Pakistan, land, gold, women

A little old but i was reading it and found it interesting...

From The National February 28 and March 1, 2006

Correspondent: Terence McKenna
Producer: Michelle Gagnon
Consulting Producer: Nazim Baksh

There is much about life in rural Pakistan that has not changed for hundreds of years. In the countryside, you can still find tribes of nomads, the families of shepherds who range back and forth over the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.

The children don't go to school; most are illiterate.

In the rural areas, the predicament of women is especially precarious.

Young girls are routinely sold off into virtual slavery by their families. They are sometimes offered up to settle a dispute over land or insults to family honor.

Women are often raped to settle a score.

Mukthar Mai

That is what happened to Mukhtar Mai, now one of the leading crusaders for women's rights in Pakistan.

She was living a poor but happy life in the small town of Meerwala in Southern Punjab.

The trouble began four years ago when her younger brother, Shakur, was accused of making improper advances towards the daughter of one of the feudal landlords in the area, the Mastoi family.

Mukthar Mai was ordered to apologize for her brother in front of a panchayat, a local tribal council set up to mediate disputes. These panchayats are usually dominated by powerful feudal families and mete out justice according to their own rules.

Mukthar felt that she had to go.

"People who don't listen to them and don't obey them will be beaten up...or sometimes even killed," she says.

Maulvi Abdul Razak

The imam in Meerwala, Maulvi Abdul Razak was a witness to what happened when Mukhtar Mai was summoned before the tribal council.

He came over to the Mastoi family house when he heard there was trouble. He says that when Mukhtar arrived at the Mastois to apologize for her brother…they attacked her.

"The girl was dragged to a room in that house. One Mastoi brother named Halik was holding a pistol. First she was beaten and then she was raped several times by them. She was kept in that house for four days."

In Pakistan, tradition dictates that a woman who has been raped is forever shamed. Mukhtar Mai says that her first instinct after being gang raped was to commit suicide.

"There was pesticide spray. I was going to drink it, but my mother stopped me." Mukhtar says. "At that point I said either you have to let me die or you have to help me seek justice. My mother said, ‘Whatever you want to do I will be with you.'"

Our speaker guest Pakistan Women issues

I must say i did enjoy last class session when a Pakistan women came and talked about Pakistan and the treatment of women. I learned a lot about Pakistan and how Pakistan is moving forward and everyday women are moving up and taking control of very important political positions. I also learned about the Quran in more detail and how it really protects women and how it vouches for women in Islamic religion and culture. In the Quran their are passages that prove this for example:

" Surely women are the twin halves of men"

" O mankind, we created you from a single pair, of a male and female, and made you into nations and tribes that you may get to know one another."

So Quran teaches equality of women and the better treatment of women. The speaker Mrs. Gulnar she was great in many ways, but in some cases i found her rants a little two biased. I learned plenty but not as much as i thought i would. The main thing i learned is that the Quran favors women greatly and protects them, that was something i did not have knowledge of. But i had one big problem that quite frankly she did not answer well or with any facts at all. If you want to prove your point to me bring up facts dont try to justify the issues of pakistan and how women are really treated. I asked a question to the speaker and it goes a little like this " The Quran advocates the equality and treament of women, then why are women being treated with abuse and inequality, even if the Quran tries and tries to stand up for the rights of women ( 95% of Pakistanis follow the Quran as their guide and rules) why are women still beat, raped, and just treated like dogs. It seems that the women follow the Quran way more than men do it seems that men follow the Quran when it only is beneficial towards them.." She tried answering it but really didnt bring up any facts in some way she brought up excuses in my mind. I did bring up facts like that over 70% of women are being abused, beat, raped in Pakistan. I also said that 14 percent of young girls are not as nurtured and healthy than boys.. 14 percent girls more than boys, among other stats i brought up. So i asked why did this happen? She quite frankly brought up weak excuses that did not defend her point. She said that more women are getting and achieving more rights and are protected more. She also said she never heard of that stat that 70% percent of women are being abused she thought it was drastically less than that. But the facts are their. There are about 178 million people that live in Pakistan a little more than half women, so about 85 million Pakistanis are women if you take 70% of that 85 it would roughly give you 65-70 million women are abused and here is a link to prove my fact >>>http://www.ansarburney.org/womens_rights-violence.html

