Why Do They Hate Us?

She isn't saying anything about Islam insanity. She is saying ARAB society. She is outright saying that they are not following their religion. So as I said before, it doesn't matter what it says in the Quran, because these men & governments aren't following the Quran.

".....It seems like she can't get past Mona's opinion of niqab, just like insanity, to actually understand what the article is about. Shame...."

Dear mimi, after reading the whole article I have presented two examples in my previous post which point towards her exaggeration/concoction to prove her point.

Also I posted a link with detailed explanation which proves from authentic islamic scriptures that it is the duty of man to satisfy his wife and vice verca.

No one here is debating that female circumcision is bad or that women do not have right to pleasure.

She mentioned story of girls being burnt because of islamists/salafists ideology which prohibit unrelated men from touching women.

Again this is a exaggeration because in Islam, even eating pork is allowed if it is a life and death situation.

So what I am trying to say is that she mentions some valid points but she is trying to portray the muslim society as a whole in bad light and criticizing islam directly and indirectly and linking these evils to islamists worshipping a "misogynist" god.

In Mona's defense fubar, she does spend a lot of her time here in the ME and was actively involved in the protests in Egypt, which I doubt Samia was.

Sorry Happy Happy, but I don't think that woman even read the article. Seems like she couldn't get past the cover picture. And what she did read I don't think she understood. Saying that Arab women need to be rescued? Where did she get that? Mona consistently talks about how Arab women are leading the fight themselves.

It seems like she can't get past Mona's opinion of niqab, just like insanity, to actually understand what the article is about. Shame.

Thanks for the article, Happy.

It's interesting to me that the plight of women living in the Middle East is being hotly debated by two women.

One living in New York.

One living in Washington.

At what point do we get to hear what women actually living in Egypt (or elsewhere in the region) actually have to say about how they are treated.

If Samia thinks that Mona doesn't have the authority to speak on behalf of 'us' (being Arab Muslim women) then does Samia have the right to dismiss her views as well?

As an aside, I'm not sure that Mona probably had much input into the image selection of the naked woman that was featured alongside her article. It's not typical for contributing authors to be selecting cover art. Frankly I think that Samia is over thinking the image somewhat. To me, the image was trying to put across the massage that under all that blackness, is a female human. A mother, sister or daughter. Someone who deserves respect.

You name it Mr. britexpat...:)

TFS.. Worth reading :O)

One of many other facets: "You Don't Represent Us"

http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2012/al-monitor/dear-mona-eltahawy-you-do-not-re.html

Whilst I agree with most of what she's said, I find that the word "hate" is probably wrong in this context. In addition, I find it strange that she complains about the Salafi Nour Party which fielded female candidates and gained seats in the Egyptian parliament.

:......here she paraphrases it for BBC and doesn't use the world Islam, Muslim, Quran or hijab once:..."

she had stated:

>>the kingdom is unabashed in its worship of a misogynistic God and never suffers any consequences for it

if you read her article carefully what she basically means is Islamists = misogynists

Many of the stories she has stated seems concocted; like for example:

===========================================

"...I'll never forget hearing that if a baby boy urinated on you, you could go ahead and pray in the same clothes, yet if a baby girl peed on you, you had to change. ..."

As per islamic teaching of a baby is less than 2 yrs and is on mothers milk then one does not get impure if the baby pees on you; nowhere there is separate mention about the rule for boys and girls and this is a well known fact.

The start of the article she quotes another egyptian writer "....Just as her husband denies her an orgasm, the call to prayer interrupts his, and the man leaves. ..."

This seems an exaggeration/concoction, because:

1) Prayer times have range of 1-2 hrs, so he can finish his act and then go for prayers if he wants

2) satisfying the physical needs of wife is an obligation upon the husband and it is clearly mentioned in islamic teachings (more detail read: http://meetmuslimsingles.com/articles/HowToTurnSexIntoSadaqa.aspx)

and there are more exaggerated stories similar to ones mentioned. Whereas the fact of matter is that women (and men) are more safe in Qatar UAE and Saudi than they are in US.

I felt more safe in UAE and Qatar than I ever felt in India (I was staying in mumbai)

So just by concocting stories she can't change the truth and the truth is that US is a country with one of the highest incidents of rape and crime against women inspire of all its chest thumping and proclamation to be the champions of women's right. However she won't write any such sarcastic and bitter articles against her western masters.

The article should Read "Why I hate them" instead of "why do they hate us" because all along it is mona who is denouncing islamists to be misogynist

Wonderful article!! Isn't she the same lady who was debating with a burkha clad lady on the full face veil issue in France..?

