The backlash against this that led the Arts Council of Pakistan to back down is more surprising than the initial all-male lineup. After all, this is the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, where the foremost authority in the culture, Islamic dogma, is not exactly feminist.
The Qur’an teaches that men are superior to women and should beat those from whom they “fear disobedience”: “Men have authority over women because Allah has made the one superior to the other, and because they spend their wealth to maintain them. Good women are obedient. They guard their unseen parts because Allah has guarded them. As for those from whom you fear disobedience, admonish them and send them to beds apart and beat them.” — Qur’an 4:34
Muhammad’s child bride, Aisha, says in a hadith that Muhammad “struck me on the chest which caused me pain, and then said: ‘Did you think that Allah and His Apostle would deal unjustly with you?’” — Sahih Muslim 2127
The Qur’an likens a woman to a field (tilth), to be used by a man as he wills: “Your women are a tilth for you, so go to your tilth as you will” — Qur’an 2:223
It declares that a woman’s testimony is worth half that of a man: “Get two witnesses, out of your own men, and if there are not two men, then a man and two women, such as you choose, for witnesses, so that if one of them errs, the other can remind her” — Qur’an 2:282
It allows men to marry up to four wives, and have sex with slave girls also: “If you fear that you shall not be able to deal justly with the orphans, marry women of your choice, two or three or four; but if you fear that ye shall not be able to deal justly, then only one, or one that your right hands possess, that will be more suitable, to prevent you from doing injustice” — Qur’an 4:3
It rules that a son’s inheritance should be twice the size of that of a daughter: “Allah directs you as regards your children’s inheritance: to the male, a portion equal to that of two females” — Qur’an 4:11
It allows for marriage to pre-pubescent girls, stipulating that Islamic divorce procedures “shall apply to those who have not yet menstruated” — Qur’an 65:4
Islamic law stipulates that a man’s prayer is annulled if a dog or a woman passes in front of him as he is praying. “Narrated ‘Aisha: The things which annul the prayers were mentioned before me. They said, “Prayer is annulled by a dog, a donkey and a woman (if they pass in front of the praying people).” I said, ‘You have made us (i.e. women) dogs.’ I saw the Prophet praying while I used to lie in my bed between him and the Qibla. Whenever I was in need of something, I would slip away. for I disliked to face him.” — Sahih Bukhari 1.9.490
Another hadith depicts Muhammad saying that the majority of the inhabitants of hell are women:
“I looked into Paradise and I saw that the majority of its people were the poor. And I looked into Hell and I saw that the majority of its people are women.” — Sahih Bukhari 3241; Sahih Muslim 2737
When asked about this, he explained:
“I was shown Hell and I have never seen anything more terrifying than it. And I saw that the majority of its people are women.” They said, “Why, O Messenger of Allah?” He said, “Because of their ingratitude (kufr).” It was said, “Are they ungrateful to Allah?” He said, “They are ungrateful to their companions (husbands) and ungrateful for good treatment. If you are kind to one of them for a lifetime then she sees one (undesirable) thing in you, she will say, ‘I have never had anything good from you.’” — Sahih Bukhari 1052
And in another hadith:
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) went out to the musalla (prayer place) on the day of Eid al-Adha or Eid al-Fitr. He passed by the women and said, ‘O women! Give charity, for I have seen that you form the majority of the people of Hell.’ They asked, ‘Why is that, O Messenger of Allah?’ He replied, ‘You curse frequently and are ungrateful to your husbands. I have not seen anyone more deficient in intelligence and religious commitment than you. A cautious sensible man could be led astray by some of you.’ The women asked, ‘O Messenger of Allah, what is deficient in our intelligence and religious commitment?’ He said, ‘Is not the testimony of two women equal to the testimony of one man?’ They said, ‘Yes.’ He said, ‘This is the deficiency in her intelligence. Is it not true that a woman can neither pray nor fast during her menses?’ The women said, ‘Yes.’ He said, ‘This is the deficiency in her religious commitment.’” — Sahih Bukhari 304
Another statement attributed to Muhammad: “If a husband calls his wife to his bed [i.e. to have sexual relation] and she refuses and causes him to sleep in anger, the angels will curse her till morning.” — Sahih Bukhari 4.54.460
“Outrage in Pakistan after feminism panel includes no women,” by Riaz Sohail, BBC, November 22, 2019 (thanks to The Religion of Peace):
The Arts Council of Pakistan has been forced to backtrack after it emerged that a discussion on feminism it is hosting was to have an all-male panel.
An outcry on social media resulted in two women guests being added, and Friday’s event in Karachi was renamed.
The original title, Feminism: The Other Perspective, drew derision and has now been recast as Understanding Feminism.
Organisers say male decision-makers were to share views on feminism, but many critics questioned the very idea.
In overwhelmingly patriarchal Pakistan, having an all-male panel discuss feminism didn’t seem the obvious way to tackle gender inequality.
The only woman included in the original line-up was discussion host Uzma al-Karim, whose name was put at the bottom of the promotional literature.
After sustained criticism on social media, two women speakers were added to the panel – feminist Mehtab Akbar Rashdi and journalist Quatrina Hosain – and Uzma al-Karim’s name was made more prominent in the amended literature….
Niemoller says
Serious question, are these people mentally handicapped as well as certifiably insane?