So it seems that she did not know her stats about Pakistan was well as the research i did before class. I was prepared quite frankly she was not. If she thought i was going to ask the easy cultural questions about her country then she was quite frankly mistaken, i wanted to ask the important questions, so i can have good answers. Another speaker also a woman from Pakistan joined in at the end and we kind of went back and forth with my question. She said that women are abused because of a cultural habit not a religious belief. She also said that 20% of men do not speak Arabic so they can not read the Quran becuase it is written in Arabic. She also did not believe my stats and facts. The main thing is i found some of their answers quite weak with no real substance to them. I smiled the entire time because they were having a little hard time with my long and repeated question. I know they are from Pakistan and they wanted to defend their country and justify the reason behind men abuse over women in Pakistan. I understood that 20% of men cant speak Arabic, also that men abuse women in a cultural and not religious stand point, quite frankly thats pathetic and this is why i say this. Ok 20% of men cant speak Arabic fine, where do you leave the other 80%???!?!?!??? Its ridiculous. Also she said that is it more tradition and culture when it comes to the treatment of women. Ok cool traditions.. But young kids will see how their father acts and treats their wives, they will imitate it continuing the "cultural custom/tradition" and they in a future will beat and abuse their own wives. So if the mother really has the power over their children in Pakistan (which is what the speaker said) why dont they go up to their sons when they are young and beat them upside the head and tell the " You see what your father just did to me, don't do it its disrespectful and your father was just angry, dont you ever hit a women" and then hit the upside the head so they remember. Kids will immitate and repeat women in Pakistan must chance their child view and imitation of women.

Their is one thing i learned above all in last lectured class, which was not said be neither of our special guest/speakers.. And it was that women in Pakistan its not that they are illiterate (cause a staggering number of women are un educated) or they dont know their rights quite frankly women in Pakistan are ignorant! And i dont mean to be rude but it is quite frankly the truth you dont have to stand up to society to teach your own kids what is right and wrong you teach your child how to treat women how to cherish women how to grow up a man not a coward. And i hate absolutely hate these little excuses by the speakers.. I dont need to read a piece of paper of a book to know and understand how to treat women i know whats right and wrong! (going back to the relation of 20% of men cant read the Quran because they are illiterate and cant speak the language) I dont need to read any material to know that!!! Thats the bottom line!!

Women are the most important thing on the face of this earth men are nothing without women, women are Gods greatest gift to man, and they should be treated like Queens. I am all for women and their right. But men in Pakistan seem to not follow their own religion and the Quran. Men are quite frankly disgusting (but im not going to put every pakistani man in this category, some are actually good, but most are not) they are stupid. But im not going to let the Pakistani women of the hook either. Women is Pakistani seem to be ignorant to the facts i undertand that they are many that cant read and dont know their own rights but bottom line is if women have all the power to raise the kids inside the household then women should break this evil cycle of beating up women through raising their young boys to know what is right and wrong what is ethical and not. Women are ignorant and are quite conformed with the way they are treated and that is sad, very sad, and i take pity on them for it. Hopefully this can change sooner than later.....

My little rant English class

Im so grateful for my english class where i have learned more than any of my other classes. I love the people in it i enjoy the professor, and by far it has been my favorite class. I enjoy how every student gets a chance to speak out their mind and their opinion about the middle east and what we are learning. Its refreshing that you get to interact with students at this level, i havent had a class where you really get to meet your fellow classmates, where you get to listen to their most intimate opinion about hard subjects. You get to know everyone on a different level. Big lectures, they dont have the ummm humanizing aspect to it, you dont get to appreciate the students opinions, its just slide after slide after slide you dont really get to learn anything just write down whatever the teacher say bottle it up and be ready for the test. It reminds me a little of community college in grand rapids where professors really get to know you on a first name base. And you do get to interact a little with the students 2. Its a smaller class, a little more intimate. Which is what i love about community college, people hate on it a lot i never did i learn a lot in that year i was in community college. This class reflects a lot of my community college years the education is refreshing and exciting, i think the class is wonderful. And this is the honest truth i woke up today excited about todays lecture. I also like the students taking over the class aspect, its cool when a fellow student presents a book or a movie it feels like the fellow students have fun and enjoy doing the research and presenting good arguments and topics.