I like the way Bachus and Fubar have explained the problems here. I am with them.

I shouldn't draw such a comparison but I really feel its like the case of dogs, that were once wild like other animals, have become docile due to generations of domestication. And if a dog turns aggressive, its shot dead.

May Mona's tribe increase!!

when did I said Insanity is a woman?

xcuze me....

watch ur words...

real problems comes after a girl comes in ur lyf

girls need only a puppit in their lives

I totally agree wid u

MS pull his legs MM pull his arms and florr PULL HIS PANTS!

It's a “GENDER TEST” :D

Insanity is a man ....I made the same mistake too.

For those of you who seem to be having trouble reading the article, here she paraphrases it for BBC and doesn't use the world Islam, Muslim, Quran or hijab once:

&feature=youtu.be

Insanity isn't a woman, he says he's a man in this thread: http://www.qatarliving.com/node/2855153#comment-2098193

Flor1212: And is there hope...hmmm, good question....unless women unite, I'd say NO. As long as there are women like our very own "Insanity"

Insanity is a WOMAN! o_O!

Insanity, nowhere in the article does Mona say anything about wearing or not wearing hijab. Nowhere in the article does she say anything bad about the Quran. Nowhere in the article does she propose that the Middle East copies the West. What she is doing is pointing out oppressive laws and actions made my Arab men that are crimes against women. It doesn't really matter what the Quran says on the matter of virginity tests, because the police in Egypt are performing virginity tests anyway. It doesn't matter what the Quran says about executing rapists, because no country in the Middle East is executing rapists. It doesn't matter that the Quran gave rights to women because NO self proclaimed Muslim country is giving women these rights.

Why can't you point out the crimes against women in this society without it being an insult to Islam? I think the fact that these crimes are happening are insult to Islam enough aren't they?

"And is there hope...hmmm, good question....unless women unite, I'd say NO. As long as there are women like our very own "Insanity", I'd say NO"

Do you even think that "being united" is feasible? In the democratic world we would like to live, it is NOT to be united is the aim, it is to get the majority. There will always someone who will be different in views and opinions. It is just a matter who gets the majority!

And since you are the initiator of the word "CHOICE", let the other have their own and do not impose your will on others because you just disagree with someone. Unless you think you are SOLID good!

Insanity, well, I do not agree to banning the hijab. I suppose Mona does it because she does not believe that men or women will stop from forcing others to wear it. So she radically opposes it.

Going back to the islamic teachings that give women equal status, well, it would be nice if that were to happen. As it is, there are so many different schools of thought and interpretation that I assume Mona does not believe this will ever be possible, hence looks at the lesser evil, the West with "man made laws".

Insanity, I just think that women in general want to be able to make their own choices. Some want to make islamic choices, some don't. Both need to be able to do so, and both need to be respected.

And if a woman who does not wear hijab and has a boyfriend believes she is Muslim, then she should be able to do that.

You may not think she is, but if she does, then that is what is important. And that needs to be accepted.

Women should not be told what and what not to do BECAUSE they are women.Not by men and not by other women.

"...Insanity, how about giving women the choice to CHOOSE what they want to do?.."

Women have choice not only of their dress, they have choice even to chose their religion i.e. Islam does not force anyone to be a muslim. It is women like Mona who are against women wearing Hijab (even if it is out of their free will); it is she who supports banning of hijab.

Quran says:

========

There is no compulsion in religion. Verily, the Right Path has become distinct from the wrong path. Whoever disbelieves in Tâghût and believes in Allâh, then he has grasped the most trustworthy handhold that will never break. And Allâh is All-Hearer, All-Knower. (Al-Baqarah 2:256)

If a girl/women like Mona finds it so difficult to digest the islamic dress code then she is free to leave islam. By following Islam and obeying the commands of god she or for that matter anyone in this world is not doing a favor on God rather he is doing favor on himself.

Imagine most of the girls on QL start talking about women being given a choice the moment I talk about hijab (for women out of their free will to obey gods commands);

however not one of you is speaking against Mona who is against women who wear hijab out of choice. She proposes banning hijab.

So the point is are you in favor of choice OR are you against Hijab ??

Most of the non-muslims on QL are reading the articles of Mona and thinking that she is doing a great service to humanity by speaking up for women's right and against atrocities towards women in muslim societies;

However the crux of the matter is that even 1400 yrs ago muslim women had all the rights and freedom which women in western countries did not have even 100 yrs back.

