Gender Based Violence is a Consequence of the Western Gender Equality Policy
On Wednesday, 30 June 2021, President Uhuru Kenyatta decried a surge in gender based violence in Africa, by saying that the situation has reached global emergency levels. He spoke during a panel discussion at the opening session of the Generation Equality Forum (GEF) in Paris, France. GEF is a global gender equality gathering convened by UN Women and co-hosted by Mexico and France. He said the solution is to put in place strong policies and regulations that will tackle the crisis coupled with an increased in funding. (The Standard, 30/06/2021)
The President said Cameroon (35%), South Africa (37%), Central African Republic (50%), Liberia (50%), and Kenya (50%) had recorded some of the highest increases or GBV on the African continent in the last twelve months during Covid-19. It will be unintellectual to discuss an outcome or the fruits without putting efforts and being keen on the roots. In other words, it is imperative to understand the root cause of the crisis on gender based violence and to know which is the correct path in addressing it. Therefore, it is better to review the history of the gender slogan in order to understand its beginning to where it is currently.
Christine de Pizan was born as an only child on 1364 in the Republic of Venice, Italy and grew, lived and died in 1430 in Paris, France. Her father Tommaso di Benvenuto da Pizzano who was known as Thomas de Pizan was a physician, court astrologer and councilor of the Republic of Venice. Her father was appointed and he accepted to be the king’s astrologer to the court of Charles V of France and moved to Paris, France. In 1368 Christine moved to France and in 1379 at the age of 15 years she married the notary and royal secretary Etienne du Castel.
In 1389 Christine’s husband died and the year before her father had died. Christine had to support her mother and her own three children. She supported her family using the little property left by her husband and through her writings. In 1405 she wrote a book entitled, The Book of the City of Ladies as a reply to the book written by the cleric and poet Mathieu of Boulogne entitled, The Lamentations of Matheolus. Mathieu via his book alleged that marriage or ‘women’ were making men to live miserable lives. Christine via book she defended the women by alleging that marriage between a man and a woman is an equal partnership and listed some women as role models. She added that women were lagging behind in all spheres of life as a result of the social arrangement that prioritizes man and neglect the woman.
Christine de Pizan was from the upper social class during her time. After the publication of that book and others that is when she started the struggle between her and the church leaders in those centuries. The priests opposed her because they believed that the purpose of marriage is to procreate and that their society is dominated by men and demanded the women to submit. Since then Christine de Pizan has become a reference point and a role model for activists and everyone that allege to fight for equal right to women in this era where slogans calling for gender equality are spreading across the world.
Gender equality that is being championed by the West today across the world and who claim to liberate women from political, socio-economic and educational enslavement. The so called emancipation aims to give women unlimited freedom in order to realize their goals as per what their minds dictate. Founder of modern-feminism today is an American feminist Betty Friedan, she alleged in her famous book, “The Feminine Mystique”, that if American housewives embarked on lifelong careers, they would be happier and healthier, have better marriages, and their children would thrive.
Her assertions are contrary to reality by considering the awful statistics that continue to surge. Statistics expose the decline in morals, family breakdowns, increased fornication and numerous vices all caused by the slogans of ‘gender equality’ in the world. Humanity have transcended limits and become like animals! No shame nor modesty since everyone is running fast to realize gender equality. To an extend women are walking naked while alleging their bodies their choices!
Giving some instances of events in Kenya, recent statistics reveal that violence in houses continue to rise daily. (The Star, 06/04/2021) In Kirinyaga County on Monday, 28 June 2021 pastors from the
Anglican church spoke openly that cases of men who are being battered and forced out by their wives has been on constant rise. (k24tv.co.ke, 28/06/2021) In addition, in Embu County married men raised their voices that they are being abused physical and refused their conjugal rights. Samuel Muturi, chairman of Inua Wazee Self Help group said that “We are facing difficult moments in our families; we cannot enjoy marriage. We urge the government to empower men and consider balanced treatment of both men and women in the county.” (The Star, 03/06/2021) When we cross to neighbouring countries and abroad especially in nations that allege to have progressed in giving their citizens freedoms like America, France, Britain, Germany etc. miseries and cries are spread with no fundamental solution!
Cases of pandemonium and screams will continue since humanity have kept themselves aloof from the guidance of their Creator (swt). ﴿ َمَنۡ أَعۡرَضَ عَن ذِڪۡرِى فَإِنَّ لَهُ ۥ مَعِيشَةً۬ ضَنكً۬ا وَنَحۡشُرُهُ ۥ يَوۡمَ ٱلۡقِيَـٰمَةِ أَعۡمَىٰ﴾ “And whoever turns away from My remembrance – indeed he will have a depressed life, and We will gather him on the Day of Resurrection blind.” [20. Ta Ha: 124]. In the process of calling for gender equality the West and agent rulers across the world are successful in entrenching social liberal thoughts. Major victims being Muslims who are waging war to Islam by promoting the secular creed that separates religion and life. While by doing that it means to be progressed, successful and being famous. On the contrary is to drown in the burning charcoal of liberalism!
Today it has reached a level where the young and old among the Muslims have being taken over intellectual by the West in the name of unshackling them by offering them secular education. In meeting their objects, they issue fallacious statements that fight the institution of marriage. Since marriage is one of the most important building blocks of society and generation in general. Their goal is to ensure that people continue to remain like animals who participate in promiscuous acts as a result of gender equality pressure and enjoy their freedom.
