Islam gives women great respect, rights, says Siraj

LAHORE: Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) ameer Senator Sirajul Haq has said the West is exploiting womenfolk on the pretext of equality and freedom, making them toil hard for low wages while denying them the privileged status given by Islam.

Islam is the biggest upholder of women’s rights whereas the slaves to the status quo and colonial powers are the biggest exploiters of women, he said in a statement on World Women’s Day on Thursday.

Sirajul Haq said after pushing women out of their secured homes, and depriving them of love of father, brother and son, the western society had given her additional responsibility to earn living for her family.

On the other hand, he said, Islam placed the responsibility of earning livelihood on male members. He said the West wanted to demolish the family system in Muslim world in order to impose its satanic culture through the Muslim rulers.

The Jamaat-e-Islami chief said rights and respect Islam had given to the women as mothers, sisters and daughters and wives fourteen hundreds years ago had no parallel in any religion or civilisation, and Islam has given the right of inheritance to women.

He said the models for the Muslim women were Syeda Fatimah and Syeda Ayesha (RA) and not the actresses. He said the NGOs and elite class women talking of women rights only believed on ceremonial activities and were least interested in changing the lot of women. In fact, he said, those shouting for women rights were the biggest enemies of women and pursuing the agenda to make women cheap industrial and business workers.

Sirajul Haq said if JI came to power, it would establish separate women universities, and give them interest free loans to establish cottage industries. He said rulers wanted to deprive the Muslim women of the security of Hijab which was a great blessing.

He demanded the countrymen illuminate their households with the teachings of Quran and Hadith. He said womenfolk should be taken into confidence for freeing society from corruption and other social evils.

event dedicated to Asma: Every mother should buy books for her daughter instead of purchasing expensive dowry for her marriage. Only a woman can make her daughter strong enough to stand for her rights.

These views were expressed at an event organised by Awami Worker Party (AWP) on the occasion of International Women’s Day.The event was dedicated to the champion of human rights Asma Jahangir. Sulema Jahangir, Sara Sohail, Nusrat Basheer Zafar, Abida Chauhdary, Huma Safdar, Saleha Rauf and Shameem Akhtar addressed the event.

Sulema Jahangir, daughter of Asma Jahangir, said, “I am honoured today to speak on behalf of my mother. Today, I realised how active she was. This is the fifth event where I have to speak.

My mother spoke for the rights of everyone without any discrimination. She worked for labourers and their rights. This time is very difficult for my family and me. But I am glad that every woman I meet is taking her legacy forward and working for the same cause.”

Sara Sohail, an activist, said, "The hard working women are out true heroes." Saleha Rauf, secretary, Awami Worker Party Women Wing, said,”Society cannot progress until women get their rights. Our party always supported working women. These days, women are becoming more empowered than ever.”

Jamila, an Awami Worker Party worker, said, "Inflation and unemployment have made our life a hell and no one is doing anything for us. I get Rs 5,000 for working as a house maid and at the end of the month my children starve.

People have to stand up for women rights and acknowledge their work and services." Nusrat Basheer, an activist, said, “Women have to speak up for their rights. A woman has a right to get divorce from her husband, if she is not willing to live with him. She just has to acknoledge her strength.”

Later, many women from across Punjab shared their stories and demanded implenention of the Factory Act for every labourer. Children dedicated many poems to Asma Jahangir and celebrated the International Women’s Day with enthusiasm.