So the problem in muslim societies which Mona is referring to is not because they are religious (to quote her "Obeying misogynist God") , rather it is because they are no longer religious and have forgotten the fundamentals of islamic religion which taught respect towards women and gave them full rights and equal status.

Hence, the solution to the problem is to go back to the Islamic teachings and give the same status to women which was provided to them during the reign of prophet PBUH and is mentioned in religious scriptures.

However the solution is not to ape the western culture which Mona is proposing as the west themselves haven't been able to get good output by following their man-made solution.

Thanks Fathimah, and I yours !

and you know, even if we may disagree every now and then,I still always value your opinions =))

ok Fathimah, I think now we are getting each others point :)

Ok maybe I should put it like this. Supposing a person knows hijab is obligatory and a commandment of God, but refuses to wear it all her life, yet suddenly only wears it cos she fears her husband will divorce her or she wants to make sure her dad doesn't cut her off her will, then this is the type of person I refer too. She didn't want to do it for God's sake, though she was aware of it's depth, but only did it for a worldly gain.

On the other hand, there will be women, perhaps a convert or just a person not aware of the ruling pertaining to hijab, who may then wear it to please her family/husband etc simply cos she was unaware.

Either ways both women will need to be shown clear proof from the Quran and Sunnah, and should they then chose to change or do otherwise it will be up to them.

And yes the truth is ultimately we cannot be a judge of anyone. It's upto God alone to judge us all.

Personally it does make me upset to see women doing things of Islam for the sake of a man, and then turning away from it moment he is gone. And sadly I've seen this too many times. In fact very recently a friend of mine, who is a convert, wore abayah for ages to please her man, and when he dumped her she chucked it saying, she was doing it for his sake so why bother, and that she knew this was wrong, so she's taking it off with the intention of wearing it only to please God, one day.....she's yet to get back into it though but who knows,perhaps one day she will. Though mind you,she is still my dear friend.

And Fathimah, there there is something else.....maybe God says something different to each of those who listen to HIM.

Despite what the books are saying that HE says.

Fathimah, with all due respect, and you know I do respect your opinion...what about those people who believe God says otherwise? Those people do exist, and they also are Muslim.

See, I have a problem with "this is what God says". There are a lot of people around who think they know what God says...and each and every one of those people says something else...and each and every one tries to make the other one believe that what THEY say is what God said. Because they read it in certain books..thing is there are many ways of understanding, individual ways of interpreting...no matter what which man ,woman or book says is "authentic".

So, all I am saying, as long as they do not hurt anybody, as long as they do not take rights away from others...let them be. Let them make their own choice.We are given free will, right? There is no compulsion in religion, right?

:)

This is not what I say. It's what God says. I am a mere mortal myself. It shouldn't matter what I think or say. God knows I'm far from a person who'll dictate anything to anyone. I'll only give them the proof from the Quran and the hadith, and then leave them to decide. And yes again I do respect them, but that's cos I'll respect all of God's creation who stays away from harming and oppressing others, be they Muslims or non Muslims.

This is why they hate us ):

&feature=related

Well Fathimah, yes, that is how YOU look at it.

But shouldn't people have the choice to look at it the way THEY want to?

I mean this whole problem arises due to somebody dictating something they deem right...and not respecting other people's views.

Nobody says you have to change what you do, but I think you should, as should everybody else, respect other people's choices.

The hijab is a part of worship. Just like praying, fasting, reciting the Quran, etc. These are acts of worship should be done only for Allah's sake. Not to gain some worldly reward from a mere mortal. It's not like I chose to cook curry to please my husband.A hijab is not like that. It's a commandment of Allah, and should only be done to please Him. Yes you can for example wear it knowing it is for Allah's sake and cos your husband/mother/sister etc advised you to do so. But your intention should be for God's sake first...pleasing them will only be secondary.

Fathimah..IF a woman makes the choice to wear hijab to please her family..SHE made this choice, not anybody else, why is that sinful?

I think it is only sinful if she is forced by somebody, and then the person forcing her is committing a sin.

Wherever we go we seem to gather much curiosity, so many judgmental comments ,so much harshness, so many insults, so many assumptions!So many abuses.. So much oppression!

Muslim men are always quick to point out how hijab is obligatory, yet when it comes to their own prescribed dress code many of them fall short. Oh but yes, they have all the "valid" excuses "we don't do it out of pride" "we need to work" "our bosses don't allow it" or worse still "It's only a sunnah, not obligatory" Puhleeeeeees! So Allah made an obligatory dress code for women and excused men??

