LAHORE: The Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan (JI) women wing organised a rally in Lahore to celebrate World Hijab Day on Tuesday, however no female speaker addressed the gathering.
Led by Samia Raheel Qazi, president JI Women and Family Commission and Afia Sarwar, assistant secretary general JI women wing, around 200 veiled women participated in the rally – which was addressed by JI secretary general Liaqat Baloch and JI Lahore head Amirul Azeem.
Addressing the female participants, Baloch said Islam has given a high rank to women. "No man can torture a woman, deprive her of the chances to progress and acquiring education."
However, he said that the ways of living for women and men are different.
Claiming that it was not the West which gave liberty to women but Islam, Baloch said the West is ruining world civilisation by utilising women for commercial purposes.
“This practice has also ruined the institution of family; women are driven away from their real goals in the name of progress,” he said.
Praising Dr Aafia Siddiqi and condemning the US authorities for punishing her, the JI leader mentioned a Turkish female parliamentarian who opted to quit from her post instead of compromising over her Hijab.
Calling the news of forceful conversion of Hindu women in Sindh a sham, Baloch said that the NGOs have exaggerated the issue in a bid to dent the image of Islam.
“Jamat-e-Islami wants Islamic rule in Pakistan and no one can stop them from this noble cause,” he added.
Calling Hijab a part of Pakistan’s civilisation and an important feature of Muslim women’s identity, Azeem during his speech said that anti-Islam elements have always used different tactics to harm Islam and create an identity crisis amongst Muslims. “The West is now trying to separate Hijab from Muslim identity,” Azeem said.
Criticising advertising agencies and multi-national companies for using women in commercials for various products, Azeem mocked the presence of female models in advertisments for shaving razors.
View more pictures from the rally here.
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The people with veils on their mind are the ones who push for veils on womens faces.
It has become impossible to determine how far can this country fall into the pit of dark ages..!!!
Someone should see the irony in this news and the event.
I am for the "freedom of expression", which was exercised to the fullest extent in the rally and we fully support that, but the follow on?? That is comical at best!
ET, You have been censoring my comments. Why? ..Best
@Wiki: All fundamentalists, please go to afghanistan or wana and leave us pakistanis and normal people in peace. Stop selling religion and ruining the lives of so many generations of pakistanis.
I don't get it. What is the point of fighting for hijab rights in Pakistan where no one is stopping you from wearing one?
@Ohmygod: Choices are not always voluntary.most of the choices made by individuals are subconsciously to guard against social displeasure
Why aren't these women fighting for their rights? What is the meaning of this? Did anyone stop them from wearing the naqab and Hijab?
This is an absolutely apt title for the news item. In every talk show that discusses women’s issues, you always have a bunch of Male Maulvis describing what or what not a woman should do. I have never seen religious women come on TV to define a man’s religious responsibilities. And then they have the nerve to say that ‘men and women are treated equally’. I believe women should have the final say in anything regarding their rights…
Loosers! I dont even think JI is worth my time....hypocrats....
"Calling Hijab a part of Pakistan’s civilisation and an important feature of Muslim women’s identity"
Azeem bhai. I remember chadors being used a decade or two decades ago. The hijab you speak off is an Arabic head gear and has its roots firmly in Arabian culture. Have these displays and enforcement of morality helped society in any way? Has crime against women lessened or increased? Chadors were just fine when the mullah had not initialted the war against women and minorities. Why are they suddenly not a part of Pakistan's culture, civilization and identity and why have they been replaced by hijabs?
I can make a concession that your women can wear the Hijab. But why do you have to push it on everyone by saying that it is a muslim womans identity? As if a women who doesn't wear it is automatically a non-muslim? Who or what gives you the right to judge if a woman is muslim or not just because of the dress she wears? If you abuse your freedom of speech or enforce YOUR beliefs and notions about faith, culture and identity on others, then I have a big problem with your types and believe that you should be stopped to preserve the fabric of Pakistan.
@Sania Shafi: Sister i think you are not correct here.The majority of the sunni ulema have consensus that the covering of the face is also wajib ie obligatory for the women and that the hands below the wrists can be left uncovered.
U can check out these sites for detail:
www.askimam.com http://www.sunniforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=2116&page=7&pp=10&highlight=niqab
the media should not give them coverage; thy r standing on a rediculously insignificant issuue, thy should be ignored.
