Study in Black

Omar`s paradigm of Taliban philosophy in

practice.

1) First we cover up the woman in a black, shapeless sack, she is a piece of property, so we can do this.

2) We also deny her an education, marry her off to a stranger, getting Anguthaa on Nikanama is mere formality.

3) We use the constant threat of violence on her

4) We abuse her in the name of religion to the point where she begins to think this is the natural order that G-D intended for her.

5)We lock her up away from the eyes of the world restricting her movements to within chaardivaari.

6) Then we kill her; the ultimate abuse of Human rights. And the logical conclusion of what happens after one acquieses in wearing a Burqa and denies one`s own humanity.

THIS IS THE MODEL OF TALIBANIZATION in practice in much of Pakistan gaining currency. The exploitation of religion by patriarchy must stop. Womyn must be emancipated. Womyn in Pakistan (as in Afghanistan) are being kept in the dark about their fundamental rights, despite the `learned` commentaries of FARANGI KUSH on the internet, which are all propoganda to sustain the existing order of gender discrimination and oppression. An Ataturk is required to change the very social conditioning of womyn in society, so that they understand that this is NOT Islam. Education is the key to awareness. The unexamined life is not worth living.

OMAR MIRZA

From Dawn

The unabated plight of women

By Fariha Razak Haroon

The journey of my life

Begins with home,

And ends at the graveyard,

My life is spent like a body

Carried on the shoulders

Of my father and brother,

Husband and son,

Bathed in religion,

Attired in customs,

And buried in a grave,

Of ignorance.

The above lines by Goodwin Jan in the `Price of Honour` aptly reflect the status and plight of most women in Pakistan. According to the United Nations Development Programme`s gender- related index, Pakistan slid back to 120th out of 146 places in the index (it was 107 out of 137 in 1996) and occupied 92nd of 94 places with regard to women`s empowerment.

The rights of women continue to be routinely ignored and violated. There is no law to address domestic violence and the disadvantages women suffer in society due to connivance or indifference by police and judiciary, and inadequacies in the law, prevent the majority from seeking and obtaining redress.

According to various studies conducted by the human rights organizations, nearly 80 per cent of women are subjected to domestic violence. Many become victims of criminal violence and some killed on mere allegation of harming the family honour. Other are harassed and sometimes prosecuted and/or killed for choosing their own marriage partners. Unless laws rejecting common prejudices and gender stereotypes are enforced, perpetrators of violence against women are punished, the discrimination will continue unabated.

* On January 6, `99, in Joharabad, Punjab, Ghazala was set on fire by her brother on suspicion of having an illicit relationship with a neighbour. Her naked dead body was left lying on the street for over two hours, as nobody was willing to pick it up.

* In June `99, Fatima Bibi of Jalalpur Pirwala, Multan District, fell in love and married Muhammad Umar against the wishes of her family. Her father in a bid to save his property invited the newly-wed couple to his house, severely beat and locked the husband and then forcibly married off his daughter Fatima to the Quran. Fatima committed suicide on June 29, `99, by hanging herself from a ceiling fan.

* Shaheen married to Anwar of Gujjarapura in a Watta Satta arrangement was allegedly set on fire by her husband when they started having problems in their marriage. Anwar wanted to send Shaheen back to her parents house, but felt extremely humiliated when Shaheen`s brother, who was married to Anwar`s sister, refused to send his wife back to her parents home as well. Anwar feeling disgraced killed his wife.

* In February `99, young Zuleikha of the Banglani tribe in Sindh got married of her own choice. The male members of her family in Thul village in Sindh infuriated at her marrying a man from another clan, the Khosa tribe, reportedly shot her dead.

* In March `99, a 16-year-old mentally retarded girl, Jamila Mandokhel was taken by a junior clerk of the Agriculture Department in NWFP to a hotel in Parachinar, where he repeatedly assaulted her. The police apprehended the accused and handed the girl to her tribal elders in Mazuzai in the Kurram Agency - where the Jirgasat in judgment and decided that she had brought shame to her tribe and that its honour could only be restored by killing her. She was shot dead in a front of a large gathering of her community members.