Virginity tests? Did the Prophet order them? Nope. Did the Sahabah? Nope surely the next two generations of pious predecessors? nope again. Then why should we do it?? Cos you men don't trust us? Well neither do many women trust men so how ya gonna prove your purity?!But the jokes on the men really cos like it or not Allah will unite people accordingly.

And then you have those non Muslims, who would due to the evil acts of some so called Muslims, tar us all in the same brush. Our hijabs and niqabs are a butt of many a joke. We are called such awful names and some of us have even faced violent attacks. Why? Cos we choose to cover ourselves to please our God?

Oh and then there are those who try to come forward as our saviors. The "remove your hijab and life will be much better" types. No thanks...I'll keep my hijab on and make sure my life still gets better. Deal?

It's a constant fight for us really. A constant struggle..Allahu Must3aan. All we want is to be free and worship our Lord the way He wants us to. Not the way men think we should. Not the way other women think we should. The way Allah thinks we should.

Speaking of freedom. All acts of worship should be done by choice and freewill..period. A woman who wears hijab to please her husband/father/brother etc and not for Allah's sake, will be a worse sinner than the one who knows it's obligatory,respects it but doesn't adorn it herself. Why? Cos the latter is only committing a sin which Allah may or not forgive but the former is commiting shirk!Allah says in the Quran: There is no compulsion in religion(Surah Baqara). This pretty much sums it up!

Come what may, we can only keep up our struggle, from our own weaknesses and demons within ourselves, to those opposing us unjustly. And Insha Allah provided we are always fair and just, we will be of the successful!

Brit, even if equal rights, as they are for example written in the Qur'aan, are actually given...that does in no way mean that women are able to use them.You always have certain "interpretations" by "learned " MEN.

This whole thing is pretty useless unless the ME and other countries turn secular, as simple as that.

If religious men are allowed to wield power, there will be excessive abuse.

Brit, well, IF equality can be achieved in Asia and the Arab world, the last bastions of male dominance have been taken down. Well, there is Africa too...

And is there hope...hmmm, good question....unless women unite, I'd say NO. As long as there are women like our very own "Insanity", I'd say NO.

It is the typical problem...people are not united...that ring a bell?

Let's start with equal rights and work towards equality :O)

Nothing will change if people's mentality is not ready for it..

Surely it is a global issue -

If equality can be achieved in Asia and the Arab World, then there is hope for others ... or do you disagree ?

Ahhhhh....mankind :P

"WE" as mankind ...

Brit "WE" ? Is there a problem like this in the UK?

Or who are you talking about with "WE" ?

Helloooo

Interesting interview - surely the fact that she was able to speak so openly about the issues shows that we are moving in the right direction..

Stealth, no, not to do "anything". But to do what is legal, right and one's choice.

Qatari Writer Amal al-Malki argues why Arab Women still have no voice, the Arab Spring has only highlighted the continuing “second-class citizenship" of women in the region.

“We have no voice. We have no visibility... And I am telling you, this is why women’s rights should be institutionalised, it should not be held hostage at the hand of political leaderships who can change in a second, right? Governments should be held responsible for treating men and women equally.”

http://aje.me/JmvQAz

choice to do any thing?

Just remember the DeVinci Code :O)

Just remember the DeVinci Code :O)

LOL, you just gotta wait! It will come.

Mandi

Insanity, how about giving women the choice to CHOOSE what they want to do?

Mona wants to get the same kind of freedom that women get in the west;however if we follow the same system/process we will get the same output which the west is getting now namely:

1) High crime rate against women

2) Objectification of women

3) Women forced to work at home and out of homer and to take care of kids

4) Unwanted pregnancies

5) Lack of moral values, breaking of family ties, having extra marital affairs, different partners, STDs, depression et all

With respect to women leading prayers:

"...There's nothing in the koran to condemn it, but still most (men?) do...."

Quran says in chapter 16 verse 44 (16:44):

--------------------------------------

With clear signs and Books (We sent the Messengers). And We have also sent down unto you (O Muhammad SAW) the reminder and the advice (the Qur'ân), that you may explain clearly to men what is sent down to them, and that they may give thought. (An-Nahl 16:44)

So as per above verse of Quran we need to interpret and understand it as per the explanation and example set by the Prophet SAWS and followed by his companions.

We can't take the interpretation of any tom, dick, harry and mona

"....You don't believe that there are any problems with the rights of women in this region? You think it's ok that a girl was forced to marry her rapist in Morrocco, that 12 year olds are dying from child birth in Yemen, that a woman was imprisoned for driving and little girls burned to death in Saudi, and women are forced into virginity tests in Egypt....."

