It is difficult to say where we draw the line on imposing our beliefs on another culture. This is one of the ethical questions that plagues me; is it wrong for this father, in his firm belief (both religious and traditional) that his killing of his daughter in the name of honor is justifiable? In his own country and culture, it is. Do we then force our beliefs upon a country? One who believes that we are the evil force because we allow such dishonorable events to occur?
Man Regrets Not Killing Daughter At Birth: ”
Another person driven insane by religion: ‘My daughter deserved to die for falling in love’.
Two weeks ago, The Observer revealed how 17-year-old student Rand Abdel-Qader was beaten to death by her father after becoming infatuated with a British soldier in Basra. In this remarkable interview, Abdel-Qader Ali explains why he is unrepentant – and how police backed his actions.
For Abdel-Qader Ali there is only one regret: that he did not kill his daughter at birth. ‘If I had realised then what she would become, I would have killed her the instant her mother delivered her,’ he said with no trace of remorse.
Two weeks after The Observer revealed the shocking story of Rand Abdel-Qader, 17, murdered because of her infatuation with a British solider in Basra, southern Iraq, her father is defiant. Sitting in the front garden of his well-kept home in the city’s Al-Fursi district, he remains a free man, despite having stamped on, suffocated and then stabbed his student daughter to death.
Abdel-Qader, 46, a government employee, was initially arrested but released after two hours. Astonishingly, he said, police congratulated him on what he had done. ‘They are men and know what honour is,’ he said…
‘I have only two boys from now on. That girl was a mistake in my life. I know God is blessing me for what I did,’ he said, his voice swelling with pride.
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(Via The J-Walk Blog.)
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I’m all for religious rights, as long as they don’t infringe on others’ human rights. That’s where I draw the line.
You and me and just about everybody in a society that has progressed in its thinking.
But these folks just do not think that way. Until as a society they realize and recognize human rights of women, they will continue in the belief that they are right.
I wonder how much good it would do to point out to these men that when they behave that way they’re not worshiping God. They’re worshiping men in general and themselves in particular. I think the more progressive Muslims have that figured out. It’s actually a more cultural problem than a religious one. Some Muslims, just as some Christians, some Jews, and some others, are still living in the dark ages. Look at Warren Jeffs and his followers. Look at the Catholic Pope’s continuing policy regarding birth control, even though he’s now spoken out against polluters, and overpopulation is a major cause of pollution.
I had a thought the other day, concerning Islam. As a religion it’s 600 years younger than Christianity. Six hundred years ago, around 1408, Christians were still behaving badly all over Europe toward anyone of a different faith or who veered from the standard accepted beliefs of mainstream Christianity. There were various factions splitting off and becoming mortal enemies, wanting to kill each other, just as there are factions of Islam warring with each other now. Perhaps Islam is at a similar point in its evolution as a religion as Christianity was then.
My theory is flawed, though, because it doesn’t account for why Buddhism never went through that, as far as I know, and it’s 600 years older than Christianity. Perhaps we just don’t remember that phase — or I don’t because I don’t know the history well enough. And why, in Hinduism, which is far older than Buddhism, are some women almost as denigrated today as some Muslim women? Even though Hinduism incorporates many powerful goddess figures? But perhaps that’s more cultural than religious, too.
I suppose it’s about fear of losing control. Giving women any power over their own lives scares some very insecure men witless, because they can’t imagine what will happen when they give up control. At the same time, there are women who are frightened to take control of their lives. After all, in some ways it is easier to have someone else make all their decisions, to stay with what they’re accustomed to. The men may fear on some level that their women will leave them if they’re free to. But if women are so valueless, why should that frighten those men?
It’s all about control and ownership of another human — slavery is what it boils down to. Religion is just a convenient excuse.
It is enough to give one a headache, just thinking about it.
I suspect you’re right on the control issue. I just cannot fathom a father, or a brother, murdering their own no matter how serious they believe the cause as just.