The environment is just awesome. And yes i had like 3 redbulls this morning and i feel energized lol.. So i wanted to rant about the class a little. But i believe the most important thing is how our professor Dr. Webb cares about the students his leniency when it comes to writing papers, or things due on time is so fuckin awesome. You get the sense that the Professor knows how much pressure their are on students to do good so he doesnt care about grades as much as how much you learn every session, its not a sign of weakness by the professor (the leniency) but a sign of him being human, i think most professors forget that they were once student and that they had hard time with school work, im happy Dr. Webb didnt forget that he was once a student and realized that its not all about grades but what you learn and what you take from it. Most professors are kind of tyrants, dictators in a way that dont care about the students they dont get to know the student, but its how the system has always been and its worked so far. I have always been a grateful person and i am grateful for this class, and i think more classes should be like this one, where the professor knows the student and worries about the student, its just more of a relaxed environment.... Plus i love movie days cause it gives me a chance to talk what i enjoy and love and its my hobby and that is watching films!!! So i get to show off a little of my knowledge about movies cause its one of the only things i can really brag about lol... But the students are great, the professor is cool and its just the best learning environment i have been around.. And i hope i get to take another class like this one day..

The teachings of Dr Mirzeler

Last week a special guest came to talk to us. His name Dr. Mirzeler, and professor at WMU a man quite full of knowledge. He can speak nine language which is quite impressive. I can speak two and a thought a was some hot shot. But born in Turkey Dr. Mirzeler tought us Turkey and its culture talked about his up bringing, how Turkey has changed throughout the years. I learned a lot of things like the castles in his small village, changes in the country and its land scape. The evolution of people and their thoughts. One thing that i learned the most is not what he said but how he transcended his feelings with his words. I am a person that noticed details in people, their voice patterns how they feel about certain subjects etc.. And when he talked about his village and past it was like he traveled back in time you could feel how he really enjoyed talking about the old days, how he misses the Turkey days. But ofcourse what we were all looking forward too was the "Honour Killings".. He told a deep and moving story of how when he as a kid of ten years old his family (the males) told him and in way forced him to kill his sister because she disgraced the family by divorcing her husband. He remember that one time they had a tree behind their house and he went outside late at night to be in shock of what he saw. He saw his father crying, and in pain because of the pressure he was feeling about killing his daughter for "honour killing" he was clearly in a lo of pressure to make the decision of this kill. He was torn up inside and a young Dr. Mirzeler didnt understand it at the time but he realized what his father was going through after all these years, he also remembers sleeping next to his sister that night in a way the executioner spending his last night with the soon to be victim his sister whom he loved. When Dr. Mirzeler said this you can see how his voice cracked for a split second, but i cought it, it was not an easy story to tell but he did it because he is a strong man. I thought for a second that he would have cried but he didnt which i found amazing, but he was clearly sad about the entire ordeal. But his story ended in a happy ending his mother, aunts etc.. Found a solution to marry his sister away to another man and ship her out so she wouldnt have died in the hands of her younger brother Dr. Mirzeler. The plan worked and a young Mirzeler did not have to kill his own blood, his own sister. I can only imagine how Dr. Mirzeler is haunted by those nights when his father came up to him to ask him or force him to kill his sister, and seeing his father and family torn up because of this. I learned a lot from him. But one thing i did also notice that he did not clearly say was that he was proud of his little village, he said when he was young that the government tried to help the village because the village was "poor", but in his heart he was not poor. He had his family his friends and his village and the amazing beautiful sorroundings that he showed in his slides. He said that one might see it like a poor village but he has everything he wanted and he was happy with it, he never said these things but you could see it in his body movements in his voice he was excited like a little boy re- living his childhood.

The lesson i learned from Dr. Mirzeler was the poorness has nothing to do with your economic status. He taught me how humbleness comes into effect. He taught me that a man that has everything may not he as happy as a man whom has nothing. He didnt have much growing up, but his childhood was rich in good memories (for the most part) he lived humble but his mind and heart was filled with happiness and endless adventures. You see you dont have to have it all to be happy in heart and mind. You only need to look around and see that you have it all and thats what i learned most from Dr. Mirzeler appreciate what you have because in one way or another we are all blessed with beauty and happiness and i know that Dr. Mirzeler didnt take anything for granted and he has lived a wonderful life because of this.. Thank you so much Dr. Mirzeler for your teachings i will take them into heart, and those lessons i learned that day i will keep with me for a long time.. Thank you..

Battle over face veil brewing in Egypt

Yahoo news reported this today. We were talking about this last thursday in class, i think its really interesting..

By Mariam Karouny Mariam Karouny – Mon Nov 2, 8:33 am ET

CAIRO (Reuters) – Rokaya Mohamed, an elementary school teacher, would rather die than take off her face veil, or niqab, thrusting her to the forefront of a battle by government-backed clerics to limit Islamism in Egypt.