Lets talk with facts:

===========

- Women have more rights in this region (GCC countries) than most parts of the world including india from where i belong

- Women in middle east are much more safe than any other country (including US & UK)

- Countries topping in crimes of rape against women: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rape_statistics#UN_Statistics

- In the west women can legally become a PORN star and it will be considered as a profession while women like mona will never utter a word against these kind of people who are insult to womanhood but she has all the time in the world to attack islam and modestly dressed muslim women

She gave some isolated instances of atrocities against women in yemen, saudi etc.- the point is just check the statistics of rape across the globe; check the stats for US which has one of the highest rates of rape and compare to middle-east. Now if you go and read about each women who were raped in US their story will be equally disturbing as compared to the stories related to atrocities against women in middle-east.

However opportunists (like mona) aim is not to stop atrocities against women; their aim is to tarnish islam and muslims and islamic civilization and culture which will give people like her the exposure, coverage, name and fame which she can't if she raises the concern about high rate of crime against women in US OR the issue of US Soldiers raping women in IRAQ & Afghanistan etc.

All this has made me google the sorts of things that some women are complaining about in these countries.

For instance, is it allowed for women to lead prayers?

There's nothing in the koran to condemn it, but still most (men?) do.

Using religion to oppress the women-folk seems extraordinary to me.

Happy Happy, good luck and Godspeed to you and all the others on your side!

I'll keep all of you in my thoughts and prayers.

May Egypt rise again to glory...to all it can be!

Miss Mimi, Mandi, nomerci, and tinkerbell10 dears, thank you greatly for your support. Women all over the world are simply awesome.

And nomerci, I can hear you. All it takes is not religion nor high moral standards (although would've loved if that would be for real, but it is just mere utopia or science fiction to think those would replace laws),it is simply to put laws in place and ENFORCE them.

With all that said, the reality in my country is that laws are purely "MAN"-made, and so women are being subjugated at the whims of the police enforcement, by virtue of the bias law, and on the other hand by the "religion contempt" exercised by those self-proclaimed gods of the land, who contempt the Divine scripture by reducing it to their mundane myopic interpretation.

You asked about what power to apply to straighten things up? The answer is the power of the boiling Egyptian street. Tahrir is the only lobbying that works so far.

P.S. Mandi, you are greatly missed..

That;s why I say "Let them figure out their own s h i t. Let's stay out of it.

Most of them only blow a lot of hot air with nothing to follow up anyway.

LOL, and I will respond with the response that Mona already wrote!

Waiting, waiting ... the next response will be, "These things happen in the US, the West, the UK, everywhere."

Mandi

So what she says has absolutely no value because you don't believe she is a muslim insanity? You don't believe that there are any problems with the rights of women in this region? You think it's ok that a girl was forced to marry her rapist in Morrocco, that 12 year olds are dying from child birth in Yemen, that a woman was imprisoned for driving and little girls burned to death in Saudi, and women are forced into virginity tests in Egypt.

Waiting, waiting ... Yup, there it is! Not a real Muslim, i.e., sinner, kaffir.

Mandi

As a conclusionto her article she writes:

"....You -- the outside world -- will be told that it's our "culture" and "religion" to do X, Y, or Z to women. Understand that whoever deemed it as such was never a woman...."

As per islam god almighty asked women to wear Hijab. She is against hijab completely.

There are 2 things w.r.t Islamic beleief:

-------------------------------------------

1) If reject/you dont beleive in something prescribed in Islam even if it is a single verse of Quran or a single command mentioned in sunnah (teachings of prophet) then you go out of the folds of Islam (become a kaafir)

2) You agree but you are unable to follow - you are sinner.

Here she is indirectly mocking at islamic teachings and at god and MM says that she is not against Islam ??

If she was not against Islam she would not have become popular in the first place. Remember all tasleema nasreens, rushdies and monas have muslim names - strange you cant see the similarity in their ideology.

And then there is this :http://www.qatarliving.com/node/2855153

I am referring to post no. 11. By "insanity".

LOL TB. I was just thinking that!

Good idea, I'd like to follow her.

Mandi

Yup. Perhaps I should send a link to Mona on facebook. :)

And the next comment is, "Then they're not really a Muslim..."

Mandi

Well a Muslim did insanity.

I have read the article also. To give you an example

She rants referring to KSA:

==========================

"....but because the kingdom is unabashed in its worship of a misogynistic God and never suffers any consequences for it, thanks to its double-whammy advantage of having oil ........."

No muslim on earth can use such language.

LOL!

Not sure your suggestion is possible, MM, due to some literacy issues.

