Defending Arab and Muslim women! Part One

Hasan A. Yahya,  Ph.D

There are certain points related to Arab and Muslim women. In this part we cover one of them related to women in Islam.

1. Cruel Punishment: Some readers believe that there is no reason to shoot someone in the head six times, and to dagger someone's neck till his head falls off his body. This is cruel act. It's no reason to take someone's life away. But can they ask the same in western societies. They usually have Gas killing, and in the old west, hanging was executed for stealing a horse. It is a fact that a husband surely must have two-to- four wives, or was indeed going to have two-to-four wives. Unmarried couple will be flogged 100 times, male or female, Both will get the same penalty. If they chose to keep quiet, asking the forgiveness from the Lord Himself, He is All Forgiving. The authorities in this case, will not know and the punishment will not be carried out. It is all covered and secretly done. It is the duty of the authorities to carry out the punishment if they knew. Now that being said....Islamic laws has always been fair for many ages. It is the society and the interpretation of Islamic law by the government of the country that made it harsh, it may be cultural matter rather than Islamic law. One must understand Saudis way of enforcing their Islamic laws or cultural ones, which I feel is more traditional than the real embodiment of Islamic spirit. Many people think that was right. If a woman or a man committed adultery. She/he betrayed their family. And in case they are married they, in fact betrayed the institution of marriage. Men are responsible too: There are always two to commit adultery. Some people trying to say that women make men do things against their will and seduce them when they want? Are men bunch of sheep without their own will who do whatever women want? Are men weaklings incapable to control their lust and urges? That way of thinking reminds me of one of the Australian Muslim mullahs who said women are guilty of being raped because they are not covered from head to toe. Did he want to tell us that if men sees a woman that is not veiled they can't control themselves? What type of men are these men? Adultery is committed in all societies, and the right of women to say no for sexual intercourse, in many societies is punishable by law. The American society is a good example, look at university research data on rape and women abuse. In terms of men are more responsible for adultery, boys probably fall in love just like a girl does. And they probably seduced girls as much as girls seduced boys and probably even more, because an Arab or non Arab girl, a Saudi or Qatari woman is raised not to show initiative and to do what men tell her to do. No one may conclude that adultery was a woman’s fault only?

Unless was like the Mullah of Australia. And that a man couldn't choose to walk away and chooses to commit adultery as much as she did. God gave us free will to do what is right. Why do people blame other people for their decisions? Women sometimes are at least faithful to her feelings and nature. The writer might not like to praise what a man or woman does (In adultery) but he admires a girl’s courage to be true to herself and accept the cultural punishment according to the Law. Everyone I believe, is responsible for their own actions, and women alone are not to blame for men’s emotions.