One Planet, Two Worlds…
From a CNN report (May 10 ’09):
Husbands are allowed to slap their wives if they spend lavishly, a Saudi judge said recently during a seminar on domestic violence. Arab News…reported that Judge Hamad Al-Razine said:
…if a person gives SR 1,200 [$320] to his wife and she spends 900 riyals [$240] to purchase an abaya [the black cover that women in Saudi Arabia must wear] from a brand shop and if her husband slaps her on the face as a reaction to her action, she deserves that punishment.
Saudi women’s rights activist Wajeha Al-Huwaider told CNN that Saudi women routinely face such attitudes.
This is how men in Saudi Arabia see women…It’s not something they read in a book or learned from a friend. They’ve been raised to see women this way, that they’re less than a person….
I’m not surprised to see a judge or a religious man saying that – they’ve been raised in the same culture – a culture that tells them it’s ok to raise your hand to a woman that this works.
***
Meanwhile in another world:
A vacation bench of (Supreme Court) Justice Markandeya Katju and Justice Deepak Verma observed, “Bibi joh boltee hai woh suno (listen to whatever your wife says)”, as otherwise it could land you in trouble…
If your wife asks you to put your face that side, put it that side. If she says, put it this side, then put it this side. Otherwise you will face trouble.
DNA India report by Rakesh Bhatnagar, 20th May ’09
Related Posts:
A rebuttal to Abul Kasem – “Women in Hinduism†by R Maliger
And would you not write anything about the pathetic situation of women in India, just because of the above statement from the SC?
I think we need to empower our women before we talk anything about saudi arabia or any other islamic country.
@ borneveryday: Thanks for raising the point…The post might have come across as slightly flippant…Sorry for that.
It is certainly not my contention that women in India are in a great situation. You are right that a LOT needs to be done to improve their general plight…
I have written on this before e.g. please have a look at some of these links when you have a moment:
What about reforms in Hinduism?
Who Will Listen to Para’s Silent Screams?
On Jeans, Indian Men and “Indecent Behaviourâ€
Am sure that you are aware of the plight of women in India and that you are not in anyway trying to divert attention from it.
Its just that this blog is very well read and might even be instrumental in shaping a few minds. Hence its important that the posts be Nationalistic than Jingoistic.(albeit unintentionally)
Jut my thoughts, so please feel free to correct me.
It will be interesting to take a look at the following news items (very recent ones):
1. Court dismisses ‘weaker sex’ plea:
Can a “well qualified” woman capable of getting a decent job seek maintenance from her “not so qualified” husband? The trial court says no.
Dismissing the concept of women being the “weaker sex” and urging them to work rather than being dependent on their “pati parmeshwar”, a district court rejected the plea of a woman seeking maintenance from her mentally disturbed and unemployed husband….
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Cities/Delhi/Court-dismisses-weaker-sex-plea/articleshow/4526419.cms
2. Divorce Tough for Working Women: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Cities/Divorce_tough_for_working_women/rssarticleshow/2729554.cms
And Finally this one takes the cake…
3. High Maintenance Husbands:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Sunday-TOI/Life/High-maintenance-husbands/articleshow/4266335.cms
Did someone say women are not treated equally in India? 🙂
Thanks,
The post is not flippant. It illustrates the conceptual norm between the status of women in two different beliefsystems. In Koranic Islam, women by definition cannot be equal with the men. They cannot be empowered, except in violation of the Koran. And the Koran cannot be challenged on pain of death. In Hinduism, there is no scripture that cannot be challenged – the disempowerment of women is therefore primarily for mundane reasons – and the latter can and are being dealt with, and are changing. It is therefore we can have a president who is a woman, very powerful de jure and de facto prime ministers who are women, powerful chief ministers who are women, corporate leaders who are women, and so on. All are either Hindu or Christian. The emancipation of women is proceeding apace all over the country – girls are completing schooling, beginning to marry later, take up jobs outside the house, and so on. The major exception is Muslim ghettoes where Koranic ideology prevails. Therefore, pan-Islamic practice is certainly of pertinence here.
@Krishen
In Hinduism, there is no scripture that cannot be challenged
—
That is not true my friend. In Sanatan Dharm, or Hinduism as we popularly call it now, there are two types of Scriptures. Shruti and Smriti. We cannot challenge Shruti as that is taken as word of God but Smriti is a group of Stories, Puranic Katha or Danth Katha which were written by our Sages to understand our Shruti and our history/past in easy language.
While Ved, Upanishad and Shrimad Bhagwad Geeta comes under Shruti, Purans come under Smriti.