Mandi

Insanity I highly suggest you read the whole article rather than making a fool of yourself by only commenting on the part I posted.

"....You -- the outside world -- will be told that it's our "culture" and "religion" to do X, Y, or Z to women. Understand that whoever deemed it as such was never a woman...."

First of all it is amply clear she is alluding to Islam & Muslims (as this will give her more political mileage).

Now, Muslims beleive that Allah is neither male nor female, so she wants to say that these were rules made by men then she is wrong.

".....The Arab uprisings may have been sparked by an Arab man -- Mohamed Bouazizi, the Tunisian street vendor who set himself on fire in desperation -- but they will be finished by Arab women...."

Why wait till finish ?? The MAN who started the revolution was born to a WOMEN so whats her point now ??

".....Amina Filali -- the 16-year-old Moroccan girl who drank poison after she was forced to marry, and beaten by, her rapist -- is our Bouazizi. Salwa el-Husseini, the first Egyptian woman to speak out against the "virginity tests";........"

1) Virginity tests is forbidden in Islam

2) Forced marriage is forbidden in Islam

3) Rape is a punishable offense in Islam and the punishment is death penalty (Which is much stricter than any man-made laws currently in place)

"......We are more than our headscarves and our hymens......."

Yes and women are more than plastic surgeries, bikinis, waist sizes and fad diets

Fubar, it is not only about choice, it is also about RESPECT. Respecting the choice others make.

And respect seems to be rather elusive in certain societies.

Happy Happy, I saw that coming. I even made a wager with an Egyptian friend about a year ago. That time, this friend was ready to wager a substantial amount against me...today he is ready to pay up, sadly. Of course, I do not take his money...BUT, IMHO, it is all about mentality, and the mentality has not changed...and IMHO, it will take a long time, if ever, to change.

I think force has to applied in the beginning, so that habits are formed, and become natural.

But who CAN apply this power and keep it going?

Brit, to 'prefer' something, as you've written above, is to make a choice. And making a choice is exactly what this thread is about. Unfortunately many women don't have the freedom to make choices.

Happy Happy, as usual you gladden my heart, habibti. May Allah bless you now and always, brave lady.

Mandi

I would love too Happy Happy! That would be amazing!

Brit, just because some want everyone to make decisions for them, doesn't mean that they have the right to take that away from others.

It takes all sorts to make up this world. Some women and even men do prefer to have their partner make all the decisions for them..

The fight in Egypt is far from over. The old regime is revived but in fake beard and religious cloak which is even more dangerous. One of "their" parliament members called to revoke harassment laws because men "cannot help it" and it is always "women's fault". I think even dark ages was a better place for women!

Miss Mimi, care to join an all-out women protest next month in the heart of Cairo?..:))

"his wife didn't want the headache of living in a villa and having to drive the kids to school and do the shopping herself. She was happy to be in a compound in Saudi and let the driver take care of things.."

I'd love someone to do my errands, but that doesn't mean I want someone to run my life and make decisions for me.

I want to say that some men are fearful of what might happen if women are free - they might get raped or sexually abused or acid thrown in their face.

But that stuff is happening anyway - genital mutilation and abuse of young girls going to school isn't a problem because secularist modernists are doing it...

Brit, tell me about it...:P

Exactly TB. Respect begets respect. Surely it's a relief not to have to make every decision for yourself, and to know that you have support from your partner. Not only that, but men have been running governments forever, perhaps women might be able add something to the mix. Hard to do when they are such a minority in office.

Fubar, I do not think so. I truly do believe it is all about power.

Look at the men who advocate and practice this life style. Look at their mannerisms, their body language. It does tell you ONE thing..."I am in power".

And they have absolutely no desire to let go of this.

Of course, this is a very obvious weakness of character, and shows very clearly that, in reality, they live in a house of cards.

And yes, maybe you are right...maybe they are afraid that this house of cards is fragile.....

A valid point.. I recall a colleague who moved to Dubai from Saudi singing the praises of Dubai. He was back after a year. Reason ? His wife didn't want the headache of living in a villa and having to drive the kids to school and do the shopping herself. She was happy to be in a compound in Saudi and let the driver take care of things..

Having said that, I don't believe that men are scared of women. They are perhaps scared of the changes in relationships that can occur when women have greater say and greater power.

As Happy Happy said - tings are changing albeit slowly and I am sure they will accelerate as women begin to assert themselves.

Miss Mimi, exactly! CHOICE is again the keyword here.

I was being somewhat sarcastic with the whole scared of women thing. Yes I agree with you and MN, fubar. It is more fear of change and reluctance to give up power.

