Campaign to stop polygamy
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Homa Arjomand
416-737-9500
November 23,
2011
One more victory for the rights of
women against religious patriarchal societies
On Wednesday
November 23, 2011 the British Columbia Supreme Court, Chief Justice Bauman
ruled in favour of the section of the Criminal Code outlawing polygamous
unions. Judge Bauman is heading in the right direction but we need to aim for
an amendment of the criminal code with respect to polygamy. In order to prevent
further victimization of women and compromising women’s rights for the sake of
religious rights, we need to guarantee the rights of not only minors age 12-18
but also of all women who are somehow engaged in polygamist relationships.
What we the
defenders of equality between men and women expect the government to do in
their next step is to amend Act 293 more towards empowering women. Right now
the assumption of this Act is that women and men have gained gender equality in
these closed communities. The assumption is that women willingly enter into
these relationships. But the reality shows otherwise. The truth is because of
the policy of multiculturalism in Canada, sects and cults as well as organized
religious groups were given room to grow. This means that under this policy
they were given rights to keep and promote their ancient traditions, not only
in homes and religious institutions such as churches and mosques but also such
training has become part of the school curriculum. Children at these
communities are told that one way to become close to their God,
is to give birth to as many children as possible. Children are taught to follow
their God’s wishes and one of those wishes is to stay
in polygamous relationship so they can stay pure.
Attendance in
schools for children in those closed communities is not mandatory. Parents are
given rights to withdraw their children from school. In many instances, home
schooling in these communities is a normal practice and the result of education
on such children is left to the willingness of their parents. It should not be
a surprise if we witness that most of the young girls are taken out of school
for the purpose of home schooling. As result these children are disconnected
from the tiniest link to the broader society. It should not come to our
surprise either if we see members of these communities, despite being in Canada
for over a century, never gain opportunities to integrate and test the fruit of
equality between men and women, as we are told by a wave of women involved in
polygamy that fled from Bountiful (BC). But according to criminal the Act of
293, men and women are equally at fault if either enters a polygamist
relationship. What this Act does not recognize, is the impact of
multiculturalism on the lives of the members of these communities. Such
multicultural policies have encouraged a few so called “leaders” to become
sexual predators and the women themselves to become sexual slaves. The lives of
these women revolves around such constraints that any movement they make is
considered a sin and they must follow rules to become pure so they can become
close to their God. They continue to live the life of their so called home
country that does not exist anymore. In their home land, life has evolved but
they are frozen in that period of time. And day by day their tie to that
ancient tradition grows stronger.
The question is how could the laws of Canada treat the prosecution of the oppressors and the victim as the same? How could the crime of a child molester and rapist be equivalent to a victim of these crimes? It is reminiscence of the Islamic law in Afghan and Iran where women who are raped, are put in jail. For more information, read the story of an Afghan woman who is being kept in prison with her child because she was rapped Afghan woman forced to choose between marrying her rapist, or 12 years in jail for adultery
Let’s face it, as long as the policy of multiculturalism remains in
Canada, there will be no gender equality across the nation. To prosecute women
and men equally for being in a polygamist relationship is clouding the issue of
gender equality.
Yes, we as promoters of the movement for equality between men and women
are very pleased that the British Columbia Supreme Court, Chief Justice Bauman
ruled in favour of the section of the Criminal Code outlawing polygamous
unions. But we demand harsh punishment for all men and all those who assist and
arrange polygamist marriages. But not women who we strongly believe are the
victim of rape and become sexual slaves. Such women in these communities
have no ability to make a decision in this matter.
Homa Arjomand
416-737-9500
November 23,2010
Polygamy in Canada
Should Remain Illegal
Polygamy is illegal in Canada but to date no one has been arrested or faced the consequences for being in a polygamist relationship. This inaction has led to no enforcement of the law. Such policies allow polygamist families to legally enter Canada by declaring the first wife as the legal wife and the second, third and fourth “wives” as dependents along with their children. Young girls are pushed in polygamy relationships by the leaders of their parents’ religion. A wave of women involved in polygamy fled from Bountiful (BC) and presented their case publicly. Books and articles were written by these brave women. They disused the effects of polygamy on their lives and their children, they talked about women’s oppression, sexual abuse and of men’s aggression towards young girls. They described child sexual abuse masquerading as a marriage and child trafficking for the purpose of marriage. Some courageous women went even further and discussed the effects of polygamy in society at large. Sadly no law enforcement was involved in any of these cases, even though Act 293 was present on the law books.
Now after all the reports by these
women bringing attention to the plight of being caught in a polygamy
relationship, and after all the evidence of injustice, discrimination and
abuse, something is actually happening. But not for women and children
who have suffered in polygamy relationships, not for the ones who put their
lives in danger by presenting their cases to media.
Instead the situation allows for further victimization of women and
compromising women’s right for the sake of religious rights. This is a disgrace
to humanity.
Today there was a challenge over
Section 293 of the Criminal Code in the British Columbia Supreme Court.
The attempt was to de-criminalize polygamy. The distressing part is that
the attempt was said to be beneficial for women! The following are some
statements that have been put forward under the name of women’s rights !
·
Polygamy laws actually helped enable
abuse in closed, religious communities such as the one in Bountiful. – Beverley
Baines
·
Women in legal polygamous marriage
will not be able to immigrate to Canada. – Beverley Baines
· The door is legally closed for women in Canada who want to
terminate their polygamous relationship. – Beverley Baines
·
Because Canada has adopted a policy
of multiculturalism, it follows that Canada needs to adapt laws to accommodate
the diversity of the population. – Beverley Baines
The reality is the law in Canada
needs to be more progressive which means a move more towards gender equality
that is not based on an assumption of gender equality as we are far behind
it. Some residents involved in polygamy in Canada still follow the 7th
century tradition of Sharia law, and some remain hundred years behind the
civilized world. The authorities need to enforce progressive laws and
regulations or else women will never be able to gain
full and unconditional equality. Only by putting in place laws and
progressive measures women will be able to gain complete equality in Canada. I am for repealing of any law and regulation that
restricts the rights of women and puts them in position as second class
citizens.
It should be known to everyone by
now that women in Islamic communities are pressured by their family, members of
the community and religion to become involved in a degrading relationship such
as polygamy. In these communities, men are
considered as “head of the family”. He is in charge of the family’s
finance, choice of residence, up–bringing of the children, and control of the
social interaction of his wife and children.
Can anyone see gender equality in this picture? That is not all, men have
right to marry more than one wife and many seegheh
(temporary wives). Women in these sects, cults or Islamic communities
would never, ever have the right to have two or three husbands at the same
time. The
consequences of getting emotionally involved with another man is harsh,
sometimes as harsh as losing their life or being disowned by all members of
their community. Women are forbidden to see their own children. All
these injustices are happening in all provinces of Canada.
I am perplexed how someone can call
oneself a concerned global citizen but close her or his eyes to the inhuman
treatment of women and children.
After 100 years of having a law that
makes polygamy illegal in Canada, polygamy still goes on. It is not the fault
of Act 293. It is because although the Act is on the law books, it has
never been enforced by the police and the court system. I believe for the
past seventy years only one case went through the court system in this regard.
Polygamy needs to remain illegal but
Act 293 needs to be amended. Right now the assumption of this Act is that
women and men have gained gender equality and women willingly enter into these
relationships. The truth is because of the adopted policy of multiculturalism,
some sects and cults who have been living in this country for past century
never had chance to live according to today’s progressive ways of living.
The policy of multiculturalism has put thick invisible walls between
communities. Each community lives according to their home country
culture, traditions and religion. They are encouraged to do so. In
some cases these communities receive financial support and validation from the
Canadian government in order to keep their way of living instead of integrating
in Canadian society.
In all these equations, there is no
consideration for women’s rights. It should not come to our surprise if
we hear or witness women are set on fire and are burnt for losing their
virginity, young girls and women face honour killings
for not being obedient or for having a boyfriend in Canada. Child
trafficking for the sake of marriage is another down side of multiculturalism.
Therefore as long as the policy of
multiculturalism maintains in Canada, gender equality is out of picture, so to
prosecute women who are involved in polygamy relationships is a joke. I
believe Act 293 prosecutes women and men equally for being in polygamist
relationship. As I said it before, the assumption is that men and women
have an equal say in their marriage. Most women
involved in polygamy relationship have no control over their body and
mind. The right of choice has been taken from them right from birth by
their parents, culture, and religion.
It is justified to say the Act 293
must get amended in such a way that all men or anyone who performs or assists
in polygamy marriages must be arrested and prosecuted for the crime against
women and children.
We need to get a lot tougher with
polygamists and start prosecuting men and religious leaders who perform such a
marriages. Polygamy is a disgrace to gender
equality.
It has been said that to criminalize polygamy is against the Charter of Rights of Freedom of religion. Women’s rights and children’s rights must not be compromised under any circumstances and that includes religion. As everyone is aware, in Islam and some other restricted religions, child brides is an on going practice even in Canada, behind the closed doors by laws such as Sharia laws. But because it is an ongoing practice, we did not drop the Act for Universal Rights of the Child to suite Sharia law or of any other religion, for the sake of freedom of religion. Instead child brides are considered a crime and men caught in this matter would face charges for sexual assault. The same should go towards polygamy. Religions should be declared as private affair of the individuals and not allowed to interfere with any law in Canada. The civilization in 21st century should not tolerate interference of religion in laws and regulation.
I have been aware that a
woman with two male common–law partners is challenging the polygamy law in
In response to this case I must say
in this particular situation gender equality exists, all three parties have
control over their own bodies and minds. They are all adults and there is
no form of coercion to push them into this relationship.
They all have equal rights in their family setting. They all equally make
decisions concerning the family’s property and finances and all matters
concerning cohabitation. They all participate in caring for children in
their family. In this case free and consensual sexual relationship is
undeniable right. They are completely free in deciding over their sexual
relationship. Voluntary relationships of
adults with each other are their private affair and no person or authority
has the right to scrutinize it, interfere with it or make it public. I
consider this relationship modern and progressive. This revolutionary
relationship does not need any permission (marriage license) from the
government or any religious leaders.
This case is not comparable with adult women living in sects or cults or
in Islamic communities in Canada. They can not be put in the same
category. One belongs to today’s modern world while the other belongs to
an ancient time. How else can one describe it,
when adult women practically have no choice to choose their own partners?
They are never able to live with two male partners, not even in their
dreams.
In these closed communities women
have no control over their sexuality and have to accept the husband her parents
or the elder of her community chooses for her. And if she disagrees, she
will face harsh consequences. No free women
ever will agree to be in a relationship with someone she has no feeling
for.
Polygamy in Canada
should remain illegal and enforced by police in order to empower women and
eliminate discrimination against women; in order to abolition of man’s privileges
as the so-called “head of the household”. in order to
prevent degradation and violent treatment of women and girls in the family. In
order to eliminate any form of degrading, male-chauvinistic, patriarchal and
unequal treatment of women in family, community and public institutions.
Homa Arjomand on Sharia Honor Killing
Interview of Mahoud
Ahmadi with Homa Arjomand the campaign coordinator
against honor Killing
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPcu0vtN134
On Polygamy
To help us understand
Canada's current law on polygamy, we were joined by Beverley Baines. She's a
law professor at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario. Homa Arjomand is the
Coordinator of the International Campaign Against Shari'a Courts in Canada. Among other things, she counsels
women who are in, or have left, polygamous marriages. She was in Toronto. And Naheed Mustafa is a freelance journalist who has researched
polygamous marriages in Canada. She was also in Toronto.
http://www.cbc.ca/video/news/audioplayer.html?clipid=1661662873
Press Release
June 8, 2011
Attention:
News, Features, Government/Political Affairs, Religion Editors
THE LEGAL SYSTEM OF
THE UK MUST OVRERRIDE ANY OTHER PARALEL LEGAL
SYSTEM IN THE COUNTRY
“The British government is definitely heading in the
right direction”, said Ms. Homa Arjomand, Coordinator of the International
Campaign Against Sharia Court in Canada, “I hope this
new Bill that was introduced by Baroness Cox on June 7th, 2011
will soon bring an end to faith-based courts in Great Britain”.
“Under this new Bill, it will
become a crime punishable by up to five years in prison to falsely claim legal
jurisdiction over criminal or family law.
This Bill makes clear that laws
against sex discrimination apply to arbitration tribunals, firmly outlawing the
Sharia practice of treating a woman’s testimony as worth half that of a man’s.
This Bill seeks to stop parallel
legal systems.
Cases of criminal law and family
law are matters reserved for our English courts alone,”
”I agree with Baroness Cox, we do need more protection
for women and to eliminate discrimination, said Ms. Arjomand, ... we can best
achieve this through the British Charter as it clearly states ‘Every
individual …has the right to the equal protection and equal benefit of the law
without discrimination’”.
All women ask is to be treated equally, the same as
other British citizen” added Ms. Arjomand. “… to do so
we need to end faith–based courts and substitute it with One Law For All and
that is a progressive, secular law . We need to support Baroness Cox’s proposal” .
Media Contact: Ms. Homa Arjomand 1- 416-737- 9500
Email: homawpi@nosharia.com Web site: www.nosharia.com
The problem of legal pluralism and cultural
relativism with respect to women’s Rights
Discussion on
separation of religion from state
November 6th,2006
Homa Arjomand
416-737-9500
Wake-up call on the Niqab
and the banner of political Islam
Niqab is publicizing and
promoting the agenda of the movement of political
Islam in the West while
women in so-called Islamic countries are burning the
compulsory Hijabs
/veil on the streets, work places and at the universities.
Here, I intend to
emphasize on Niqab as an obvious oppression, wall of
segregation between women and men,
or leaves the hands of backward tradition
and religion open to
interfere with the lives of individuals. Most
importantly of all I need to
highlight role of Niqab as banner of political
Islam
with its entire agenda.
If one does not see the
role of Niqab in today's society then he or she will
easily fall for these false
arguments, that Niqab is just piece of cloths
and women have rights to
wear them or not to, or if we oppose it then it
goes against the freedom of
choice of clothing for Muslims.
On TV Ontario (TVO) panel
discussion, which was held on, 23 October 2006,
one of the panelists tried
hard to educate the public for not getting afraid
if they see a woman with Niqab, another one claimed, some of these Niqabists
are in fact feminist and
defender of women's rights, while other called the
Niqabist a group of young girls
who are opposing their parents' way of
practicing Islam! These reasons
might peruse some people who have not
experienced the violence of
political Islam, nor heard the atrocities that
the leaders of this move
have caused humanity and can not imagine emerge of
political Islam in the European
heartland for more share of power. But we,
who lived under its role and
witnessed its violence, are obliged to not only
oppose it but also, as
advocates of freedom, egalitarianism and secularism,
call people to come forward
in full forces to build a firm barricade against
it.
Niqab or hijab,
the Islamic dress code are the banner of this political
movement. Wherever this movement
gained power or managed to get upper hand
their first attack was to
impose Hijab on women by hunting women in every
way possible. In Iran for
example the special patrols, armed with weapons
were in charge to arrest
women who fail to properly use Hijab in all work
places, schools and streets.
Bearing in mind that the leaders of this
movement do not hesitate to kill,
arrest, and torture. This movement is well
known as anti-women,
anti-freedom of expression and anti-Western values. As
a reminder, tens of
thousands of women have been attacked in Iran only by
the forces of Hezbollah. It
was in Iran that this movement organized itself
as a state and turned
political Islam into substantial force in the region.
Along with Hijab came the reactionary laws and regulations. Laws such
as
"stoning
to death" for committing adultery, "Early child marriage" as young
as 9 years old for girls,
"Sigha" the temporary marriage,
"polygamy"
allowing men to have four legal
wives and unlimited number of Sigha women or
Sigha children under the age
of 16, beating the disobedient women, depriving
women from leaving home, attending
work, or traveling without the legal
consent of their husband. all these inhuman and anti-women laws came along
with Hijab.
The situation in
so-called Islamic communities in the West is not much
different. The promoters of this movement
will do their best to keep youth
away from the social
metabolism, from integration. The duties of Sheik or an
Imam are to promote the
backward traditions and anti-women laws and
regulations amongst them are; the Niqabs, the Hijabs, the honor
killings,
the arranged marriages, the
forced marriages, the child brides, forcing veil
on children, segregating
girls and boys on early age, the list goes on and
on. It is not coincident at
all when an Australia's most prominent Islamic
clerk states that women who
don not wear head scarves invite the rapist.
Sheik Taj
aldin al-Hilali at the
Sydney mosque compared women who fail to
wear scarves to
"uncovered meat".
The role of the
opportunistic trends who recently converted to Islam while
doing their PHD or among the
rich immigrants who carry the title of
professor at so and so university
in promoting Niqab under the name of
defender of women's rights and
feminism can not be ignored either.
I can only emphasize when
this movement identifies itself with this banner
Hijab (Niqab ) then to confront it,
we have no way out but to bring this
banner down.
In 60's and 70's we
hardly saw a single Niqabis in public, as political
Islam was not even formed
then. Niqab came to existence when Islam, as a
movement, came to power in Iran.
The fact is these so-called feminists
Niqabist never oppose the
oppression of women under the role of Islam. And
amongst all those books they
write with regards to Islam, no articles can be
spotted in opposition to child
marriage, mutilation, polygamy, stoning women
to death and honor killing.
We have never seen them get heated when Sheik
Taj Din al-Hilali along with so many other mullahs and imams preach
their
ancient traditions on every
Friday mosque sermons. "If I come across a crime
of rape - kidnap and
violation of honour - I would discipline the man and
teach him a lesson in morals,
and I would order the woman be arrested and
jailed for life.
(http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/printpage/0,5942,20656690,00.html)
I guess these issues are
not women's rights issues for these so-called
defender of women's rights,
instead establishment of Sharia court in Canada,
defending the Niqabist
teacher in England are women's rights issues. The
entire world should know about
this so-called injustice!! To them burning
unveiled women to death in Saudi
Arabia is justice, interfering in private
lives of women, interfering in
women's personal, emotional, and sexual
relationship, imposing all forms of
degrading, male-chauvinistic,
patriarchal and unequal treatment of
women are not in their interest. They
have their own agenda and
that is mainly to control those communities.
We need to ban Niqab totally from our society. As for other forms of veil,
women should have rights to
use it or not, however when it comes to public
sectors then it should be
forbidden. The Islamic veil must be forbidden for
children attending schools and
high schools. Only these progressive demands
provide real support for girls
and women in so-called Islamic communities.
And only then families,
who are reluctant to have the Islamic veil but are
forced under pressure from
Islamists group and the atmosphere dominating
their environment, will join
in to push back these pressures. These demands
would strengthen the move for
secularism. These demands will in fact isolate
the hardened, closed -minded
fanatics. Only these demands would provide the
least painful and the most
principled way for women and children to set free
from
the injustice they are made to suffer.
International Declaration,Islamic
schools should be banned,
Children have no
religion Petition