Explain to me how it is just to punish a 19 year old woman who was gang raped by 7 men with 200 lashes and 6 months in prison? After an appeal - four of the rapists got off with 5-10 year sentences for their heinous crime. The three others must have been really well connected - they are still awaiting sentencing. Most of the rapists were married and had families of their own. Excuse my ignorance, but shouldn’t they have had the death sentence according to Sharia law?

Exactly what texts and references are these judges using – because honestly – I have no idea what and who they represent. It is an insult to me that they call themselves Islamic judges.

What kind of society punishes a victim of such an appalling crime?

Shame on the judges of Qatif. Their absolute rejection of the rights and value of women is frightening to me. They chose to humiliate the victim rather than punish the perpetrators. This is purely tribal law, in no way does this reflect the values of Islam. I wish someone somewhere can hold these judges accountable.


Sadly, this is a replay of Mukhtara’s story, the young woman from Pakistan that was raped by order of a tribal court. When are we as Muslims and as civilized human beings going to stand up and say enough? Its almost as if we are back in the Jahiliyah days when they used to bury their girls alive.

Khalil Gibran International Academy opening celebrated by AAFSC

By: Lena Alhusseini

 
 
NEW YORK, September 6, 2007 (Arabisto.com):

 
Tuesday, September 4th was a special day in New York City, with the opening of the Khalil Gibran International Academy (KGIA), the City's first public school that will focus on Arabic language instruction. The Arab-American Family Support Center is proud to be associated with a school that will teach students to become lifelong learners and global citizens.

 

As the school's lead community partner, AAFSC would like to thank all of the people who worked tirelessly on creating KGIA. The school would have never come to fruition without the hard work and dedication of the 11-member KGIA Design Team. This team, comprised of people of all faiths and nationalities, sacrificed many nights and weekends to develop the concept of the school. Our heartfelt appreciation goes out to all of them!

 

We would also like to thank our partners in this endeavor, New Visions for Public Schools and the New York City Department of Education. Both New Visions and the DOE worked closely with AAFSC and the Design Team to make this school a reality. This was truly a collaborative effort with many people working together to create and open KGIA.

 

The Khalil Gibran International Academy is a unique school that will be a valuable addition to the New York City public school system. Learning Arabic will give all students of New York City the opportunity to compete in a global workplace.

 

AAFSC is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit, non-sectarian organization that was created to serve the frequently marginalized Arab immigrant community of New York City. The first and largest Arabic-speaking social service agency in New York, our mission is to help new immigrants become mo... [Read More]

The vision of the young girl who was murdered in Iraq in an “honor” killing still haunts me. The idea that a mob, a group of men, believed that they have a right to be the judge, jury and executioners of this young woman shocked me to the core. I guess I forget what its like sometimes. I forget that in today’s 21st century Middle East and neighboring countries, some of the most archaic, brutal and uncivilized tribal laws are still upheld and defended.

 

There is something inherently wrong with a system that nullifies and abuses the rights of the most vulnerable. No religion in the world allows for this brutality– but our political and religious leaders support it by refusing to condemn it.

 

One of the first acts the new Iraqi government did was to restrict and change laws that empower women. That was a priority for todays Iraq. According to a UN report - in January and February of this year-more than 40 women were murdered in honor killings in Iraq – a sharp increase.

 

Globally, it is estimated that around 5000 women are killed every year from honor killings. The status quo will not change without a social, political and religious outcry against laws that protect and pardon those that are involved in honor killings. Every Middle Eastern country makes amends to honor crimes, including progressive countries such as Jordan and Morocco– a fact that totally baffles me.

 

Of course - domestic violence is a serious issue in every culture – but at least there are laws that protect and punish, and support systems to help and empower. Many women are killed and abused by their batterers – but those batterers are tried and sentenced. There is still much more to be done in terms of justice for victims, but at least we are working towards a better system – not going backwards. I refuse to accept that nothing can be done.

 ... [Read More]

Marhaba to all.


This is my first post to Arabisto and I’m really glad to be a part of this online community. Thank you Nadia for inviting me to join!

 

It’s hard to choose a topic to start with. The most interesting quote I heard this week was from my friend Ms. Manal Radwan. In a panel presentation on women’s empowerment, she stated, “When women’s rights are not protected, men’s rights are equally violated”. What a great comment! True on so many levels – and I’ll illustrate this concept with the issue of international parental custody as it related to Middle Eastern Countries. As far as I know – in Islam – the child’s welfare is paramount and the child’s right to its parents is to be respected.

 

Children should ideally have the support and emotional comfort of having easy access to both parents in a safe and supportive environment. Why is it that in the Middle East we do not have any remedy to address the critical ever-growing issue of international child custody – sometimes termed as abduction? It’s as almost as if Middle Eastern countries have decided to aid and abet in the cycle of power and control, and view families at risk as opposing sides and each country will only support it's citizen with the tribal “with or against us” policy. Currently the all too familiar scenario of the father abducting the children to his home country and the mother completely unable to access or contact her children is the norm.

 

There are more cases between Egypt and Saudi or Jordan and the UAE than there are cases of parental abduction between the Middle East and USA. What prevents us from adopting a civilized system where parents agree (helped by laws, policies and processes such as mediation) on sharing custody and ensuring the well being of their children in a civilized manner? With the curr... [Read More]