However, I think if men actually started giving women some power they might find it a bit of a relief. Not to mention that crimes against women would decrease.

I wonder if it is less to do with being fearful of women per se, and more to do with just being fearful of change. Do some men maybe see society as so fragile that and slight movement and a whole house of cards will come tumbling down?

Hmmm. I know plenty of men scared of responsibility as well NM. But you do have a point. Fine if you don't want to be free yourself, but why do you have to ruin it for everyone else?

hm

Mimi, I don't think they are scared. I think it is all about power. Once you have it, you don't want to give it up.

On the other hand, what we also have to recognize is, that there are women who do not want "freedom". Not because they don't know better, no, it is actually the opposite, they DO know...and they also know that with freedom comes responsibility. And this is where it ends.

LOL. Well you know what they say "you can't trust anything that bleeds for 6 days and doesn't die." ;)

Very true TB. I wonder what it is about us that scares men so much?

Democracy vs Education/empowerment is rather like a chicken and egg question.

Brit, are you of the belief that democracy will bring more education and empowerment?

I'm more in the camp that social change will bring about education and empowerment, and that in turn will be what brings about democracy.

Incidentally I'm not trying to say that these things only happen in a linear fashion, and only one action or change can lead to a single outcome. It's just hard for me to imagine these countries saying to their poorly educated subjects "okay, time for us to step down and let you determine your own path".

The gestation of new democracies, and new social orders, is endlessly fascinating to me.

That's just my opinion, from outside the region. What do more local people think?

IMHO, democracy can't be "ordered". Democracy has to grow. The mind of people has to be ready for it. As it is, Democracy offers choice,with choice comes responsibility.

Need I say more?

Democracy? With what is going on now? Don't hold your breath!

I suppose it all depends on the society and the influences. As real democracy takes hold, women will naturally find their voice - no matter what the extremists say.

I do believe though that they will have to fight and make their voices heard before real change occurs..

I've heard of many women being harassed. Glad to hear Egyptian women are being so strong and pro-active Happy Happy. If there's anything I can do to help spread the word drop me a PM ;)

I agree with you, Brit. Education will afford women the opportunity to be able to chose their own destinies. They won't be reliant on their husbands to support them, and they will possess the ability to see the world around them in sharper focus.

But the big question will be whether women will need to fight for these rights, or whether the patriarchies will see that denying women rights isn't, well, right.

She hints toward the end of the article that the growing influence of groups whose religious views are a bit more 'extreme' is putting womens empowerment into jeopardy.

I would hate to see this turned in to some nasty fight where men and women are forced to chose between religion and feminism, rather than reconciling that the two do have a lot of overlap.

Miss Mimi. Agreed. Just for the record, Mona wasn't the only one harassed and left with a broken arm during the protests. She was very lucky not to have go through what many had to go through, only because of her US passport that managed her out of the distress.

Many women protesters have been subjected to this same method that, later we have found out, has been systemically used against women to scare us away and to have us "sit" home.

Well, thanks to the SCAF and the fake-bearded, who are both dreaming to continue to rule the country, we, WOMEN, are organizing a large-scaled street graffiti events and awareness campaigns against mistreatment of women.

The article is slightly biased but highlights some very pertinent issues. It is more about women's rights and the status of women in society.

The answer is education, education, education and laws to protect gender bias.

Agree Happy Happy. Women are not 100% free anywhere in the world. Just now in the US there are huge fights going on about contraception, abortion and the rights of women.

And I do question how much of this essay is coloured by Mona's continuing (and totally justified) feelings of anger after being sexually assaulted in Cairo during the protests.

However, I think this is a brilliant essay, and it shouldn't be thrown off as just anti-Muslim propaganda.

The article is well written. I believe with the ongoing revolution there would be no more "social" taboos to have to keep under wraps anymore.

However, heavy-handed social pressure varies from country to country in degree and severity, yet it remains global.

Having said that and I'll always repeat this, I have not found my freedom as a woman anywhere I've been to around the world, so far, but have found most of my human rights in the West as opposed to the Middle East, where men and women are alike, left with no rights at all. Only rulers are entitled to those. But we are writing a new history now.

It's the "devil you know" isn't it Fubar? I mean, if you spend your entire life being told the sky is pink and then one day someone comes and tells you that it's blue, your not likely to listen to them, and very likely to be scared by the idea.

I don't know colt. there are plenty of stupid women out there too--a less eloquest way of saying that fubar has a point.