* In village Moorath in Sindh, Amanullah had married a woman who was in love and wanted to marry Nazir, a married man with eight children. Unable to obtain her family`s consent to marry her, Nazir murdered Amanullah, then killed his innocent sister and declared them karo kari. After a brief prison term, he was given Amanullah`s wife, now a widow, in compensation for the supposed infringement of his honour and loss of his sister.

* In village Gul Mohd. Brohi in Larkana District, Zarina and Suleiman were killed by Zarina`s three brothers on mere suspicion of having illicit relations. It is reported that Zarina`s mother showed no sorrow over her death and was more concerned over the arrest of her sons. ``They saw them together and killed them. There is no grief in ghairat (honour)``, she voiced.

* A case which made headlines in April `99 was the murder of 27-year-old Samia Sarwar, where her mother, father and paternal uncle were all accomplices. Samia`s father is president of Sarhad Chamber of Commerce, her mother a gynaecologist, her sister studied medicine and Samia law. Samia was killed for seeking divorce from her estranged husband - an action her family deemed `dishonourable` and hence warranting death.

The pattern of impunity surrounding these abuses, which arise from systematic discrimination against women, point to the gross failure of the State to honour its obligation to guarantee women the exercise of their fundamental rights on the basis of equality. In the Samia murder case, the matter was taken up in the Senate which showed complete insensitivity and disregard for this tragic violation of women`s rights. When Senator Iqbal Haider presented a resolution condemning the ritual practice of so-called honour killings, in a most shameful statement Senator Ilyas Bilour referring to much-respected internationally known human rights activists - Asma Jahangir and Hina Jilani - said: ``We wonder what sort of human rights are being claimed by these girls in jeans.`` To this day, the accused despite being identified by eyewitnesses have not been arrested, nor any action taken against those who issued death threats against Asma and Hina.

Discrimination against women in law and practice persists; violence against women, in custody, in the family and in the wider community is believed to have increased. Bilqius Edhi, who gives refuge to approximately 250 girls annually, was of the view that the situation of women in Pakistan is sliding backwards every day. ``There is no improvement in sight. Our whole system needs to be changed,`` she remarked.

Abusive practices including the trafficking of women, women bonded labour, karo kari and exchange of women to settle disputes continue to be reported. In the tribal society in Sindh and Balochistan, men and women suspected of illicit sexual relations are denounced as karo and kari, and killed. Such killings are morally sanctioned and rarely lead to criminals` prosecution. The tradition, which is also reported from other parts of the country, is often abused to cover up personal vendettas, unrelated murders or to obtain the victim`s property.

A man in village Gujrani, near Kandhkot, killed his 85-year- old mother accusing her of being a kari and took Rs 25,000 as compensation from the man he accused of being a karo.

In order to keep control over the family estate many girls in the rural areas are married off to their cousins, irrespective of age who could be even 10-20 years younger than them. In case the family cannot arrange a match, the practice of the woman marrying the Quran is still accepted. Such a woman is forbidden to have any contact with males over the age of 14 years.

Sexual assault is also on the rise. According to the HRCP, compared to 1997 when atleast eight women, more than half of them minors were raped every 24 hours nationwide, the figure last year rose to one woman being raped every two hours as opposed to one every three hours previously.

