The news is out. Lubna won’t get flogged after all - a victory for Muslim women who stood behind her and supported her, but is the sentence really worthy of our celebration?
Me thinks probably not.
It’s a bittersweet occasion. No to getting flogged, yes to getting fined.
But that’s not the unfortunate part.
The true misfortune is the fact that this new embarrassing episode in Sudan - one of an ongoing series (Teddy Bear Circus anyone?) - doesn’t seem like it’s going to be the last.
Things like this will continue
As long as you have idiots who misunderstand Islam, abuse it for self-serving political purposes, or dogmatically support its orthodox traditionalist interpretation (which in numerous cases is anti-woman), incidents like this will continue.
(Note: There are things that are supported and backed by Islam which don’t treat women equally and that do indeed deserve critique, for example the amount of inheritance allocated for women within Islamic law. However, most Islamic scholars will agree that Lubna’s arrest was un-Islamic, and was either carried out by idiots who don’t have a proper understanding of Islamic law, or who are using Islam as a political tool to further their own self-serving agendas.)
But anyways, back to what I was saying.
Again, yes, things like this will continue not just in Sudan, but throughout the Muslim world, because most of it suffers from the same serious common illness: a knowledge crisis.
And this latest case, the Teddy Bear Circus, and other similar ones are merely symptoms of this disease, so don’t expect them to go away as long as this disease remains.
The cures?
Mainly free inquiry and free enterprise.
Oh, and lots of work, time and patience, but it’s okay because we’ve got to start somewhere, and it’s people like Lubna who inspire the needed soldiers to march forward with boldness and courage.
Bittersweet indeed, but maybe the sentence is worthy of just a little celebration.
So I guess this post is mine.
SudaneseThinker
SudaneseThinker
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She reminds me of Rosa Parks, go Lubna! You can celebrate when ANY Sudanese woman can walk about wearing whatever suits HER and not have to worry about being made a criminal for her choice.
Drima….
I have been reading the Bible cover to cover in Spanish…just for laughs (and practice). I have reached just about the end…which is primarily Paul’s writings…
Anyhow…he seems to very clearly support slavery and makes rationalizations for it. I am sure during the slave days in the USA for example…that section was “cherry-picked” pretty well.
We have discussed this before and it is nothing new…and another reason I have been drifting further and further from religion. Folks always seem find stuff that suits there purposes, especially those in power…Right now it is Islam that seems to lead the league in such hypocrisy, but they certainly don’t have a monopoly on that game.
It truly depresses me. One would hope that religion could serve to elevate us and I don’t see enough of that…
Very sad indeed…very.
“drifting further and further from religion.”
Religion is both questions and answers. The questions are important, but the organised religions provide answers which are facile, simplistic, or geared to the prejudices of old, ignorant men. They also claim to have the correct answers to all questions, and that they get these answers directly from some supernatural power.
The questions are still interesting, in my opinion.
Don…
It is a good response…and I mostly agree.
And I said “drifting” not cutting off or totally leaving…And that is drifting from religion…not things of “God” or the spirit…
Religion is a smart man’s admission that he cannot know everything. Religious fundamentalism is a stupid man’s admission that he thinks he knows enough.
– Moshe Wilkinson
Perhaps the real issue is quality control.
I submit that religion is really, really important to nearly everyone, and so everyone talks or writes about it at some time or another.
And, when stupid or evil or perverted people write, all the rest of us get to see it. …
Since she refused to pay the fine, seems she has managed to keep it in the limelight a little while longer. Some Sudanese ladies in Kenya are getting together next week on Tuesday to show their support for Lubna and others that are trying to bring these issues to a wider public awareness and discussion. Check this out for a little more information: http://www.robrooker.com/Images/KenyaFlyer.jpg
Interesting:
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1251804570962&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
“There are things that are supported and backed by Islam which don’t treat women equally and that do indeed deserve critique, for example the amount of inheritance allocated for women within Islamic law”
This is only partially true. The Qur’an asks Muslims and almost makes it a religious requirement to leave a will behind so that there will be no confusion as to how the assets of the deceased should be distributed. It does not say that the will should ensure that Muslim women only receive half of what a man receives. The person that writes the will can ensure that his daughters and wife receive far more than his sons. It can even specify that a friend of his rather than family members be allocated all of his assets. Basically, a will can pretty much say anything.
