Thursday, January 28, 2010

Dogma Exposed - Rape victim receives 101 lashes for becoming pregnant

A 16-year-old girl who was raped in Bangladesh has been given 101 lashes for conceiving during the assault.

The girl's father was also fined and warned the family would be branded outcasts from their village if he did not pay.

According to human rights activists, the girl, who was quickly married after the attack, was divorced weeks later after medical tests revealed she was pregnant.

The girl was raped by a 20-year-old villager in Brahmanbaria district in April last year.

Bangladesh's Daily Star newspaper reported that she was so ashamed following the attack that she did not lodge a complaint.

Her rape emerged after her pregnancy test and Muslim elders in the village issued a fatwa insisting that the girl be kept in isolation until her family agreed to corporal punishment.

Her rapist was pardoned by the elders. She told the newspaper the rapist had "spoiled" her life.

"I want justice," she said.

This was from Telegraph.co.uk. I hoped I was surprised when I heard about this, but no, I am not, unfortunately. The sharia law is so infamous for its sexism and its maltreatment of women, and this is just one in many cases. There is certainly many more cases not reported in the media. Yet, from this we can see how irrational, tyrannical, and sexist extremist Islam is, and anyone who says that sharia law is fair and play should rethink their words. Seriously.

Well, at least it such a law isn’t in the Holy Quran, and we can all agree that this is a case of the extremists misusing the sharia law. But sexists views are still present here and there in the Quran (and the Bible, for that matter).

Women who are divorced shall wait, keeping themselves apart, three (monthly) courses. And it is not lawful for them that they should conceal that which Allah hath created in their wombs if they are believers in Allah and the Last Day. And their husbands would do better to take them back in that case if they desire a reconciliation. And they (women) have rights similar to those (of men) over them in kindness, and men are a degree above them. Allah is Mighty, Wise. - 2:228, Holy Quran

If a damsel that is a virgin be betrothed unto an husband, and a man find her in the city, and lie with her; Then ye shall bring them both out unto the gate of that city, and ye shall stone them with stones that they die; the damsel, because she cried not, being in the city; and the man, because he hath humbled his neighbour's wife: so thou shalt put away evil from among you. – Deuteronomy 22:23-24, the Holy Bible (KJV)

PS: Moderate Muslims around the world, there is no better way to prove that Islam is a religion of peace than now! You say that Islamic-phobia is widespread, eh? Then how about this: condemn the extremist and sexist acts. You’ve got nothing to lose.

6 comments:

Baconsbud said...

I have to agree with you that it isn't a big surprise that these types of things happen. I figure you can look into all the major religions and find these types of actions.

I don't believe any of the major religions can show themselves as peace loving people. You have individuals within each of the religions that want peace but for the most part they are the least heard and shown to the world. Until people for the most part want actual peace over strife, we won't quit seeing these types of actions.

I don't think christianity is any different if given the chance. At this time the secular world has more power then the christian world but if that changes I believe you will start seeing this type of thing within christianity. They would justify it the same way that the muslims do. It is their religious laws and it must be enforced or god will punish all for that.

Darren Wong said...

I wholly agrees, baconsbud. It is a common claim that religion was created for peace and harmony, but that is not the case at all. The Abrahamic religions, if you look at them, are very powerful propaganda, and is adored by those of power. It teaches us to be blind, and to not think critically. Exactly what a dictator/tyrant needs to keep the people quiet.

Lone Wolf said...

I wish I could say it was a surprise but it is not.
Biblical law is no better (rape and the bible)though it is ignored by modern Christians (most at least).

It is sickening enough that such things ever could have happened but for them to happen in the modern world, words can not explain how wrong it is.

Darren Wong said...

Yes, it is definitely sickening. Religion, it seems, is constantly preventing the world from progressing at all.

The Dungeon Master said...

I agree. This stuff makes me sick. I'm an Outpatient Psychotherapist, so I fairly regularly see the mental and emotional devastation sexual abuse and rape has on people. Religion makes so many things ass-backwards. So often, it passes off the immoral as moral. What kind of god doesn't put the abolition of rape in its top ten commandments anyway?

Darren Wong said...

You're a psychotherapist? That's great! Then you should be aware of the Battered Woman Syndrome. It sounds like the Judeo-Christian religions creates Stage 1 and 2 of this syndrome among believers. Only few manage to get past Stage 3, it seems.

And yes, I cannot understand how could the "holy texts" can be used as absolute moral codes in the 21st century.