Shruti cannot be modified and are taken As-It-Is, however Smriti have been changed, added on to and modified as deemed necessary by our revered Sages.
If there is ever a conflict in topic or anything between Shruti and Smriti, Shruti holds the weight as Smriti are for reference only, comparatively.
Above definition may not be complete in its entirety, but written to give you a quick insight into what value our scriptures hold for us. Please don’t think that Hinduism mein kuch bhi chalta hai. That is BS attitude which has ridden the mind of today’s Hindus.
While debates are inherit part of our Dharm and Sanskruti but we don’t do it just for the heck of it because someone doesn’t agree with us and we have to convert them. We have had so many great people like Shri Shankracharya, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Mukta Bai, Nachiketa, etc. in the past who have done memorable debates with those who challenged Dharm. And won. Our Sanatan Dharm is may be the only one that does support healthy debates unlike other “Holier than thou” religions & their mythologies [sic].
Ideally, We should live by following our Dharm (means Ethics, Morality, Righteousness and not just another religion or cult) as set forth by our holy scriptures for a healthy & prosperous life for us, our family, our society and our nation. But that’s your choice again and no one can force it on you. Because the onus is on you for your self development i.e. Swadhyay. Again, that’s what Shrimad Bhagwad Geeta says.
“Dharma” is that which upholds, nourishes or supports the stability of society, maintains social order and secures the general well-being and progress of mankind.
– Supreme Court of India
Would these ultra-secular Dharm Nirpeksh (those who don’t adhere to Dharm) fundamentalists call the Supreme Court of India communal for quoting from Ved?
Interesting indeed. May be that’s why we always say Shri Sita-Ram, Shri Radha-Krishn, Shri Gauri-Shankar, Shri Lakshmi-Narayan but they never say Ayesha-Mohamed or even Mohamed-Ayesha.
In Bharatiya Sanskruti, women always had a high & respectable place in the society.
…(But) Who believes in that now? As, We are Modern and close to be a Super Power. And this is how we show our power. By attacking women and destroying Historic Ancient Heritage like Shri Ram Sethu.
I was in tears after listening to Mr. Vijay’s talk on terrorism and its history (http://satyabhashnam.blogspot.com/2009/05/tarun-vijay-mumbai-terrorist-attack.html). In that he also talks on how women especially Kashmiri Hindu women are still raped and murdered infront of and/or along with their children by terrorists in the night while rest of Bharat is busy with fanatic calls for Pub Bharo from the likes of bombastic Renukas.
He questions why has there been no landmark created in the memory of those brave soldiers who fought 4 wars for Bharat while every Republic day we shamelessly celebrate & salute India Gate which was made in the memory of those who fought for British in WWII or with Indians themselves? Why no one gave Bharat Ratna to them? Someone said it right on that blog.
Indians have absolutely no sense of History. Nor do they care. Very nice talk. He is a very good Orator. Haven’t heard such pure Hindi in a while. Thanks to Urdufication and Anglicization of Bollywood movies.
…
Nice post Shantanu. Keep it up.
*** Excerpted from an email with permission ***
Excerpts from Harassment across Arab world drives women inside:
CAIRO – The sexual harassment of women in the streets, schools and work places of the Arab world is driving them to cover up and confine themselves to their homes, said activists at the first-ever regional conference addressing the once taboo topic.
..The harassment, including groping and verbal abuse, is a daily experience women…It happens regardless of what women are wearing.
…As many as 90 percent of Yemeni women say they have been harassed, while in Egypt, out of a sample of 1,000, 83 percent reported being verbally or physically abused.
A study in Lebanon reported that more than 30 percent of women said they had been harassed there.
…Sexual harassment, including verbal and physical assault, has been specifically criminalized in only half a dozen Arab countries over the past five years.
…In Yemen, where nearly all women are covered from head to toe, activist Amal Basha said 90 percent of women in a published study reported harassment, specifically pinching.
No comment.
Saudi Arabia to flog 75-year-old for breaching sex segregation rules:
Amnesty International has called on Saudi Arabia to cancel a sentence of 40 lashes handed down against a 75-year-old woman for breaching the kingdom’s sex segregation rules.
Published: 6:00AM GMT 15 Dec 2009
“The minister of interior (Prince Nayef bin Abdul Aziz) is reported to have ordered the immediate detention and flogging of a 75-year-old woman, Khamisa Mohammed Sawadi, along with two Saudi Arabian men known only as Fahad and Hadyan,” the London-based watchdog said.
From Women watch a Muharram procession in Srinagar by Muzaffar Raina: