Stories like this show the reality of Sharia, as opposed to the lies the mainstream media constantly feeds us in the West: “There’s really no such thing as just Sharia, it’s not one monolithic Continuum – Sharia is understood in thousands of different ways over the 1,500 years in which multiple and competing schools of law have tried to construct some kind of civic penal and family law code that would abide by Islamic values and principles, it’s understood in many different ways…” — Reza Aslan
Not really. Everywhere it is implemented today, and everywhere that it has been implemented historically, it has looked pretty much the same. The common assumption that Saudi Arabia adheres to a “strict” form of Sharia that is rejected elsewhere in the Islamic world is false. Saudi Arabia simply implements aspects of Sharia that are elsewhere still part of Islamic law, but are ignored.
“Women’s visits to hospitals without male guardians banned,” by Rima al-Mukhtar for Arab News, February 14:
The Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice (Haia) has officially prevented women from visiting medical clinics without male guardians.
This came after a member of the Council of Senior Scholars issued a “fatwa” (edict) prohibiting women from visiting male doctors without having male guardians present.
“Islamic law does not permit women to visit their doctors without male guardians,” said Qais Al-Mubarak, a member of the Council of Senior Scholars. “Women are prohibited from exposing body parts to male doctors in Islamic law, especially during childbirth. This does not include medical emergencies. Islamic jurisprudence makes exceptions,” he added.
Male guardians can only be the next of kin in Islam. They are sons, grandsons, husbands, brothers, fathers or uncles.
Sources said that Haia members recently issued orders to employees working at a nutrition center not to admit women patients unless a guardian accompanies them during their weekly visits. This decision caused huge losses to the nutrition center in a single week, according to the source.
Many women have opposed this decision, saying their male relatives are not available to accompany them on a weekly basis.
“This is going to be a huge burden for us. Many of us don’t have male guardians. Those of us who do, can’t depend on them, as they have work and travel commitments,” said Muneera Dawood, a stay-at-home mother.
“Does this mean that I have to wait for my husband to be free to go on my weekly checkup? This is a serious matter. Going to the doctor is not a luxury like going to the hair salon,” she said.
Al-Mubarak said male doctors could conduct medical examinations on female patients only if female physicians are unavailable and only if male guardians accompany them. “Unaccompanied visits to male doctors can have negative implications,” he said….
Christian A. Beltram says
It is situations like this that illustrate the backward way of thinking that is pervasive in the Islamic world. If it is not stopped from spreading, the world will end up marching backward instead of forward and all of the thousands of years of human progress will end up being totally destroyed.
Salah says
“Islamic law does not permit women to visit their doctors without male guardians,”
But it’s OK to share the same bed with a man without a male guardian. Right?
Oh, the hypocrisy of Islam!
http://crossmuslims.blogspot.com/2011/04/threesome-in-islam.html
Warriór Móuse' says
unfortunately this is maybe just common sense for islamic culture – they are afraid the doctors will rape them – after all – they wont be wearing their protective sack will they! no protective sack = fair game in islamic culture. 🙁 🙁
Warriór Móuse' says
unfortunately this is maybe just common sense for islamic culture – they are afraid the doctors will rape them – after all – they wont be wearing their protective sack will they! no protective sack = fair game in islamic culture. 🙁 🙁
Doreva says
Dirty old men….they need to get their minds out of the gutter…I mean the ones who must imagine hanky panky going on when a woman sees her male doctor.
gravenimage says
“Islamic law does not permit women to visit their doctors without male guardians”
………………………………
So if a father or husband or son doesn’t care about the woman’s health—or even wants her dead—he needn’t let her see a doctor at all.
More:
“Women are prohibited from exposing body parts to male doctors in Islamic law, especially during childbirth. This does not include medical emergencies. Islamic jurisprudence makes exceptions,” he added.
………………………………
*Sure*. In many cases, it would not even be known if there was a medical emergency, because male “guardians” may not be allowing their chattel to visit a doctor at all…