(no subject)

[sophiaserpentia]

Sometimes i'm just absolutely stunned by the depths to which hatred of women can sink. And i'm dismayed when i see how often the primary excuse is "defending our religious traditions."

Maybe it's the peace, love, and compassion speaking, but no principle is worth defending if it creates injustice.

Lawmakers from a coalition of six Islamic groups threatened on Tuesday to vacate their parliamentary seats if Pakistan's government changes a rape law criticized by human rights activists.

... Under the current law, approved by a former military dictator in 1979, prosecuting a rape case requires testimony from four witnesses, making punishment almost impossible because such attacks are rarely public. A woman who claims she was raped but fails to prove her case can be convicted of adultery, punishable by death.

Maulana Fazalur Rahman, a leader of the Islamic coalition, said Tuesday that lawmakers in his group would vacate their seats in the National Assembly if the government tries to get the assembly's approval to change the law.

"We will render every sacrifice for the protection of the Shariah (traditional Islamic) laws," he said at a news conference.

However, the ruling Pakistan Muslim Party — which has a majority in the assembly — has praised Musharraf for taking steps to amend the law and end the four-witness requirement.

from Rape law rankles some Pakistan lawmakers

Comments

These fuckers don't like anybody anywhere

[nebris.livejournal.com]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/5321368.stm

~M~

Re: These fuckers don't like anybody anywhere

[sophiaserpentia.livejournal.com]

Yeah. I take strong exception to the term "Islamic fascism," because it's not accurate, but at the same time i'm still very concerned about Islamic fundamentalists. They are a definite threat. Unfortunately the Empire's heavy-handed attempts to suppress them by force have only served to make them seem more sympathetic to other colonially-oppressed people.

I feel nauseous now.

[dorisp.livejournal.com]

Things like that make me happy to live in America, as fucked up as this country can be.

Re: I feel nauseous now.

[sophiaserpentia.livejournal.com]

I also am happy that we live in a nation where women have decent (not perfect) protections in our laws, institutions, and culture. But i'm inclined to remind American people that laws have not always been so friendly to women and that it was a long, hard struggle to achieve it. So i recommend vigilance over gratitude.

Re: I feel nauseous now.

[azaz-al.livejournal.com]

Indeed - American women are lambasted with the platitude - "See how much worse it could be for you? You should be grateful!" Well, what is gratitude? It is something you owe to someone who has given you something out of the goodness of their heart. To say American women should be grateful for the rights they have implies men just decided out of the goodness of their hearts to one day give women the right to vote, have abortions, use contraception, receive children and property after a divorce, and domestic violence shelters for women whose husbands are beating them. The reality is that American women fought tooth and nail for over 200 years to get every right we have and are still fighting for the things we don't have. We don't owe anyone a debt of gratitude except our feminist foremothers (and the small minority of men who helped them with their fight).

[gentlemaitresse.livejournal.com]

Maulana Fazalur Rahman, a leader of the Islamic coalition, said Tuesday that lawmakers in his group would vacate their seats in the National Assembly if the government tries to get the assembly's approval to change the law.

So? Let 'em go!

What a bunch of children. "If you don't play the way I want to, then I'll take my ball and go home!" Good riddance.

[sophiaserpentia.livejournal.com]

Far be it from me to lament the resignation of any fundamentalist from any government anywhere. But as i understand it there might be some concern that such a move could destabilize the whole government. (A bad thing? I'm feeling cynical today so i'll say maybe not -- sometimes a governmental void gives the citizens a chance to shine, as happened in Argentina -- although OTOH governmental collapse is the kind of thing the Taliban live for.)

[azaz-al.livejournal.com]

Gotta watch that peace, love and compassion you are on - it's like crack, once you get a taste of it, you keep wanting more, and before you know it, you'll want the WHOLE WORLD to share your peace, love and compassion addiction!

[sophiaserpentia.livejournal.com]

Yeah! Peace love & compassion, or World of Warcraft. So many addictions, so little time.

[arcanum-dogma.livejournal.com]

hmm... i wonder how that law would be applied if a man was raped. would the victim be subject to death for participating in sodomy if he cannot produce 4 witnesses?

[sophiaserpentia.livejournal.com]

Why not? But i suspect they would only actually go after him if he's already known to be gay.

[azaz-al.livejournal.com]

No - a man's word is worth more than woman's word, under that system.

[arcanum-dogma.livejournal.com]

such a shame, i was entertaining new ways for our warmongers to topple radical islamic governments

i guess it's back to inventing pork air-freshener sprays that can survive the martyrdom process

[smartylibrarian.livejournal.com]

Yes, it's less 'defending my relgion' and more 'I insist upon forcing my hateful views of others on the general public'.