Some women, and it would be interesting to study just how many, must be more or less content to live in societies that outsiders like us consider repressive or constraining. I wonder why that would be? Aside from the idea that they have probably been indoctrinated to believe that this is the way it 'needs' to be, do you think perhaps some women 'enjoy', if I can use that term, the structure that these societies offer? Maybe they feel secure knowing their place, and having so few expectations placed on them?

Perhaps having lived in cages for so long they have grown reliant on the support they get from male family members, and would be terrified at the idea of having to fend for themselves.

It's almost like a form of Stockholm syndrome, perhaps?

most??? IMO, ALL should!

@Colt45

I think most women would trade men not opening the door for them for not being stoned, mutilated and forced to dress a certain way.

Don't throw that chivalry "sheet" in my face when I don't open the car door for you, or offer you that seat on the bus :-P... j/k ;-)

....im sorry but i had to jus get in here..... i cant stand the smell of hypocrasy wen i see it...classic example.....samjarhab!!! cheez!!

anyways my two cents.... its jus male chauvanism....and its totally wrong.....U GO MY SISTAH'S!!!!

If it's any consolation, I love you WOMEN and in my eyes, you are all EQUAL :-)

I do like this passage:

So: Yes, women all over the world have problems; yes, the United States has yet to elect a female president; and yes, women continue to be objectified in many "Western" countries (I live in one of them). That's where the conversation usually ends when you try to discuss why Arab societies hate women.

But let's put aside what the United States does or doesn't do to women. Name me an Arab country, and I'll recite a litany of abuses fueled by a toxic mix of culture and religion that few seem willing or able to disentangle lest they blaspheme or offend. When more than 90 percent of ever-married women in Egypt -- including my mother and all but one of her six sisters -- have had their genitals cut in the name of modesty, then surely we must all blaspheme. When Egyptian women are subjected to humiliating "virginity tests" merely for speaking out, it's no time for silence. When an article in the Egyptian criminal code says that if a woman has been beaten by her husband "with good intentions" no punitive damages can be obtained, then to hell with political correctness. And what, pray tell, are "good intentions"? They are legally deemed to include any beating that is "not severe" or "directed at the face." What all this means is that when it comes to the status of women in the Middle East, it's not better than you think. It's much, much worse. Even after these "revolutions," all is more or less considered well with the world as long as women are covered up, anchored to the home, denied the simple mobility of getting into their own cars, forced to get permission from men to travel, and unable to marry without a male guardian's blessing -- or divorce either.

vokay MM.

I read it everyday cherukkan.

Miss Mimi, Sorry to ask. Are you a regular reader of Huffington Post or you just googled to get some articles like this one?

Yes Xena, because the religion practiced in this region is Islam. However, it is not saying anything about Islam, rather its highlighting the misogynist laws and customs in this region.

exactly Colt, its that some people choose what they want to see. Wait, its not even that, they try to twist things to what "they want others to see"

Yes Colt, it's mostly directed to the status of women in the Middle East and North Africa.

It is not a shot at Islam.

We are more than our headscarves and our hymens. Listen to those of us fighting. Amplify the voices of the region and poke the hatred in its eye. There was a time when being an Islamist was the most vulnerable political position in Egypt and Tunisia. Understand that now it very well might be Woman. As it always has been.

Read more: http://www.qatarliving.com/node/2859821#ixzz1sqe83gDc

This passage shows its the fight of the Muslim woman.

Isn't the article about "WOMEN" per se and not "Muslim" women???

I am a Muslim, and if I booze(alcohol) that doesnt mean Islam is full of boozers, if I rape a girl, please dont add to religion in that matter. and please dont or spread the news that all muslims are rapist...

there are millions of Muslim, who dont practice islam as per the Authentic scripture. In Islam there is no liberal, or hardhship etc....

there is only one kinda people available here, those who follow what allah (SW) Instruction. and those who didnt practice Islam as per the Quran, instead they carry a name that Muslims have.

By that logic, Amal Al Malki is also anti-Muslim?

http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/talktojazeera/2012/04/201242111373249723.html

Interesting...

Women have an equal place in society and Islam. If women get subjected to the hijab and virginity tests then so should the men.

Men should always travel with a female chaperone to stop then visiting loose women and taking holidays in Bangkok with their friends for illicit activities.

Look at Sheika Moza and the important role she plays for the future.

TFS

It's an article from a newspaper and it was written by a Muslim. Try paying attention.

It's an article by Mona Eltahawy, who is Muslim, and it is not criticizing Islam, but rather the men who say they practice it.

i think she is posting an article from a newspaper.

NOT her thoughts.