For example, the latest statement by the activist and winner of Nobel Peace prize, Malala Yousafzai who said, “I still don’t understand why people have to get married. If you want to have a person in your life, why do you have to sign marriage papers, why can’t it just be a partnership?” That is part of her utterances in the interview with the July 2021 issue of British Vogue Magazine. (www.vogue.co.uk, 01/06/2021) Via such statements from those that are alleged to be fighting for the liberation of women who are prepared, accorded suitable environment and opportunities by Western media in order to perpetuate social liberal thoughts.
Indeed, gender based violence were never witnessed under the era of the Islamic State. Since Islam is a complete way of life emanating from the Creator of the universe, man and life. It has organized comprehensively the responsibilities and rights of a human being. At the same time the Creator created human beings in male and female gender as mercy to humanity and not for the sake of causing violence as witnessed today under the invalid capitalist ideology. ﴿وَمِنۡ ءَايَـٰتِهِۦۤ أَنۡ خَلَقَ لَكُم مِّنۡ أَنفُسِكُمۡ أَزۡوَٲجً۬ا لِّتَسۡكُنُوٓاْ إِلَيۡهَا وَجَعَلَ بَيۡنَڪُم مَّوَدَّةً۬ وَرَحۡمَةًۚ إِنَّ فِى ذَٲلِكَ لَأَيَـٰتٍ۬ لِّقَوۡمٍ۬ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ﴾ “And of his signs is that He created for you from yourselves mates that you may find tranquility in them; and He placed between you affection and mercy. Indeed, in that are signs for a people who give thought.” [30. Ar-Rum: 21] Therefore, the creation of the male and female gender is not for the sake of bringing competition and violence instead it is for tranquility and peace in society via man and woman getting married as per the Islamic Shari’ah (Qur’an and Sunnah).
Islam accounts man and woman equal before the Shari’ah. Furthermore, Islam gave equal rights to man and woman including the right to elect a ruler, own property, employ, be employed, do business etc. Rights that in reality existed for almost more than 13 centuries until The Day of Judgement. When the West were sinking in dark ages where their civilization declined, a woman was a slave being used as a tool for sexual satisfaction with no rights to participate in elections (to elect and be elected), own property, be employed, to employ etc. On the hand, in Islam women were actively participating in highest level politics for instance is to give the Prophet (saw) their hand in the oath of allegiance (Ba’yah al-Aqaba) to become their ruler. Among the women who participated were two women, Umm Umara, Nasiba and who was also working as a nurse and Umm Mani, Asma. Other numerous women gave Ba’yah to Khalifah (Caliphs) and participated in fighting ‘Jihad’ to protect the Islamic State for numerous centuries.
As for the educational rights, numerous women including Umm al-Darda al-Kubra (ra). She was a
famous scholar in the 7th Century in Sham. She taught in the men section of the mosque and was a teacher for hadith and fiqh. Amongst her students was Khalifah Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan. Another is Hafsa bint Sirin (ra) among the tabieen, she was a scholar who lived and taught in Basra. Fatima bint Muhammad al-Fihriyya al-Qurashiya was the founder of the al-Qarawiyyin Mosque on 859. A mosque that later became an educational institution and known to be the first university in the world.
Economic, women are allowed by the Shari’ah to be employed, employ, engage in contracts, represent/be represented in business contracts, participate in agriculture etc. But, the whole issue of being a breadwinner for the family is the responsibility for her father, husband or guardian and it is not for the woman herself. Working for the women is not compulsory but it is permitted (mubah) by the Shari’ah. Salary or wage given to her is her property and she can spend it in whatever she likes according to the halal and haram criterion and she is not forced to work or give expenses. A woman is an honour that must be respected, protected and guarded due to the role assigned to her by the Creator. Allah (swt) gave her the role of a wife and a mother. Her chores are within her house and those outside are for her husband.
On the contrary today women are removed from their houses and made slaves of their desires. By submitting to the designs of the West who own companies and industries that strive to exploit the huge number of women globally. Such that we find women and men competing against one another in being the family breadwinner. While her mind and thoughts are geared to outsmart the man in economic activities so that she becomes the one with authority in the family! Children and houses are neglected. In the said process women are being called upon and praised by the media in the name of strong women and role models. At the same time the media demean motherhood and brand it as a baggage and a stumbling block to women not to enjoy their lives and freedom. Not only that everyday something new comes up, to an extend today a woman determines when to meet her husband on the contrary the woman can sue the husband for rape! Yet it is haram for the wife to deny the requests of her husband when he needs her in bed!
The outcome is immeasurable destruction that continues to-date and being witnessed by everyone worldwide. The end of this situation is when humanity and especially Muslims across the world to wake up and realize that gender equality is an evil thought and dangerous to society. Consequently, to unite and join the movement and work for the resumption of the Islamic way of life via the reestablishment of the Islamic State of Khilafah (Caliphate) on the method of Prophethood. It is via the Khilafah that a woman will be a genuine honour that deserves respect, protection and guardian. The role of motherhood will be praised and recognized in order to raise a generation that possess a strong Islamic personality (shaksiyyah). A generation that will submit to Allah (swt) and His Prophet (saw) and respect and value their parents by submitting to the commandments and prohibitions of Allah (swt).
Only the Khilafah is capable to halt the gender based violence by chasing out the Western colonialists from the Muslims’ lands and doing away with their civilization that is founded upon the creed of separating religion and life / government. The Khilafah will strive to prepare and build strong women who value the rights and duties accorded to them by Allah (swt). Also empower them to participate effectively in all spheres of life including becoming innovative and expertise scholars. Avoid making them generation Z as known today. A generation that is recognized for drowning in the ocean of unlimited freedom!
Ali Nassoro Ali
Member of the Central Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir