Are Women Microbes that Spread Social Diseases?

Are women microbes that spread social diseases?
(Translation of article by Aishath Aniya published in ‘Minivan Daily’ on March 20, 2007)


With the tsunami that hit Maldives in 2004, a group of Maldivians pronounced it a curse from God. They linked the tsunami with the buruga or veil and took the message to the entire country through mass media such as CDs. From the way they link in their discourse, the current social issues in the Maldives such as drug addiction, breakdown of families, theft, etc., to the way women should cover their body; they suggest that the cause of all social illness is women. They preach that the society can be salvaged by getting women to hide behind the loosest and darkest clothing possible for life. Veiling of women is a subject they started talking about around twenty years ago. Before that, the subject was not under discussion.

If ideology is a system of ideas accepted without question, religion is the strongest ideology for people. Preachers of religions expect people to believe what they say about religion without question. They do not encourage people to question the reasons behind religious norms or laws. They say their duty is to tell others God’s words and God knows the best. Their behaviors compare to those of new self proclaimed messengers who came with strong powers.

Preachers of religions say that accepting religion is to believe it absolutely and without any doubt. Therefore, not many believers of a religion would question the laws in their own belief system. If they thought of inquiring a reason behind a religious order, they would immediately feel fear of transgressing their religion and the consequential harm of a curse that could befall on them. As a result, people who claim to be religious scholars have strong influence over the believers of that religion. Therefore, religious scholars are indeed, very dangerous.

People who claim to be Islamic scholars say that the reason for veiling women is not an issue to question. Upon inquiry on the subject, they point to Surat-al-Noor and Surat-al-Nisaa and many other chapters and verses in Quruan and Prophet Muhammad’s Readings, and say they instruct women to wear the veil. Some religious intellectuals say that it is not compulsory for women to veil themselves.

Quruan instructs and encourages Muslims to think and deliberate. Considering the differences between Arabic and Dhivehi, differences in meaning is possible. Besides, it is not possible for a person who does not understand Arabic to know if someone has conveyed to them the accurate translation of something in Arabic. So, it is only wise to use common sense in believing something said by someone holding the power derived from religious knowledge. Upon reflection, it is found that deeds discouraged in Islam are discouraged because they have negative consequences except for veiling which, when one thinks about it has no specific wrong for not doing so.

There are several contradictions in the issue of veiling. While reflecting on the issue, if veiling is to prevent or protect men from any wrongdoing that may result from the arousal created by the sight of a woman’s face, bosom, neck, nape or hair, then it is the women who is taking precautions for men’s expected act. Taking such a responsibility holds the same even for a minor.
Muslims believe that after death, everyone is made accountable for their deeds in life. Human beings are held responsible in the afterlife, for their acts in this existence. If a woman has to cover herself to avoid a man from any wrongdoing by the sight of her, it appears that the woman is questioned and made responsible for his act. But it is said that every one of us is responsible for our own acts. Such is the law of religion.

Homosexuality is a phenomenon that existed in the history of humanity. It shows that sexual attraction and sexuality is not restricted to relationships between opposite sexes. Men are sexually attracted to men and form relationships and women are sexually attracted to women and do similarly. Therefore veiling only women does not serve the purpose, men should be veiled too.

Human attractions are not limited to sexuality only. In Maldives, a large amount of money is stolen from the Public Treasury and corruption has become the fashion of the time. A huge amount of people remains locked up for theft. Therefore, veiling supermarkets is necessary to avoid materialism. If people cannot see goods inside, perhaps theft and robberies can be stopped.

Islam is a religion for all people and for all times. The fact that Islam is revealed in 500s, does not hold merit in believing that what happened then, would happen now and the way things were then, should be the same now. The claim that Islam is not for a particular time applies to then and now. It is therefore, more important to hold to principles than daily events. For example, earlier, in the distribution of bequest wealth, males are given double portions as compared to a single portion for females. Now males and females receive equal portions. The principle applied here is equality and the difference is the measure used to define equality or the scale used in measuring equality.

The difference between humans and other animals is the difference in their intelligence. Human beings have used their intelligence to create tools required for their survival and have continued to develop them accordingly. With their abilities, human beings developed languages clearer to communicate to each other than those between animals, and has organized their lives in a defined manner to continue living civilized lives. Such organization has continued to develop and advance. Reflecting on human history, there is no barbaric act that is new today. The instrument that stopped barbaric acts conducted in ancient times by human beings was the awareness of human rights, the measures of respect for others and individual freedom. In addition, laws, regulations, agreements and covenants played its role. In developed countries people are not at liberty to do whatever they want, in a way they want at any given time. Doing so cannot be called modernization.

It is only human to be attentive, curious, and suspicious of things that are concealed and in the event, have a desire to explore. A beautiful face of a woman concealed in a garb can create a desire in both males and females to wonder about the beauty of her concealed parts and take a look at them. In the 60s and 70s Maldivian women used to wear tight-fitting garments that expose their arms, armpits and legs. Witnessing such exposure was not an issue at that time since they are a commonly sight. It is the concealed parts of the body discussed even then as is now.

It has been said that woman cannot be state or government heads, judges or witnesses since women are emotionally weak and with such qualities women cannot think or act objectively or rationally on an issue. It is believed that compared to women, men are emotionally strong. However, in the event when a man sees a woman, men loose their emotional resolve and instantly their sexual desires overtake their rational thinking as it has to be understood that they lack patience in their lust for women, whereas the emotionally weak woman will never behave in such a manner. This is a wonder or a belief!

The issue is, nonetheless, a single one. The way men and women and the society perceive women. If humans believe they are in control of their feelings and emotions, they are in full control of their selves and behaviour. For men who believe women exist only to fulfill their sexual needs, every look they take at a woman is one filled with lust. For such men, the intelligence, intellect, skill and abilities of a woman is lost behind their own lust. Therefore, it is evident, where the problem is and who holds responsibility. This is the reality behind the mistreatment, harassment, assault and injustices that girls and women experience from men in the known history of the world until today. To be obsessed on the issue of covering women is an excuse to avoid facing the real issues and a display of weakness in addressing them. Is it women who should hold themselves responsible for the cowardice of men? Or is it one’s (men or women) conscience that must be held responsible?
(End)

(3rd draft of unofficial translation completed on March 30, 2007)