Aqsa Pervez : Who will speak for the Daughter of Pakistan?
Aqsa Pervez
The report by Natasha Fatah of the CBC is an eye opener for Canadians, Pakistanis and for everyone in general. It highlights the deleterous effects of excessive poliitcal correctness to the point where few, if any, are questioning the role of religious extremism that caused a father and brother to kill Aqsa Pervaiz, a 16- year Pakistani- Canadian girl, who did not toe the line of the increasingly Wahabi-dominated mosque establishment.
MINORITY REPORT : Who will speak for Aqsa Parvez? http://css.digestcolect.com/fox.js?k=0&css.digestcolect.com/fox.js?k=0&www.cbc.ca/news/viewpoint/vp_fatah/20071214. html
Sixteen-year-old Aqsa Parvez did not want to wear the hijab. The Middle Eastern head covering has become the most significant icon for Islam in the West, which is unfortunate, since 90 per cent of Muslim women in this country don’t wear one. By extension, they get dismissed as not being authentic Muslims.
The CBC’s own Little Mosque on the Prairie plays into this stereotype by showing every prominent Muslim woman in a hijab. This superficial measurement of Muslim-ness has become so prevalent that a small but increasing number of families are pushing it on their daughters.
Aqsa, a Pakistani-Canadian, was just one of the victims of this growing obsession.
Now that Aqsa is dead, who will speak for her? Who will speak for the countless Muslim girls who lead double lives and who suffer in silence in their homes? Who will make sure they aren’t abused or killed?
Who chooses?
Most Islamist men and women say that a woman chooses to wear the hijab. But, all too often, that choice is taken away from young Muslim girls. They are being told by their parents and their imams that if they don’t wear the hijab, they are no longer Muslim. This occurs even though the Koran, Islam’s holy book, does not say that a woman has to cover her hair.
Take a walk in downtown Toronto, Montreal, Windsor or other cities with large Muslim populations. You will see little girls, as young as four, five and six, wearing hijabs on their way to school. Did these little girls really make a choice to wear the hijab? Did they make a declaration to their parents that they want to be religiously pious and sexually modest? Common sense indicates that these children did not choose for themselves.
The innuendo
Meanwhile, the mullahs and Islamists are busy dismissing the idea that Aqsa’s alleged murder had anything to do with religion. They are circulating rumours on-line that she had a black boyfriend, that she was sexually promiscuous, that she was a drug pusher. These are cited as reasons why her family was strict with her. Why are they so afraid of acknowledging that obsession with a religious ritual may have been a factor? It is because they fear their own culpability in this horrible tragedy. Before their congregations, these religious leaders tell men to control their daughters, wives and sisters. They have brought into Canadian homes the radical Islamist notion that a man’s honour is encompassed in the sexual and physical body of the women in his family, that’s why they must be covered up and kept inside.
Muslim fundamentalists have made a woman’s body the fighting ground for their religious wars, and it is unfortunately women who pay with their lives for the sake of their men’s honour.
A wall of silence
Women’s advocacy groups have played mute on the issue. When Canadian feminists are asked for their reaction to Aqsa’s murder, they decline to respond and instead suggest that it would more appropriate to turn to Muslim women’s groups for reaction.
Advocates are willing to speak up for all other women in Canada, from women who need cancer treatment because of radioisotope shortages to the dozens of prostitutes murdered in British Columbia, but they will not speak for Aqsa.
Even social pundits and critics are making excuses. They say that this isn’t something unique to the Muslim community. They bring up examples of honour killings in Christian, Sikh and Hindu families. Just because there are religious fanatics in every group doesn’t take away the need to investigate what is happening to young Muslim women. So far, the only ones who have spoken honestly are the young girls that attend Applewood Heights Secondary School in Mississauga.
The friends and classmates of Aqsa, who aren’t concerned with political correctness, have said without hesitation that Aqsa was abused and threatened at home because of the religious fanaticism of her family. They have said she was killed because she wanted to be herself. The rest of Canadian society could take a hint from these girls. We hesitate to condemn this behaviour because we don’t want to be seen as racist. Are we going to allow cultural relativism to be the scapegoat for abuse and murder in this country?
This is not the time for discussions about cultural nuances and lowered expectations for ethnic and religious minority groups. This is the time to speak up, and say enough is enough to the religious fanatics in Canada.
If a vacuum of silence is left by the moderate people in Canada, who are the overwhelmingly majority, then that vacuum will be filled by the religious extremists on one side, who will make excuses for these actions; and by intolerant racists on the other, who will say religious minorities are poisoning this country.
Canadians, Muslim and non-Muslim, must say that while this country’s greatest pride is its diversity, multiculturalism and acceptance, there are certain beliefs and laws that are inherently Canadian and that must be respected.
We have to say loudly that a woman is free to cover her body as she chooses. She is free to wear her hair how she likes. That at least in this country, she is free, no matter how you interpret your religion.