@Another Pakistani: I think you didn't read my full post. My point was that their role model is a girl who accepted the fact that she was involved in suspicious terror activities. What kind of message they want to give to their follower! Secondly being anti-US, I would have expected them to find a better choice as aafia went to US.. (i hope u got the logic)
We respect our expat. People have been migrating since beginning of human civilization. Whenever/Whereever better opportunities come, one should go but not forgetting to give back to their roots. But modern nation are built on personalities and nationalism to bind people. Role models are people who will guide the country forward not some expat who left the country. This is exactly the problem with Pakistan political system. All the rulers have their properties and families outside Pakistan! Why would they care about Pakistan!
do women have to cover face according to Holy Quran or is it only Scarf meaning to cover hairs and body. kindly advise
In Pakistan
Mullah for himself - Khijab (hair dye) to cover their graying beard to look attractive
Mullah for young females - Hijab to cover their god-gifted beauty not to look attractive
@Sidrah Malik:
Great comment! You spelt out universal truth. CONSCIENCE IS SUPREME. Not religion.
So Ironic. Wasn't this rally about the freedom of choice? About no higher authority having the right to take away from a woman her vision for her life? Yet at the same time the "Mr. Baloch" has given himself the liberty to define "real goals" of a womans life. As if that wasn't enough, funny how the rally had not even a single woman speaker. Wrong in so many ways.
as if....................
@An Indian "For JI, Aafia is their role model. BTW the very girl they want as role model went to US to study! Your own country wasn’t good for her."
I guess Indians have the largest expat group in the world. So by your definition, your country is the worst for you guys?
A silly nonissue. This is the usual “Islam” as it is practiced in Pakistan – cover up the women and have the men grow beards No mention of social justice nor any mention of the carnage that is tearing our country apart. It seems that these parties find fratricide acceptable but are reduced to a quivering rage at the sight of a “non – hijabi woman.
These burqa clad women are asking their right for hijab. They should protest against mullahs instead who have imposed these ninja burqas on them and are not allowing them to do hijab in Islamic way.
@Jat: Talking Point BBC-Urdu: Sept 02: When Munawar Hassan was asked this question, he was more interested to discuss Rimsha' age and how her age has been challenged in the court. For minority females, this much he has got.
How the open heart surgery or any other surgery, utra-sound, X-rays, laboratory tests are performed to a woman in Hijab? Doctors, technicians and attend-ents are mostly males or mixed genders any-where in the world. What is the solution? Whether a women in Hijab will have to die without proper treatment? Qazi Hussain Ahmad gets his treatment in London, including his open heart surgery. Whether no female doctor, technician and nurse attended him and very special arrangement were made for him, as it is
HARAMfrom their point of view. Further, most of the Gynaecologists in Europe and else where are males and some also in Pakistan, Whats about this system and whats about child delivery by this male? What is the alternative, if no female is available in the area?As much as I disagree with the subject of the rally, the headline of the article is atrocious.
I would have simply loved it, had the rally been led at the front by the Lal Masjid Maulana Abdul Aziz with his favorite niqab put on.
These women need some confidence and need to utilise their energy at work. JI has done an own goal
Hahaha. Wow. What a beautifully faarigh nation we are! Kudos to the moderator for this thread. You must be having an awesome time!
Happy "world" Hijab day to all! One Happening Nation we are!
Heading towards stone ages!
Some-time back, JI used to call
HARAMthe participation of women in politics, any activity in social sector, employment in offices, combined education system, any participation of women in rallies/Jalsas, sitting of women in a hall or room with Na-Mehrum(Ghair Mard) etc. etc. and wanted to keep women confined within four walls of houses. Please go through their literature and speeches in this context. Now they are doing and going against their own principals and are changed to enjoy maximum advantages of any platform. Is it not a fit saying thatWHATEVER YOU DO IS HARAM AND IF I DO THE SAME- IT WILL BE HALAL- unerder the rule of agarche, magarche and chunke. chunache.@Qaid-i-Azam Who?: she is the only one wearing a hijab, the rest are in tents, don't confuse hijab with shuttlecock burqas. These women themselves don't know what they are up to, like obedient servants to males.