Only a society run of morons would miss the optics of this panel.
Niemoller says
run by morons*
JapsEye says
Is it any wonder the world laughs at these mentally handicapped morons.
FYI says
A moronocracy
islamic nations are moronocracies:any country run by creepy ‘holy’ men is never a good idea.
And Abdooolistan{Sorry,Pakistan} has an “Arts Council”?
But Art in islam is haram!
{….along with female singers,musical instruments,music,literature and ehm,CARTOONS in particular as allah hates these things}
Jayell says
When I read the title of this piece I found the combination of the words ‘Arts Council’ with ‘Pakistan’ just a little incongruous, like ‘gourmet restaurant’ and ‘McDonald’s’ – and that’s being very polite. It comes across as someone’s idea of a joke.
FYI says
Like…..
islam is the religion of “peace”
{Where?Where is the peace?}
muhammed is a “prophet”
{How?He even FAILED the Poison test and his “prophecies” are all provably wrong;he said the world would end after he died..we are still here..}
The koran is the “perfect” book
{What?With all the ERRORS in it?}
al lah[“The BEST of deceivers” k3:54} is God
{Really?But he teaches the OPPOSITE to the Biblical God.his koran violates the Exodus 20 laws and he completely missed the two Chief commandments}
These are the biggest jokes of all….
revereridesagain says
They got one of those on vegetarianism run by a panel comprised entirely of wolves, do they? That would certainly be an “other perspective”.
Flavius Claudius Iulianus says
Same story:
“‘We’ll teach them how to menstruate!’ Uproar after Pakistani feminism event featured NO WOMEN”
https://www.rt.com/news/474076-pakistan-feminist-panel-all-men/
Angemon says
Actually, the panel being all-male was on topic. Having “feminist” women as a requirement to learn the other perspective on “feminism” is like having dawah artists preset in a conference to learn why islam isn’t a religion of peace…
Battle says
Have to write reply all over again & again?
Battle says
Arts Council not.
The Arts Council e- mail’s first report is not always about the latest homosexual artist, not the latest lesbian artist, not the latest Trans artist, not the latest claim to be “queer” artist, and not the latest crossdresser artist.
Battle says
The Arts Council e-mail’s second report will not always be about activists skipping madrass four Fridays in a row to protest outside Pakistan Parliament against climate change.
Battle says
The Art Council e- mail’s third report will not always be about a local artist who draws cartoons of Mohammad.
Battle says
(Typo) The Arts Council e-mail’s third report will never be about a local artist who draws cartoons of Mohammad.
Battle says
Website Tech Support: Please delete my above “third report” reply. Sorry.
Battle says
Website Tech Support: Please delete above “third report” reply. Sorry
Battle says
Website Tech Support: Please delete both “third report replies above.
Battle says
(Typo) trans
CogitoErgoSum says
Did anyone take the time to consider that these “men” on the council may actually identify as women? Just because they may look like men doesn’t mean that they are men. How do we know which pronouns they prefer? Did they say? This is just barbaric. Did we not learn anything from the recent episode of “South Park” concerning Heather Swanson?
Walter Sieruk says
“The Arts Council of Pakistan has been forced to backtrack after it emerged that a discussion on feminism it is hosting was to have an all-male panel.”
No wonder the women of Pakistan became so outrage, since this “Arts Council discussion” contained no female members on its panel.
Furthermore it should be made known that “Islamic “culture” is not actually a real culture but cruel savage primitive murderous system of brutal religious vicious violence. As seen in that malicious murder “custom” called “honor killing.”
Be that vicious murderous action take place in Pakistan and Saudi Arabia or in any other Islamic country and now even some Western nations.
About the topic of Islamic violence which, something, takes the form of the brutal cruel vicious and murderous action that is so inappropriately y called “honor killing.” This malicious misogyny is so heinous callous and malice- filled that it’s an affront to all that is good, decent and right. In addition, the author, Brigitte Gabriel in her book which is entitled THEY MUST BE STOPPED on pages 171,172 , that “The shocking reality is that most Muslim men ,including those educated in the West ,have no objection to the degradation of women in their countries .Across the Muslim world, even in moderate Islamic countries, women’s’ rights are almost nonexistent…Women is Islam are considered unclean ,deemed inferior even to dirt.” In this just cited book it explains on page 176 that “Honor killings have also come to the West thanks to the rise of Islamic immigration. “
Walter Sieruk says
That all male panel dissension of female rights must be a joke.
For example that brutal ,cruel vicious and murderous actions of Islamic misogyny which is so inappropriately called “honor killing.” This heinously wicked misogynists Islamic tradition reaches such n demonic extent of evil and madness that in number of Muslim nations ,as Pakistan , if a girl or woman is raped she then might undergo being murdered in an “honor killing.” This is worse that a terrible miscarriage it’s an outright outrageous affront to all that is decent, good right as well as sane. To actual punish the victim of raped and not the rapists is most hideous, vile and wrong. very wrong. The Bible teaches in Proverbs 17:15. “The Lord hates two things, punishing the innocent and letting the guilty go free.” [E.R.V.]
gravenimage says
Arts Council of Pakistan hosts discussion on feminism featuring an all-male panel
……………..
You can’t make this sh*t up…