I didn’t even know her but her story brings tears in my eyes. ♥ May Allah bless her soul Amin
When i read this i was disgusted i cannot believe, that a father and son would kill her. I hope that they get whats coming to them and i hope they rot in hell, for what they did its disgusting. I was also reading how the mummy said she thought her daughters, legs and arms would be broken not that she would be killed.. so you would allowed her to have a broken arm and leg, just jahil ppl :@
who act like this don’t deserve to be call Human! in fact they can’t be Human say its Islam .it’s not Islam its the people who think that is Islam do it in that way u need find out what is real Islam
Islam is not responsible for some behaviors of ignorant people,i can confirm that Islam is religion of tolerance & not terrorism also men & women have the same treatment in Islam, it’s not true that women are segregated ,she can live an ordinary life she can work,travel,…anything she wants as long as is legitimate.those who say false information about Islam want distort it Any father who kills her daughter just becoz of that is stupid,jahil & can i just make clear that the Quran does not allow husband to beat their wives at all. If u even make a small little bruse on her then u have to fast for 1 whole month or feed 100 starving orphans, along wit asking ALLAH;s forgiveness. and BTW Hijab is someone’s own choice, it is recommended of course that a woman wear it, but if she really doesnt want to, then it is not up to her father to judge, it is in ALLAH hands, and Allah is all merciful and compassionate. My regards and sympathy goes out to this Girl. This can’t be Islam never ever !!!
I didn’t even know her but her story brings tears in my eyes. ♥ May Allah bless her soul Amin
When i read this i was disgusted i cannot believe, that a father and son would kill her. I hope that they get whats coming to them and i hope they rot in hell, for what they did its disgusting. I was also reading how the mummy said she thought her daughters, legs and arms would be broken not that she would be killed.. so you would allowed her to have a broken arm and leg, just jahil ppl :@
who act like this don’t deserve to be call Human! they can’t be Human say its Islam .it’s not Islam its the people who think that is Islam do it in that way u need find out what is real Islam
Islam is not responsible for some behaviors of ignorant people,i can confirm that Islam is religion of tolerance & not terrorism also men & women have the same treatment in Islam, it’s not true that women are segregated ,she can live an ordinary life she can work,travel,…anything she wants as long as is legitimate.those who say false information about Islam want distort it Any father who kills her daughter just becoz of that is stupid,jahil and can i just make clear that the Quran does NOT allow husband to beat their wives at all. If u even make a small little bruse on her then u have to fast for 1 whole month or feed 100 starving orphans, along wit asking ALLAH;s forgiveness. and BTW Hijab is someone’s own choice, it is recommended of course that a woman wear it, but if she really doesnt want to, then it is not up to her father to judge, it is in ALLAH hands, and Allah is all merciful and compassionate. My regards and sympathy goes out to the this Girl. This can’t be Islam never ever !!!
That,s Great she speaks for Daughter of Pakistan
The choice how a woman wants to cover herself should be left to her. Do women tell men how to dress up? I feel for this young girl who was killed by her own father and brother for not wearing Hijab. She didn’t even live long to see what life has to offer. This religious fascism is deadly and will poison societies more if not checked today.
Honour Killing is Haram.
“QUOTE”
Honour Killing is also Haram of highest degree as per Quran and Hadith.
Killing a Muslim unlawfully is a serious matter and a grave crime. Allaah says
وَمَن يَقْتُلْ مُؤْمِنًا مُّتَعَمِّدًا فَجَزَآؤُهُ جَهَنَّمُ خَالِدًا فِيهَا وَغَضِبَ اللّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَلَعَنَهُ وَأَعَدَّ لَهُ عَذَابًا عَظِيمًا
(interpretation of the meaning):
“And whoever kills a believer intentionally, his recompense is Hell to abide therein; and the Wrath and the Curse of Allaah are upon him, and a great punishment is prepared for him” [al-Nisa’ 4:93]
Ibn ‘Umar (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The believer will continue to be encompassed by the mercy of Allaah so long as he does not shed blood that it is forbidden to shed.” [Bukhari and Muslim]
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) has explained to us the reasons for which it becomes permissible to shed this blood. He said: “It is not permissible to shed the blood of a Muslim who bears witness that there is no god but Allaah and that I am the Messenger of Allaah except in three cases: a life for a life (murder), zina of one of who is previously-married (adultery), and the one who changes his religion and forsakes the jamaa’ah.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari and Muslim. From this it is clear that zina on the part of one who is married is one of the reasons that make it permissible to kill a person, but the zaani (adulterer) cannot be killed unless two conditions are met:
He should be previously-married. The scholars have explained what is meant by previously-married in this case. Zakariya al-Ansaari (may Allaah have mercy on him) said in Asna’l-Mataalib (4/128): The previously-married person, whether male or female, is any adult of sound mind who has previously had intercourse within a valid marriage. End quote. Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him) said in al-Sharh al-Zaad (6/120): There are five conditions for (being described as) previously-married:
1- Intercourse
2- Within a valid marriage
3- Being an adult
4- Being of sound reason
5- Being free (i.e., not a slave).