Egypt's state-run religious establishment wants teachers like Mohamed to remove their veils in front of female students, sparking a backlash by Islamists who say women should be able to choose to cover their faces in line with their Islamic faith.

"I have put on the niqab because it is a Sunna (a tradition of the Muslim prophet Muhammad). It is something that brings me closer to religion and closer to the wives of the Prophet who used to wear it," she said.

"I know what makes God and his prophet love me, and no sheikh is going to convince me otherwise. I would rather die than take it off, even inside class," she added.

Egypt, the birthplace of al Qaeda's second-in-command Ayman al-Zawahri, fought a low-level Islamist insurgency in the 1990s, has faced sporadic militant attacks targeting tourists since then, and is keen to quell Islamist opposition ahead of parliamentary elections next year and a 2011 presidential vote.

The spread of the niqab, associated with the strictest interpretations of Islam, is a potent reminder to the government of the political threat posed by any Islamist resurgence emanating from the Gulf, where many young Egyptians go to work.

Controversy over the niqab flared last month after the state-appointed head of Egypt's al-Azhar mosque asked a young student to remove her face veil during a visit to her school.

Grand Sheikh of al-Azhar Mohamed Sayed Tantawi later issued a religious edict or fatwa barring women and girls from wearing the niqab in all-girl Azhari schools, saying there was no reason for girls to cover their faces amongst themselves.

An Azhari research center later backed the ruling, saying the face veil should be removed when a girl is in an all-female class with women teachers, in all-female exam rooms, and in all-female dormitories.

Egyptian state-run media have also called for women to show their faces, citing the "damaging" effects of niqab on society.

GULF INFLUENCE

While a majority of Egyptian women and girls consider it an Islamic religious obligation to cover their hair and neck with a scarf, few Muslim scholars say the full face veil is mandatory.

Yet growing numbers of Egyptian women are abandoning the simple headscarf in favor of the niqab, analysts say, reflecting the growing sway of strict Saudi-based Wahhabi ideology on an already conservative and Islamized society.

"It increased mainly because of the major influence from the Gulf. This habit is not from the heart of Egyptian society. It is imported from the Gulf," political analyst Hala Mustafa said.

"(Extremism) has been increasing in Egyptian society for the past 30 years and therefore Egyptians are accepting more extremism and becoming more closed off," she said.

Egypt, unlike other Muslim states Saudi Arabia and Iran, does not require women to cover their heads with a scarf. But the millions of Egyptians who have lived or worked in Gulf states such as Saudi Arabia are believed to be a source for the spread of Wahhabi ideology.

Just 30 years ago, women attended Egypt's flagship Cairo University wearing miniskirts and sleeveless tops. They strolled along the beaches of Alexandria in skimpy swimsuits at a time when society was seemingly more liberal and tolerant.

Analysts say the headscarf, or hijab, was seen as a status indicator and was prevalent among lower-income classes. Women from upper and middle classes rarely veiled at a young age and those who did usually followed fashionable interpretations of hijab. The niqab was uncommon at that time.

NIQAB MORE PREVALENT

But the niqab has become more prevalent. Women in flowing black robes are a common sight strolling through Egypt's fanciest shopping malls and five-star hotels, as well as in shanties.

Analysts say challenging the stricter interpretations of Islam could be a long journey that requires, in particular, introducing reforms on an educational system that has allowed women in niqab to teach small children.

"These decisions have to be accompanied with ideological procedures and requires challenging the ideology so there will be moderate ideology," Mustafa said.

Egyptian courts have a history of ruling in favor of women wearing niqab inside universities. In 2007, a court ruled that the American University in Cairo, seen as a bastion of Western liberal education in Egypt, was wrong to bar a female scholar who wears niqab from using its facilities. The court cited personal and religious freedom as grounds for its ruling.

Ordinary Egyptians on the streets of Cairo have conflicting feelings regarding the niqab. Some say it should be banned on security grounds because it can be used by criminals to disguise themselves and escape police searches.

Others hail it as the right way to fulfill religious duties or as the best way to protect women from sexual harassment, although a recent study showed veiling had little effect on harassment rates in Egypt.

"When a man cannot see a woman, then what is he going to harass her for? Nothing," said Abu Donya, a taxi driver, whose views are shared by many Egyptians. "So imagine if all women wear niqab, things would be better," he said.