You know, I just don't know what, or perhaps it's how, to think about some things. Via Feminist Philosophers, I read in their post, Deadly Crush, about the 'honor' killing of Rand Abdel-Qader, a 17 yo Iraqi girl. She was killed by her father and two uncles bc she had become friendly with a 22 yo British soldier, 'Paul', in Basra. She and Paul met when she volunteered to work with the needy of Basra. I don't know if Paul was also a volunteer or if it was part of his job as a soldier. Apparently, it wasn't much of a relationship. It sounds like she had a crush on him and their interaction consisted of a chat here and there.
And that was sufficient cause for her father to murder her. From a Guardian article:
Rand, who was studying English at Basra University, was deemed to have brought shame on her family after becoming infatuated with a British soldier, 22, known only as Paul.
What I do and do not think:
- I do think this was a heinous murder and that the father and uncles should be punished for killing the girl.
- I don't think this happened bc Islam is inherently a crazy religion, although I do believe that it may be irrational to believe in any religion (haven't decided on that score yet).
- I do think this happened, in part, bc these individuals believe their religion, as they practice and interpret it, supports their actions.
- I do think this happened, in part, bc the society in which these individuals live, a society which is heavily influenced by a central religion, supports their actions.
Longtime readers will recall that I have not developed final thoughts on religion. I understand the pull, the attraction of religion. I see religion as fulfilling a psychological role for people: it provides comfort, hope and the like. I've often thought of the so-called positive psychological roles provided by religion. Yet religion also provides what I consider negative roles. The above killing has nothing to do with 'honor' and everything to do with controlling women.
There's a lot of talk about tolerance: religious, sexual, cultural, etc. It's relatively easy to be tolerant of non-extreme views. I might think they're unfounded, irrational, impractical or the like, but as long as they don't cross a line-determined-by-me, I can tolerate them. That's no big achievement, since I don't really give up much to tolerate them.
I cannot tolerate a view that:
- controls the bodies and thoughts of women and girls - half the population;
- abuses to the point of murder the bodies of women and girls;
- values women and girls - again, half the population! - so little;
- calculates familial honor on individual honor.
I could go on, but I'm sure you get the point.
Yes, I understand that there are moderate and liberal Muslims who decry honor killings, the societies that support honor killings and the interpretations of Islam used to justify honor killings. But where are they and their condemnation of honor killings?
OTOH, why should I or anyone else look to moderate and liberal Muslims to condemn honor killings? What obligation, if any, do these people have to voice their condemnation? E.g., in the U.S., if a fundie Christian murders an abortion provider, Christians of all stripes (except those shared by the fundie murderer) condemn the murder. Just bc that happens here doesn't mean it should happen anywhere.
OTOH, I think anybody who very publicly brooks fundie Islam greatly risks death, injury, ruin, etc., not only to themselves, but to their family and friends. I can sit here and type, Why aren't they speaking up?, seeing as I'm not the one who's going to be murdered for speaking against fundie Islam.
OTOH, I wonder if moderate and liberal Muslims are speaking out and I'm just not exposed to it. Are such protestations covered in non-U.S. media? Non-western media? If so, I would be most interested in being directed to such coverage.
At bottom, if moderate and liberal Muslims are not speaking out in significant number, I wonder what it is that keeps them from doing so. Fear of retribution? Loyalty to fellow religionists, no matter how extreme? Apathy? Familial and/or cultural pressures? I wonder if it's the case that, bc I know so little about Muslim societies, there are disincentives to speaking out of which I'm unaware? Insights are most welcome.
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