Responding Farzana and Zahid’s Letters

THIS IS in response to letters by Mrs Farzana hassan and Mr Zahid Jamil.

Mrs Farzana says, “The writer asserts that a woman must be allowed to exercise her "personal choice" to cover up entirely.

This is precisely the premise I am challenging.  It is no longer a matter of "personal choice" but an encroachment on society when a woman refuses to reveal her identity.
Moreover, such choices are hardly legitimate except for the isolated case.  They are the result of brainwashing by peers, society or parents coupled with theological fear-mongering. 

We are eager to endorse these "choices" while we refuse to acknowledge the rights of women who are indeed coerced into wearing such attire.”

I agree with her that choices are not absolute and I have been advocating for long that “freedom of choice” should only mean a choice between several forms of good and not between good and bad. There is no justification in allowing rank bad or dangerous choices to people. The most dangerous choices that are being given to the people at the behest of the market forces are:

* the choice of getting naked;

* the choice of sex outside marriage;

* the choice of becoming part of commercial sex, either as the seller or purchaser; (promiscuity, promiscuity, homosexuality, etc kill more than 5 million people every year through AIDS)

* the choice of drinking alcohol and smoking (Combined they kill more than 4.8 million);

* the choice of killing oneself; and above all; (Kill more than 2.8 million);

* the choice of killing one’s children (abortion). (Kills more than 60 million premature children.);

* the choice of gambling. (It kills more than 2 million)

 These choices are not only killing more than 70 million men, women and children every year but also disturbing the lives, directly by way of diseases or indirectly to the problems of the families, of at least 20 times more. Let’s fight these choices, Farzana, and if you or somebody else organizes a demonstration against these “choices”, I will surely like to travel to be a part of it.  You will have to agree with me that though “burqa’ may not be the best of the choices, it certainly does not fall in the category of rank bad or dangerous choices This does not mean however that I support those who campaign for covering the faces. Covering the face is certainly not obligatory, but if anyone chooses to cover her face, she must have the right to do so. This is another matter that this right must be subject to public order, and a woman should not hide her face at paces where it is required for security reasons.

Mr Zahid Jamil says, “It would be wrong to suggest that an average western girl who may be scantly dressed as per eastern standards is sexually corrupt or that men from east have higher moral standards compared to their western counter parts. A relatively less dressed girl in the streets of New York or Sydney is less likely to get remarks from passers by than a better dressed girl walking in the streets of Karachi or Delhi. Eve teasing is common in a country like India while an untoward incident at work place may put a man in trouble due to strict sexual harassment laws in many western countries. Percentage of men amusing themselves in brothels of Bombay or Calcutta will not differ much to that of London or Paris. Sex trade in eastern countries is not only prevalent but it is also extremely corrupt and criminal and it has been so for centuries. Girls are stolen, sold, forced into sex trade and exploited which does not happen in western countries.”

I have to say the following:

1. I do not attack people; an evil is an evil whether in West, Islamic countries or Indian subcontinent. I always feel that people of all countries have similar tendencies. It is the system that conditions their behaviour and it is the systems and philosophies rather than the people that I attack;

2.  I only attack Westernism that has now assumed global proportions; I avoid attacking West or Western people; I feel that Western people were the first victims of Westernism promoted by the market forces;

3. Eve teasing is certainly a much pettier crime than rapes, which are much commoner in Western countries than in Islamic countries; India is fast catching West in commercialization of sex and its adverse effects including sexual assaults and prostitution. (The difference between eve teasing and rape is almost the same as between sledging and murder.)

4. Prostitution, pornography and promiscuity are the most dangerous practices, whether forced or voluntary.

(Dr Javed Jamil is the Executive Chairman of International Centre for Applied Islamics India. He can be reached at e: mail: doctorforu123@yahoo.com>)