The Zina law itself is a source of abuse of women`s rights. Approximately 75 per cent of women prisoners in jail are charged with adultery. Human Rights Watch reported that a member of a legal aid organization took two minor girls, released from a brothel, to the Karachi police surgeon`s office for medico-legal examinations. When told that the girls were victims of sexual abuse and not `call girls` as the doctor had assumed, he revealed a strong biased attitude towards women victims: ``For you, everyone is a victim. These girls are willing participants. Even a 10-year-old is capable of consent in such cases.``

A male medico-legal officer at the same office voiced, ``All girls who come here for an examination have gone (to have sex) willingly, and the poor boy gets stuck in jail for his whole life. Usually the girls` parents force her to change her story and testify falsely against the boy.``

Almost denying the existence of rape, he told Human Rights Watch: ``A woman who is `well-developed` cannot be raped unless there are 4 to 5 men involved. One man cannot rape a woman. Women bluff, make up stories and lie. They say, I was drugged, I was given a whiff of fainting medicine - but there is no such medicine. Even if a chicken is abducted, it makes a noise. How can a woman be abducted? It`s the boy who suffers in these cases because he gets to spend 14 years in jail on the basis of fabricated charges of rape.``

Zia Awan, a prominent human rights lawyer, while fighting a case of domestic violence was dumbfounded when the presiding judge dismissed the complaint and cited a verse of Surah-e-Noor of the Holy Quran, which he interpreted as ``permitting a husband to beat his wife.``

A judge presiding in another case before the Malir District Court in Karachi scorned at the complainant`s claim that she had been abducted by the defendant and forced at gunpoint to take a train. The judge interjected that even a goat would have struggled under the circumstances and it was unbelievable that the complainant did not even activate the train`s emergency brake. Later, when the complainant got irritated over being repeatedly asked the same question, he threatened that if she was not deferential he would lock her up for adultery. And added, ``these women take off knowingly and willingly and then show up in court to make our lives difficult.``

Several court judgments over the last few years have stated that adult women have a right to marry men of their own choice, irrespective of their families consent. However, police continue to register complaints by fathers` whose daughters have exercised that right. Over 80 per cent of couples married without the families` consent face false criminal charges of abduction and/or adultery, fornication, etc. On May 16, `99, Ghaffar and Shabana - who had got married a month ago against the wishes of their elders - were reportedly abducted from the Sessions Court in Gujranwala, where they had gone to record their statement. While they were waiting for the hearing to begin, 16-armed men said to be from the woman`s family burst into the courtroom, in the presence of police officers, and abducted them at gunpoint.

Sometimes Jirgas with no official authority decide the fate of women who marry men of their choice and hand down death sentences. A couple was convicted of adultery by a tribal Islamic council and executed in the presence of some 15,000 people assembled in Bara in the Khyber Agency. The council had found Azam Khan and his divorced mother-in-law, Shino, guilty of adultery as it believed Shino`s former husband had not divorced Shino when she left home and married Azam Khan. The couple had reportedly lived in hiding for nearly three years and had two children. The tribal council ordered them to be stoned to death, but later the families were allowed to shoot the couple. Shino was then shot dead by her former husband and her brother, while Azam Khan was shot dead by his brother.

The Constitution of Pakistan in Article 25(1) unequivocally states: ``All citizens are equal before the law and are entitled to equal protection of law.`` Article 25(2) says: ``There shall be no discrimination of the basis of sex alone.`` The Hudood Ordinance, however, violates this as it provides for the imprisonment of women solely on grounds of gender. The ordinance also discriminates against girls who may be subjected to harsher punishments than boys. The ordinance stipulates that the Hadd punishment may not be imposed on children, but its definition of adulthood discriminates against girls. A boy is held to be an adult if over the age of 18, but a girl is adult for the purpose of this ordinance once she has attained puberty. Consequently, girls may reach puberty as early as 11 or 12 years of age and hence are considered adults and may be subjected to Hadd punishments such as public stoning - while the same punishment may only be imposed on males at the age of 18.

According to a UN study, females receive less nourishment, health care and education than the males. Only 23.3 per cent of females over 10 years are literate compared with 48.9 per cent for males (this includes those who can just write their names). Only 12 per cent of women use family planning methods. As a result, fertility rate in Pakistan is one of the highest (2.9 per cent) in the region. The disregard for gender issues and political role of women was apparent in the fact that the census conducted in March 1998 failed to reflect gender concerns. It did not require men to list the name or names of his wife or wives, and children were not required to provide their mothers names.

