Lebanese women take on Muslim judges who call rape a 'marital right'

[Jeebus]

For the past year and a half, Mouwad and fellow feminist activists have been demanding that politicians ignore the objections of Muslim religious authorities and pass a stalled law protecting women from domestic violence.

The initial version of the bill was drafted to criminalize physical and sexual abuse, so-called "honor crimes" and marital rape, create specially-trained domestic violence response units within the police, and provide the legal framework for restraining orders to be issued against abusers.

But Lebanon's religious courts -- the judicial authorities presiding over each of the country's faith communities, with jurisdiction over matters of "personal status," including marriage problems -- have criticized the proposed law as an attempt to erode their authority.

Domestic violence cases in Lebanon are typically heard in the religious courts, which often respond with rulings focused on preserving the family unit, rather protecting women from violence.

[Baltimatt]

These religious courts need to have their authority eroded. Who the hell do they think they are?

[Jeebus]

These religious courts need to have their authority eroded. Who the hell do they think they are?

It is Allah's will that they be allowed to rape their wives. Just as Mo raped children.

[Baltimatt]

Jeebus--

I'm sure there are a lot of Muslim women (and men) who will disagree with you.

[Jeebus]

Jeebus--

I'm sure there are a lot of Muslim women (and men) who will disagree with you.

Muslim women? (spitting out food, laughing so hard my coffee sprays the monitor)

Since when do they have ANY say in what happens within Islam?

They are foolish to remain a part of an organization that beats them, rapes them, and kills them, all under the guise (and permission) of religion.

[Baltimatt]

Jeebus--

Islam is a religion, but there is not one school of thought nor one organization that controls everything. There is no Muslim equivalent of the Pope.

[Baltimatt]

http://www.npr.org/2011/04/21/135523...n-their-choice

There are about 1 million Muslim women in America; 43 percent of them wear headscarves all the time, according to the Pew Research Center. About 48 percent — or half a million women — don't cover their hair, the survey found.

The split between women who've covered and women who've never done so has existed for decades. But now a generation of women is taking off the headscarf, or hijab. Although the scarf is a public, sometimes even political symbol, women say the choice to unveil is highly private, emotional and religious.

[soulflower]

http://www.npr.org/2011/04/21/135523...n-their-choice

My ex-girlfriend, an Arab Muslim, didn't wear a headscarf nor did any of the women in her family.

Most Muslim women in Western countries don't wear headscarves...

[Jeebus]

Jeebus--

Islam is a religion, but there is not one school of thought nor one organization that controls everything. There is no Muslim equivalent of the Pope.

Yet they are still raped, beaten, stoned, murdered, and generally treated as property or (at best) 3rd class citizens where Islam rules.

Keep defending that, Matt.

[Baltimatt]

I am not defending raping and beating and stoning and murdering and treating as property AND YOU DAMN WELL KNOW IT, Jeebus. Religious courts that actually physically punish people have no place in any modern society. But you have no problem condemning each and every Muslim in the world for that actions of backwards people in backwards countries. Now you are probably going to trot out that tired old line about the Muslims you know or something like that that you have trotted out to me before.

Look, as a pork-eating, alcohol-drinking homosexual, I have no use for Islam, but if people want to follow that religion, as long as they are not bothering me, that's their business.

[Jeebus]

Now you are probably going to trot out that tired old line about the Muslims you know or something like that that you have trotted out to me before.

And I will again, as you clearly don't understand it.

Islam is an ideology. It is not defined by what any Muslim wants it to be, but by what it is. No ideology is above critique - particularly one that explicitly seeks political and social dominance over every person on the planet.

Muslims are individuals. We passionately believe that no Muslim should be harmed, harassed, stereotyped or treated any differently anywhere in the world solely on account of their status as a Muslim.

As an ideology, Islam is not necessarily entitled to equal respect and acceptance, because ideas do not carry equal moral weight. Islam is not simply a belief about God. Islam is a word that means submission. Islam is a set of rules that define a social hierarchy in which Muslims submit to Allah, women submit to men and all non-Muslims submit to Islamic rule.

[soulflower]

Some muslims are bad people which means all muslims are bad people

[queenie]

Some muslims are bad people which means all muslims are bad people

exactly....and I could say the same thing about Christians.....the Muslims that I know follow a religion of peace, mercy, and forgiveness, and they have nothing to do with the extremely grave events which have come to be associated with their faith.

[musicmd]

It is Allah's will that they be allowed to rape their wives. Just as Mo raped children.

Allah means God are you making fun of God. You have no idea of what you are talking about.You are nothing but free entertainment.

[Jeebus]

Allah means God are you making fun of God.

Call a jihad, or a fatwa.

I couldn't care less what you believe.

[Grindelwald]

exactly....and I could say the same thing about Christians.....the Muslims that I know follow a religion of peace, mercy, and forgiveness, and they have nothing to do with the extremely grave events which have come to be associated with their faith.

I hope this is a joke. Most Christians are very good people.

[kudzu]

as a pork-eating, alcohol-drinking homosexual

You're pretty much f'd as far as all the major religions of the world are concerned.

[songfourone]

You're pretty much f'd as far as all the major religions of the world are concerned.

Most major religions are just plain f'd up.

[queenie]

I hope this is a joke. Most Christians are very good people.

I just figured out how to use the sarcasm font.....I believe that most people are good people until they stop thinking for themselves!!!

[Jeebus]

Most major religions are just plain f'd up.

Winner. The biggest difference is some are actually killing, maiming, stoning, beating, and otherwise oppressing - actively, today -- in the name of their religion.