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http://www.blogwrath.com/multiculturalism-in-action/conference-islam-polygamy-neqab-honor-killing/177/
Conference on Political Islam’s Effects: Polygamy, Niqab,
and Honor Killing
August
13th, 2010 | 
Author: admiwrath
A Conference on the effect of
globalization of political Islam on women’s rights, in question with polygamy,
neqab and honor killing took place in Toronto today, organized by the
International Campaign Against Sharia’s Court in Canada. The speakers raised
disturbing issues about blatant violations of individual rights in Canada in
the name of multiculturalism and freedom of religion.
Azar Majedie, the first speaker,
founder of the Organization for Women’s Liberation – Iran, talked about the
treatment of women in religions, Islam in particular. She supported the banning
of the burka in several European countries on the grounds that it diminishes
the dignity of women. That garment turns women into faceless entities and it’s
nothing short than abuse. In addition to that, in her opinion the veil (hijab)
should also be banned for children under 18.
The inability of the West to deal
with these problem comes from the policy of cultural relativism, which was
intended to combat racism and promote cultural acceptance. However, in reality,
it created two sets of rights and made possible the support of archaic customs,
which are abusive to women and children. It is difficult to fight that
phenomenon, because many people are afraid to be branded racists, if they
oppose the oppressive cultures.
Tarek Fatah, the prominent author
and columnist, stated that despite the progress of the industrial society, the
religion is still a major factor in many people’s lives. In order to prevent
its interference, we have to impose a full separation of church and state,
which will ensure equal treatment of all types of opinions and weaknesses. It
is important to deal with religious fascism, whose purpose is to enslave the
minds of people. That is difficult, because sometimes the oppressed themselves
perpetrate the extreme ideas (like many women in the Muslim world).
We have to create an alliance to
defeat the militant Islamism. Unlike the traditional terrorism of the West
(like the Red Brigades and Baader-Meinhoff gang) which did everything in the
name of a future just society, Islamism offers nothing but destruction of the
West. The so-called war on terror was not successful: despite the enormous
amount of money spent, no result has been achieved, the world of Islam is even
more dangerous now. For example, in Pakistan it was revealed recently that over
1,000 nuclear scientists are missing, probably working for some dangerous
groups.
The Muslim militants are much more
flexible now. They don’t require full obedience, they consider useful anybody
who hates America. The whole struggle against Islamism is complicated by
multiculturalism, which is skilfully used to perpetrate racism and religious
bigotry.
The third speaker, Homa Arjomad (on
the right), was the courageous woman who played a major role in defeating the
sharia court implementation in Canada. In the spirit of her previous work, she
revealed the injustice she is fighting now: the polygamy in Canada. She gave as
an example the case of “Farida” (not a real name), a Muslim woman who became a
victim of polygamy.
Farida was born in Canada in a
Pakistani family. She was always under strict religious control by her family.
She was not allowed to socialize with children from other religions or get into
any un-Islamic activities. At the age of 14 her parents took her to Pakistan
and she was forced to marry a man in his late 40s as his second wife. She spent
there 9 years and was beaten and tortured by her husband, although she gave him
two children.
She came back to Canada with her
children (temporarily) because her father was ill. At this point she got the
courage to defend her rights. Although women’s organizations and social
services are trying to help her now, her situation is nothing short than
desperate.
Her complaint is a disgrace to her
family, which will suffer as well. Her brothers are shunned by the Pakistani
community and her sisters would not be able to get married.
The Canadian judicial system
betrayed her as well. When her parents took her out of the country and returned
without her, the immigration authorities never asked where their child was. Her
school never asked where she was after she simply disappeared. On top of that,
her husband can’t be charged with wrongdoing because he is not a Canadian,
while she might be forced to return to Pakistan with the children, otherwise
she will be charged with kidnapping. Once back in Pakistan, she will be harshly
punished – either by cutting off her nose and ears or by honor killing.
This case exposes the disgraceful
treatment of individuals under Canadian law in the name religious tolerance.
The government never applied the Child Protection Act to her, although the way
she was treated was child rape. The total silence about “offending” religious
communities just enforces the repression that has been going on there for
decades.
There are also many cases of honor
killings in Canada that are not treated with the attention they should be. In
the same row of abuses fall the burka and the hijab, as tools to get more
concessions from the Canadian government, which will not ask about the opinions
of the women who are forced to wear those garments.
The issue in the basis of all that
is the multiculturalism, which creates ghettoes of people united by supposedly
a “great” culture, which totally ignores the rights of an individual
under the Canadian law.
A great addition to the conference
was the comedian Steve Scholtz, who tried his best to make honor killings and
burka part of his comedy. And he was very successful at doing it.
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