have very limited contact with anyone outside of their immediate family.

Half of Saudi's citizens must endure this humiliating segregation plus an endless list of other human-rights violations. Women are not allowed, by law, to do many things most of us take for granted, like drive a car, or just travel anywhere without permission. The state-sponsored oppression includes girls being forced to marry against their will and killed for having sex with someone not of their father's choosing.

Excluded from public life and disenfranchised politically, women are denied employment, education, inheritance and divorce rights, and are routinely tortured for complaining about this.

Recently, Lubna Olayan, an intrepid feminist activist, was brave enough, some say crazy enough, to speak out, calling for equality in her homeland, regardless of class, religion or gender.

BUT THE grand mufti, channeling Allah's reaction to Ms. Olayan, announced, "I decree that Muslims should beware and avoid being carried away by this propaganda which destroys religion, morals and virtues.

"Such talk about this being the start of liberating the Saudi woman is null and void. One's duty is to obey Islamic law by complying with orders and shunning that which is forbidden."

Listen, I know they're supposed to be our allies and are still considered the "good Arabs" even though 15 of the 19 Sept. 11 terrorists were Saudis.

But I can't help wondering why we consider these particular backward-thinking Neanderthals to be less of a threat than the rest of the designated Axis of Evil.

Tell me if I'm reading this wrong. The basic tenets of the faith dictate that half the population be subservient to the other half. That type of logic reminds me of the brand of Christianity that once rationalized slavery.

Sexism is as reprehensible as racism. If Islam doesn't get its act together, Operation Saudi Freedom looms unavoidably on the desert horizon.

Only this far-more-noble showdown than the one with Saddam will be waged not only over oil, but over basic human dignity.

[Gritty]

The Southern Baptist Convention demands a woman do exactly as her husband says.

You simply don't know what you're talking about. There is no such command in the Bible and certainly no such demand was ever given by the Southern Baptist Convention.

If this is true and you have some proof, give us a link.

[backhoe]

Cross-link:

-Islam, a Religion of Peace®? Some links...--

[Happy2BMe]

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[ClearBlueSky]

Do as they say--or WHAT?
Islam is VERY specific about WHAT to do with women. A few throwback Baptists who might interpret what the Bible says about women deferring to their husbands( and the part people tend to forget is that husbands are to honor their wives) are FAR different from the all-encompassing Sharia laws.
NO Baptist preachers are demanding a man kill his own daughters for talking to strangers , or approving that he kill his wife if he even THINKS she is unfaithful to him. If any did such a thing they would be considered as CRIMINAL as those who would obey them.
Brutality toward women is part of the foundation of Islam.
If you dont see the difference between a few people who interpret a single quote from the Bible to mean that women are subservient to men, and an entire 'religion' and culture that DEMANDS their slavery from birth to death- or execution, then you have a serious perception problem.
That inability to differentiate is part of the reason Islam is gaining power. Comparing it to far lesser evils makes it seem less threatening, doesn't it?

[Ajnin]

The Southern Baptist Convention demands a woman do exactly as her husband says.

As a Southern Baptist, this news to me.

[thoughtomator]

"This country is either Muslim or nothing at all."

Not to nitpick, but... it's both

[tessalu]

The USA has not had the courage to step up and call the enemy by it's right name, so it will keep up it's agression against all people, who are not willing to do it's bidding.
Islam is on the attack,and agressive, while we are hunkered down trying to protect ourselves from Islamic terrorism. Just tell me that this is not so, please.

[Frank_2001]

Good article!