In the case that there is no will, the Qur’an specifies that a woman inherits half of what a man inherits mainly because a woman not only will receive a dowry from her husband but will also inherit from in-laws while a man will not.
It should also be taken into consideration that the idea of inheritance for woman, property rights for woman, or having a say in anything as a woman, was largely alien to most cultures of the time period that the Qur’an was revealed. I mean, we are talking about a time period when people used to bury their daughters alive, simply because they wanted a son.
Of course, religious nut jobs, and people living in heavily patriarchal societies insist that a woman only receives half because it fits into their cultural frame work better. However, this does not mean that they are abiding by the dictates of the Qur’an.
u really think free enterprise solves it? how?
people making allowances so as not to discourage investors?
sounds contrived..
is there nothing that can be done to effect change from within?
Where can I find your email address, Drima?
The Authorized King James Holy Bible is the best one in English to read. Especially read John and Romans and get to Revelation in it and believe it by faith and not just for a laugh and you will come to the knowledge of God and Gods gift of eternal life through the LORD Jesus Christ. Who was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life,and died for all our sins including yours on the cross 2000 years ago,was buried, and rose from the dead the third day, was seen of men, and went back up to heaven. Repent and believe the gospel to have Gods gift of eternal life in heaven, and have all your sins forgiven. He did it for me and he will do it for you also if you come to him by faith and ask him to save your soul from hell and forgive all your sins. Sincerely George , http://www.AntrimFaithBaptistChurch.com , or http://www.FBNRadio.com or http://www.FellowshipTractLeague.com or http://www.PGM.org
Drima…
I wonder if George supports slavery like St. Paul does…also in the New Testament.
In the Bible slavery was used to pay off ones debts in the books of the law, not to enslave someone permanantly which it was to be no more than seven years. Check it out for yourself, in Leviticus and Deuteronomy. And what Paul spoke of was if a believer in Christ was already a slave when they became a Christian they were to glorify God in their slavery until they could be made free. Of coarse this was done in done amoung the Jewish writings not amoung those who knew not the LORD such as the Romans who didnt care how long they enslaved people. Slavery though primarily comes from mankinds sin nature which causes him to treat his fellow man wrong because he is not rightly in fellowship with God our Creator. Which can only come by repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. And ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. But as many as received him to them gave he the power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name. Since , For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Read the books of John and Romans in the Holy Bible for more information on Gods free gift of eternal life since their is none righteous no not one. Romans 3:10. Jesus Christ if the promised Messiah who would come into the world to save sinners, given in Genesis 3:15, Micah 5- Where born, Suffering for sinners - Isaiah 53 and Psalm 22, Behold the lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world. John the Baptist said of Christ in Matthew- John. Christ came through the son of Abrahams line, Isaac but yet God in eternity past and now. Sincerely;
Drima, a TED presentation especially for you - http://www.ted.com/talks/karen_armstrong_let_s_revive_the_golden_rule.html
Lirun,
Free enterprise does play an important role in overcoming such ignorance. When people are too busy making ends meet to feed themselves, there’s hardly any time or energy left for true education, which needs an environment that supports free inquiry.
So yes, free inquiry and free enterprise go hand in hand and support each other.
Tsedek, Long time, my email address is listed on the sidebar.
Racoon, thanks for the TED Talk. Good points overall but she ventures too much into La La land.
amazing MashAllah.
George…
I read your comments. I appreciate you sincerity but kind of found your remarks typical of evangelical rationalization of very problematic issues in the Bible.
I can see NO justification of slavery…none…and Jews made permenant slaves when they drove an awl through an individual’s ear etc.
And if the arguement is some WANTED to be slaves…I would counter by saying that some people also WANT to commit suicide…doesn’t make it right though.
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