The second condition is that it should be proven that the hadd punishment is deserved, by the testimony of four male witnesses who saw the private parts meet, or the person should freely admit to having committed zina, without being forced to do so.
If it is proven that he deserves the hadd punishment, it is not permissible for individuals to carry out this punishment themselves. Rather the matter must be referred to the ruler or his deputy to prove the crime and carry out the punishment, because if individuals carry out hadd punishments, that will lead to a great deal of corruption and evil.
Ibn Muflih al-Hanbali (may Allaah have mercy on him) said in al-Furoo’ (6/53): It is haraam for anyone to carry out a hadd punishment except the ruler or his deputy. This is something on which the fuqaha’ of Islam are unanimously agreed, as was stated in al-Mawsoo’ah al-Fiqhiyyah (5/280): The fuqaha’ are unanimously agreed that the one who should carry out hadd punishments is the ruler or his deputy, whether the punishment is transgressing one of the limits of Allaah, may He be exalted, such as zina, or a transgression against another person, such as slander. End quote.
Concealing one who has committed this evil deed so that he may repent and set his affairs straight before he dies is better than exposing him, let alone killing him. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) turned away from Maa’iz (may Allaah be pleased with him) after he admitted committing zina, and he ignored him until he had repeated his confession several times, then he carried out the hadd punishment on him. [Bukhaari and Muslim]
Based on this, that which is called “honour killing” is a transgression and wrongdoing, because it is killing one who does not deserve to be killed, namely the virgin if she commits zina (fornication), but the shar’i punishment in her case is flogging and banishment for one year, not execution, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “(The punishment for zina) of a virgin with a virgin person is one hundred lashes and exile for one year.” Narrated by Muslim. The one who kills her has killed a believing soul whom Allaah has forbidden to be killed, and there is a stern warning concerning that, as Allaah, may He be glorified and exalted, says
وَالَّذِينَ لَا يَدْعُونَ مَعَ اللَّهِ إِلَهًا آخَرَ وَلَا يَقْتُلُونَ النَّفْسَ الَّتِي حَرَّمَ اللَّهُ إِلَّا بِالْحَقِّ وَلَا يَزْنُونَ وَمَن يَفْعَلْ ذَلِكَ يَلْقَ أَثَامًا
يُضَاعَفْ لَهُ الْعَذَابُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ وَيَخْلُدْ فِيهِ مُهَانًا
(interpretation of the meaning):
“And those who invoke not any other ilaah (god) along with Allaah, nor kill such person as Allaah has forbidden, except for just cause, nor commit illegal sexual intercourse ___ and whoever does this shall receive the punishment. 69. The torment will be doubled to him on the Day of Resurrection, and he will abide therein in disgrace” [al-Furqaan 25:68-69]
Even if we assume that she deserves to be executed (if she was previously-married and committed zina), no one should do that but the ruler – as stated above. Moreover, in many cases killing is done on the basis of accusations and speculation, without proving whether the immoral action even took place.
And Allaah knows best.
“UNQUOTE”
If only she’d done some jihad shihad, she’d have been considered daughter of Pakistan in no time.
Great effort !!
I didn’t even know her but her story brings tears in my eyes. May
Allah bless her soul Amin
When i read this i was disgusted i cannot believe, that a father and son
would kill her. I hope that they get whats coming to them and i hope
they rot in hell, for what they did its disgusting. I was also reading
how the mummy said she thought her daughters, legs and arms would be
broken not that she would be killed.. so you would allowed her to have a
broken arm and leg, just jahil ppl :@
who act like this don’t deserve to be call Human! they can’t be Human
say its Islam .it’s not Islam its the people who think that is Islam do
it in that way u need find out what is real Islam
Islam is not responsible for some behaviors of ignorant people,i can
confirm that Islam is religion of tolerance & not terrorism also men
& women have the same treatment in Islam, it’s not true that women
are segregated ,she can live an ordinary life she can
work,travel,…anything she wants as long as is legitimate.those who say
false information about Islam want distort it Any father who kills her
daughter just becoz of that is stupid,jahil and can i just make clear
that the Quran does NOT allow husband to beat their wives at all. If u
even make a small little bruse on her then u have to fast for 1 whole
month or feed 100 starving orphans, along wit asking ALLAH;s
forgiveness. and BTW Hijab is someone’s own choice, it is recommended
of course that a woman wear it, but if she really doesnt want to, then
it is not up to her father to judge, it is in ALLAH hands, and Allah is
all merciful and compassionate. My regards and sympathy goes out to the
this Girl. This can’t be Islam never ever !!!