Muslim myth # 1431: women are respected in Islam.
Acid attacks are one of the most brutal forms of Islamist violence. They are also on the increase. These vicious assaults are not designed to kill, rather they are fashioned to maim and disfigure the victim beyond recognition so that they are left to live their lives in a constant state of shame, ridicule and rejection. Survivors are left with vivid memories of the attack and are forced to adapt to lifelong psychological distress, acute anxiety and fear, knowing that their attacker(s) will most likely be set free, able to return to repeat the abuse as he sees fit. Eighty percent of acid attack victims are girls and women and of that number, 40% are under the age of 18.
The Islamic Republic of Pakistan has the second largest Muslim population in the world after Indonesia. A conservative nation ruled by sharia, it should come as no surprise to anyone that it is also one of the countries with high incidents of acid throwing along with Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Iran, India and among the Muslim Chan in Cambodia. Pakistan has little legislation against such violence. Article 209 of Iran’s constitution states that a woman’s life is valued only half as much as a man’s, leaving women ripe for violent sexual, physical and psychological abuse, social ridicule and harassment. They in turn are further victimized by a legal system void of equality under the law deeming them little better than cattle. Iranian courts do not provide women any protection from abusive husbands. The plight of the Iranian woman is depicted in the story of this woman: Continue Reading →







