Housework sermon sparks imam boycott

BBC News ^ | March 26, 2004

[billorites]

A Muslim preacher in eastern Turkey says he is being boycotted for telling local men to help their wives with the housework, Turkish media reported.

"Women do all the work in this village. All I said was men should at least carry the water (from the local well)," Mustafa Platin told Sabah newspaper.

His angry flock, who stopped attending the mosque, have asked authorities to remove the preacher.

"We can carry water, but this not up to him," village leader Adnan Karsli said.

The men don't want to pray with him any more, they go to mosques in neighbouring towns
Adnan Karsli
Village headman

Mr Karsli of Kotanduzu village, near Erzurum, accused the imam of frequently insulting village men in traditional Friday sermons.

"Instead of teaching us about Islam, he talks nonsense," he said.

"The men don't want to pray with him any more, they go to mosques in neighbouring towns."

Imam Mustafa Platin confirmed no more than three villagers joined him, even on the usually busy Friday prayers, in Turkey's traditionally conservative east.

Mr Platin, a 27-year-old father of three, said he meant well.

"Women do the washing, they look after the livestock, they cook. And they carry the water."

"When I told men to help them, they have reacted very harshly."

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/europe/3571343.stm

[goldstategop]

A progressive Imam? A kindred soul of Turkey's founder, Attaturk. Normally what drives Islamists up the walls is any acknowledgment women are equal to men. You wouldn't here this in any other part of the Islamic world. To the Saudis, women should neither be seen nor heard from.

[corkoman]

I completely agree with the boycott - this dopey imam must be silenced - once the men start helping thw women carry water the next thing is complete domination by the women.

The fate of the world hangs in the balance.

[BikePacker]

The fate of the world hangs in the balance.

Yup... next thing ya know the ladies will have their men buying "feminine protection" products.

[Bonaparte]

Sounds like the imam could improve his read of his own flock -- unless he's permitted dissatisfied females to draw him into their domestic controversies, in which case he's an even bigger fool.

Maybe he can apply for a new job as village water carrier or perhaps he can hire on as the Kerry campaign's feminist outreach spokesman.

[onedoug]

Yeah. What good's religion that involves humanity?

[man of Yosemite]

Why the world needs to defeat Islamic extremism, they are centuries behind in their thought.

[mtbopfuyn]

"Women do the washing, they look after the livestock, they cook. And they carry the water."

Amen, um, praise Allah! With the women doing everything, they don't need those useless men smelling up the place. Anyone see "Worlds Apart" last week on the National Geographic channel? Same story in the African village episode.

[Malesherbes]

I lived in Turkey for a year and there are interesting contrasts. For example, they have had a female (very good looking) Prime Minister, Tansu Ciller. On the other hand when you drive through villages in the countryside you see women working in the fields while the men sit around drinking tea and playing backgammon.

[Prometheus_666]

Basically Turkey could go either way I think.