@ Above why are you asking about the::::: Purpose of Such Activities :::::
is anyone here to clear me the Purpose of Celebrating
Mother Day ??????, while the mothers are happy and respectable better than Western Countries . Father Day??? Environment Day??? Valentine Day??????
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=alOGy7gDnY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DdoHKFL3fQc&feature=playerembedded
Where is the Hijab of second woman from left who is holding the banner.
@sam: nobody is stopping women from wearing hijab, Pakistanis take the 'face value' of religion very seriously like the hijab and beard and NOTHING that comes underneath and does not show. So, the point of holding these rallies??
will there be a Beard day?
JI paid thirty people to come out to this rally. A display of their waning influence and disconnect with mainstream public.
@Zabbar Bhai Bhopali: And also to save males from the gaze of other males, especially in and around FATA.
The woman parliamentarian's resignation was an excellent example as it shows that the lady respected the law of that country and resigned for her own personal choice. I hope he could also highlight that Turkey is a secular constitution and the people there are free to go to their places of worships or a bar or in a night club at their own choice. Nobody is forced there. Their Prime Minister's wife who otherwise wears hijab, goes without hijab whenever she goes to parliament as PM's wife just in respect of the constitution.
women have right to choose if they wana wear Hijab. ET should stop blaming and shaming these women.
these women are against empowerment and emancipation of women!the media should give them as little attention as possible
Of course, that's not surprising. Can't people (un-modest ones) see, they are just being "modest" this way (sarcasm intended).
These women are not wearing Hijab ! They are wearing TENTS. The Holy Quran does not say that women should cover their faces. What kind of twisted Islam is being propagated. JI has never been a Religious Party. they have always been a political party who opposed the very creation of Pakistan tooth and nail !!
@Haris Chaudhry: "This is not France where Hijab is banned."
Actually hijaab is not banned even in France. Only the niqaab and baya are banned there.
As you indicated, it is quite unclear what the purpose of this procession in Pakistan is. Who exactly is stopping them from wearing hijaab?
All the way with JI. Whilst I agree there should be a women speaker, it is not necessary to have one. Its not men dictating Women for Hijab but Quran and Sunnah.
And we need more rallies, religious parties need to step up thier efforts.
Why every problem of Pakistan is related to image of Islam! These people have closed brain with no ability to think rationally. Look at the statements he made:-
1) Praising Dr Aafia Siddiqi - For JI, Aafia is their role model. BTW the very girl they want as role model went to US to study! Your own country wasn't good for her. Secondly, there are serious terrorist charges against her (forget about her killing a soldier). She was part of radical group in US and was trying to assist them in nefarious activities. Why not choose a girl who is inspiration for the younger generation? What message do they want to give to young Pakistani women that they should take guns in their hand and fight against America. Ridiculous~
2) Calling the news of forceful conversion of Hindu women in Sindh a sham, Baloch said that the NGOs have exaggerated the issue in a bid to dent the image of Islam - Its well document. Pakistan Human Rights Commission all have confirmed that forced conversion is taking place and some of the local politicians/police are helping these groups. http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2012%5C05%5C20%5Cstory20-5-2012pg3_3
Every other statement you read and you find "save Islam", "Islam in danger", "conspiracy against Islam" .... somebody tell them replace that word Islam with Pakistan. They are not the owner of Islam. No other Muslim country or even people of different countries at large given a damn about what is going on in Pakistan but somehow these people have impression that they have authority on this great religion.
The girl second from the left....I can see part of her nose...
The woman is flashing her nose in public which is totally unacceptable according to JI version of Islam
Come,lets whip her in public and then stone her
Taliban type purdah or restrictions on women is the real agenda of JI. Read the book titled purdah by Moudoodi Saheb, somewhere in 1954-55.
Nearly all the women in the crowd are wearing burqa and not hijab. So the definition of hijab is different in PAK ?
Interestingly, a placard in the crowd reads "stop discrimination against women". The meaning becomes sinister in hijab day. PAK women, watch out.