A study by the University of Karachi`s Centre of Excellence for Women Studies, revealed that over 64 per cent of women with a bachelor or professional degree interviewed had no information of their fundamental and constitutional rights. Zia Ahmad Awan, President LHRLA, who is tirelessly working for the uplift of women, was of the opinion that, ``it is the mindset of men which is creating problems and needs to be changed. Men need to be educated in order to remove their biased attitude towards women. Same goes for the police and judiciary which mainly comprises of males.``

Institutions of the police and judiciary, intended to protect women, continue to fail. Violence continues to be viewed as a domestic affair. Many cases have been reported of police refusing to register complaints of rape, domestic violence and honour killings. The State fails to protect women from abuse or to secure justice through different degrees of inaction, acquiescence or connivance with the perpetrators of abuse.

Sindh Law Minister Shahida Jamil, when asked to comment on International Women`s Day remarked, ``We have some very good laws, but which are on paper only. There are many laws which are affecting women adversely. We need to build in safeguards as they get to be misused by the police and hostile relatives. However, most important is women`s lack of awareness and patience to protect and pursue their rights. They should learn to shoulder the responsibility that comes with empowerment.``

Omarphoenix..woW..amazing analysis..agree almost completely!

Allah haafiz

what falderal!

it is about time we recognize the beauty of our pristine principles and not to be lost in the jungle of western freedom where women are nothing but free sexual objects

hope someone somewhere takes note..

ALlah haafiz

Sir F.Kush:

It is Z *a *hra and not Z *e *hra, please.

Thanks

Zehra:

Thank you for bringing to attention the oppression of Black suits & ties.Also,when the farangis push their agenda on our so called `enlightened` and `educated`(parrots & mynahs) awam then it is called PEER PRESSURE---notice the secret `pride` in succumbing to this oppression.

When will our ignorant women(read:farangised) learn to talk or say something which comes out of their own brains(?).

I have yet to hear any cause taken up by these crusaders( called jihadees in urdu) to get the `freedom` to exercise their perversions with impunity.

There are a lot of people in India & Pakistan who are not aware that a woman was considered a chattel & a non-person before 1935 in the farangi lands.She was not called a human person.As late as 1986 when the family law reform act was passed in canada she was not entitled to buy property unless married.The division of assets law was also enacted around same time.

It would be easy to ignore these ignorants except that these low-lifes insist upon being regarded as not only as `educated` ones but also consider it their right(burden ?) to `educate` others.THIS MUST GO!!.These people must be exposed to our rural(95%) non-schooled but more learned people as to what they truly are...Scumbags & exploiters.

Before the farangisation read:(anglicisation,urbanisation,industrialisation,free-masonisation etc etc) of our beloved country most of the women-folk:

1) worked! ---still do,in fields & as construction workers--even in farangi lands I have not seen women brick-layers

2)when someone is really interested in work,the garb is always the appropriate one.Jeans which are work clothes do not become `fashion`(stupidity:naqis-ul-aquli) & worn out-of place.

3) the purpose to go to work or school is to earn or learn NOT to act out a movie(vulgar/porno)

part in real life.Have you not seen some Naquis-ul-Aqls walking with heeled shoes in snow,ice & concrete? mini-skirts in chilly winters(no stocking either or only nylons).

4)When will you know your own role-models and feel proud to follow their sunnat(called `copying` or emulating their example).Just to give you one name in 20th/19th century:Mohammadi Begum:A feminist when even the word was not in the lexicon.Allama Rashid-ul-Khairi,writer,crusader(jehadi--`getting goosebumps?) for women victims(Omar Mirza,is he related to you.I remember you said about your relationship to the great Khairi brathran).

5)All over the world women do not make bribe,corruption,pornography,militarisation their targets.Let me share something with you--at least in Pakistan they love the extra money,in fact they drive a pious man,religious man to become part of it.Women will do anything to choose comfort & security & a good time in contrast to any religious &/or scientific pursuit(miniscule exceptions excepted).Just look at the discussion boards,the career choices,& subjects chosen.

Please do not take offence.This is how it is & should be.NURTURING REQUIRES A DIFFERENT SET OF SKILLS THAN PROVIDING.They complement,are symbiotic.One can be acquired only at the expense of the other.Ever noticed the voices of women after the fifties? Just watch the movies Of then and now.A Pakistani woman field-workers voice is the same as that of a feminist.And when you stoop to the LOWER level of a man then please do not expect to be treated like a lady.

Ever noticed nobody treats such like that anymore???!!!!.

wassalaam.

i just spent two weeks in thar. a social worker in that area told me that around nagaparkar there is a tribe which is famed for the beauty of it`s women. in an effort to keep them safe, black dye is injected beneath the skin around the face and neck.
huh

shandana

My idea of black garbs comes from seeing the Muslim Women in Iran. Thanks to the excessive black, that we see and keep on seeing in the documentaries from Iran. I will agree with the response that it has a lot to do with personal prerogative.

``Not without my daughter`` was a good depiction of Burqaa`/Abayya. It has been played quite a few times on the Cable TV, starring Sally Field as the American Woman who marries an Iranian Guy. The movie shows the Ups and Downs of her life. Escape from the life in Iran and some other adventures. Not recommended for those who consider movie watching, a relaxation!

Interestingly, most of the Muslim Women, I have come across in US, haling from Syria, Lebanon, Egypt and other countries wear colorful scarves and long dresses. The black dress is worn, only during Muharram. The colorful dresses are modest but stylish. The patterns include pretty colors having an off-white base and tassles.

In Pakistani Culture, Burqaa` was probably born in black. It may be something to do with the Burqaa` Makers or Stitchers. Probably they are/were not daring enough to go for colors. I will disagree with the thought behind the poetic reference.

In West, the corporate structure loves blacks and navy blues. A fresh grad always heads out to look for navy blues. But black suit, will always be, a part and parcel of ones wardrobe. Westerners, with all their freedom, still pick this color for its class, why should the Easterners be hesitant ?

It is natural to question or have questions, when one is not used to wearing the black garb. I feel, it is far more important that our women do things at their own pace, get out of their Chaar-Deewaree, than be boggled with the garbs. It will be silly to measure ones success with the garb. But depends, if we are talking about corporate life or personal prerogative ?

PS:

Bina: A Thoughtful Narrative!

hi Chowk.

Thanks omar for clearing out 4 me.. As far as the ``citi marna`` thing is concerned... well how can i explain it.. you will experience it if you go through the narrow streets of a illetrate society with a female figure beside you.. the secret ingredient (hope i spelled it correctly) is.... make sure there are a bunch of stupid guys standing at a corner of that street.. the dish ``citi marna`` is ready to be served.... enjoy :)

Chowkwala..

Adnan.

Bina:

To each his own. Don it, shake it, throw it to the winds.... as long as there is no compulsion ....social or religious.

One must delineate burqa and purdah. Two seperate issues.

Akbar Ilahbaadi has said:

Poocha jo oon say aap ka pardah, woh kiya hu`a?
Kehnay lageeN kay aq`l pay mardouN ki paRR gaya.

lve,

t

After reading your article, and some of the replies, I feel compelled to mention the bourqa that is not meant to cover.

I still remember the shop on Burns Road that advertised it`s line of the ``National Burqa``, and proudly proclaimed the ``Umda fitting`` as one of it`s chief attributes on their bill board.

How could one not notice the barely contained bosom above a shiny buckle that highlighted the Parda NasheeN`s tiny waist.... and the gauzy veil carefully wrapped to reveal a pair of beautiful kajal laden eyes. When the faithful lowered their eyes as instructed, they were often treated to the sight of hennaed hands holding up the hem to reveal the pa-zebs on dainty ankles.

And the sounds of a bourqa, the `khanak` of glass bangles, the song of the pazeb, the occasional laughter that emananted from the group of women clad in black....

To every women here who agree to this article:

----- ------ ------

Can I have ur pic in bikni , I am sure you won`t mind :-)

to Solitude::`` and what Islam demands from them ``



Its not just Islam , all religion ask for some degree of submission. of course you are free to choose what ever you like.

But my question is why did you singled out islam only , where is this frustation coming out?

I couldn`t agree more , but you stretch the rationalisation a bit and you get a ``NICE!!!``

song...

Me and you baby ain`t nothing but mammals,

So lets do it as they do on discovery channel.

On the other hand ``dress modestly`` in islam may result in Burqa.

choose What ever you like but we are human ``ashrafull maqluqaat``

Allama says...

Bus ke mushkil hai har kaam ka aasaan hona,

Aadmi ko mayesser nahin insaan hona.

A Gem from The Friday Times, current edition

Hijackers and pants

According to daily Din, Afghan hijackers took off their shalwars and put on pants as soon as they reached London. They also shaved off the beards mandatory in Afghanistan. Those who returned to Afghanistan said the British food was smelly which decided them to return.

I liked the piece Bina. So you`re 30 something now, huh! :)

The Veil originated in the time of Walid II (around 750 A.D), as a fashion among upper class women in the area around modern day Syria roughly.

I am in 100% agreement with Solitude`s comments.

My 2 cents are that while the Burqa is now a tool of patriarchy, and dehumanizes womyn with the blackmail of religion, if some feel it liberates them, well, let them wear it. But most who do, DON`T have this luxury of CHOICE because it is made for them, like in Afghanistan and we need to be wary of any attempt to unconditionally impose Burqafication in Paki society. Veils & Burqas should no more be forced onto womyn than Bikinis. Freedom of Conscience and, freedom of choice, `there is no compulsion in religion` should dictate whether a sane, adult woman takes to wearing a Burqa, a veil, hijab, or a bikini, or none of the above. There shall ofcourse always remain the question of valid, or INFORMED CONSENT to wearing the Burqa.

Thankfully, Charles Martel won the Battle of Tours, 731-732 A.D, and the world is not ENTIRELY a dreary place filled with only Burqa clad womyn (see G-D has a sense of balance too, afterall, we can`t all be religious fanatics suffering culture shock ala` FARANGI KUSH).

Diversity is afterall desireable in the world.

Look out for the Burqa section in the latest Victoria Secrets catalogue online.

OMAR MIRZA

Reply to Harimu Reply # 5

Dear Harimau

Are you taking the piss? Ha Ha. It was funny…no truly it was. Correct me if I`m wrong, I think you are criticising my belief that Bina can do this but not that. Am I correct? Sorry but I`m a bit thick. I have a single neurone in my bony dome, it`s shared amongst my seven gold fishes. All I`m trying to say is that the burqaa or more specifically the veil concept should be kept in balance. As for fashion, the pink of today is the black of tomorrow. It`s liable to change, evolve and adapt. Therefore fashion is imperfect. Islam, however, the word of God isn`t. Love hate, lust, sex, anger, pain and other human attributes were exactly the same 1400 years ago. People fly within the stomachs of giant titanium birds instead of carpets. So what, has the human spirit changed? No. So there are certain concepts that should remain. The burqa is one of them, because it`s an act against a human emotion-lust (is that an emotion). But then again women are human beings, and so should not bear the full brunt of man`s desire. So she should not be wrapped in a burqa like a toffee, because if she isn`t a man will end up raping her. Like Bina said, women want to feel the wind on their faces etc.

Best wishes.

Omar Phoenix