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August 14, 2004

Misogynist Muslims

Karol Sheinin (of Dean's World) linked to this editorial in the New York Post.

I will admit, I cannot stand how Islamic women are treated - actually, I cannot abide how Islam looks at all women.

The editorial explains how it is nearly impossible for most Muslim women to participate in any sports at all.

"The question how much of a woman's body could be seen in public is one of the two or three most important issues that have dominated theological debate in Islam for decades," says Mohsen Sahabi, a Muslim historian. "More time and energy is devoted to this issue than to economic development or scientific research. "

Fundamentalist Muslims are afraid that Muslim men (who apparently have no self control whatsoever) are going to just go completely apeshit if they see a woman's legs or arms or hair.

Hijab theoreticians agree on one claim: a woman's hair emanates dangerous rays that could drive men wild with sexual lust and thus undermine social peace.

And in Iran, the Mullahs have decreed that women may not ride bikes or motorcycles (I imagine horseback riding would be verboten also):

" In 2000, for example, the Khomeinist authorities in Tehran announced a ban on women riding bicycles or motorcycles. The rationale? Riding bicycles or motorcycles would activate a woman's thighs and legs, thus arousing "uncontrollable lustful drives" in her. And men watching women on their bikes in the streets could be "led towards dangerous urges."

I did a little more looking around, and I found that according to some Islamic scholars, Muslim women are not allowed to swim. They can't even learn to swim, even if they are in an all female facility.

Perhaps, with more and more democracy in the Middle East, someday these women will be able to be free to run around a track in comfortable clothing, or learn to swim, or ride a bike.

Posted by Beth at August 14, 2004 5:44 PM

Comments

There are statements similar to this in many religions, both in the past and at present. Some of the more radical Christian sects (I don't use the word denominations for these groups because they are not like the traditional Baptists, Methodists, ect.) in the South have similar views of women as "evil temptresses".

Throughout history, both sex and women seem to have been regarded as threats by those who use religion as a way to gain power. I wonder if that is because men and women working together are much more powerful than either group alone. I think men and women do think differently about the world, neither way of thinking is better, but when those two ways of thinking are merged, then there is a synergistic effect that frightens those in power. That would explain why so many religions sow suspicion of women so freely, it is only in maitaining a divide between men and women that the power of this partnership can be suppressed.

Regarding Islam, while there are Muslim scholars who do honestly believe in their faith and struggle to find what they feel is the path intended by God, there are many more who are using the faith as a way to gain power over others. I think Islam got stuck on this path because it arose out of the tribal desert culture of Arabia. Christianity arose out of an older religion based on laws that was already established in a part of the world where the government was based upon a philosophy of "rule of law" even if it wasn't practiced. Islam still has that quasi-anarchic tribal stamp on it, with powerful imams taking the role of warlords only interested in gaining and maintaining power, not improving the lot of their followers. Having an external enemy (the United States) that they can "blame" for all the ills that they themselves create is another lever that they use to keep them in power, along with the suppression of threat of women.


Posted by: Jack at August 15, 2004 3:00 AM

Hi,
I'm a muslim women living in KC, MO and I totally disagree with your statement "I cannot abide how Islam looks at all women.".
I'm sure you don't know much about Islam which is why you're making that statement.
And it seems like u're just taking the negative out of the link ("can't even learn to swim").

Here's a link for you to read, maybe this will help you to know a little bit more about Islam.
http://www.soundvision.com/Info/news/hijab/hjb.canada1.asp

And fyi, in Islam, women can swim, ride a bike, ride a horse, run (I even ran in few 5K run around KC) and practise in every sport that they're interested into, with a condition that they wear a proper clothing. And thank God, I'm really into sports, and I did all the sports listed above and few more too such as volleyball, table tennis, badminton & skiing.

Finally, I'm AGREEING with you that.. hopefully someday ALL women will be able to be free to run, swim, ride a bike even walk around in a comfortable clothing, and nobody will judge them but God.

Posted by: emmy at October 26, 2004 2:35 PM