1) To speak on roads is
HARAMfor JI women? 2) Is there no other problem being faced by a common man in Pakistan? 3) Whether Hijab has any danger in Pakistan? 4) Is it not an attempt to divert attention of common men from his real problem? 5) JI should also suggest some system of Pardah/Hijab for women agriculture labour in rural areas, who are in great number in Pakistan.Hijab and Niqab must be made compulsory for the JI men wing for 1 month in summer with temperature aroung 45.How would it look like if Syed Munawar hassan is wrapped in head to toe niqab.I am dying to see this. between this,i wish they also celebrate biki day for women to express their free choice too.Liberty for all.
I wish all the women wore hijaabs rather than burqaas, showing their faces!
Hijab is my right and pride !!
I feel like fainting after seeing that banner...
@Mehreen Khan:
Misogyny amongst religious women is nothing new.There is a deep seated acceptance of the notion that women are by birth inferior to women and that a woman exists to please man.
This only leads to more hatred and anger towards other women,towards those women who don't feel inferior to men,those women who feel they don't have to cover their heads and bodies in Black to lessen the shame of having female bodies.
This campaign to make women ashamed of being females will only lead to more misogyny in our society.
I don't think the above uploaded photo is the sole depiction of Hijab. Hijab for women is that they have to cover their whole body EXCEPT FACE & HANDS with a modest dress. People have misconception that Burqa is the only real Hijab. But according to the consensus of Most Ulemas, Women can keep their hands and face open. If they cover it, Suma-Alhamdulilah it is very good & they will get its due reward. But If they don't, it is not a sin at all.
Islam gives equal rights to women. In Some cases they get more rights (like Islam expects man to take the burden of feeding his family,& if the wife earns money it is only for herself, husband can have no legal claim over it) & in Some cases they get less. But overall they are equal to men in Islam. It is like two science students who get equal marks (17/20) in exams. One gets 9 in physics & 8 in chemistry, the other gets 7 in physics but 10 in Chemistry.
'Praising Dr Aafia Siddiqi and condemning the US authorities for punishing her'
Seriously, No condemnation on the shia killings and man slaughter. Get over her already. She was a US citizen and we have enough to worry about ourselves.
Having nobody call me Non muslim just because i do not agree with their ideology is my right
The hijab is not a chain, and do not compare it so slavery like the ignorant person that you are. Point is, weather someone chooses to we're it or not, what difference does it make to yOUR life? What harm does a woman who wants to cover herself cause? you can easily accept someone who's half naked, yet get irked by this..such ignorant people.
Ironic isint it :d
@Sidrah Malik: The most potent weapon in the hands of the oppressor is the mind of the oppressed. Steve Biko
The religious fanatics have gone all out to convince women that what the religious men tell them is the women's own choice,these women want to please their fathers,brothers,fiances,husbands,uncles and want to be in their good books so they propagate to other women also to feel ashamed of being females,of having female bodies.This level of self-hatred amongst these women is saddening and highly disturbing.
Why are the signs in English, only 5% of Pakistanis read English
There is nothing one can do about those who love the chains that enslave them? If you're a prisoner in your mind,than you grow to love the chains that imprison you,you claim that you've chained yourself as a matter of 'choice' & the rest of the world should also join you in celebrating your slavery.
JI should come up hijab/burqa type attire for men to avoid male body gazed by female.
An over the top, mambo jambo, wishy washy procession that has no purpose.
This is not France where Hijab is banned. What is the point of holding it in Pakistan ?
And who is questioning your right to wear hijab in Pakistan..?
Hypocrites..to the core !!
And who else has dented islam's image more than JI? JI used to get Rs 12000 for one shaheed in kashmir and afghanistan. And now they want to be looked clean standing behind a HIJAB.
What is the purpose of such practices in an Islamic country like Pakistan?
Oh the irony. people who wear the hijabs didnt even speak on their OWN day...
On a light note: Speakers must had a good time! All female audience on the road! On serious note: No one is stopping Muslim women to wear scarf and observe purdah in Pakistan. Why such a hullabaloo on the issue!
Addressing the female participants, Baloch said Islam has given a high rank to women. “No man can torture a woman, deprive her of the chances to progress and acquiring education.”
Could you plz pass this message to your beloved Taliban
No female speakers; of course. Females have no right to speak about "female rights". This is getting more and more hilarious, ridiculous even !!
And what are the rights of a 14 year old girl child locked up in jail on false charges ? No rally for that ?