WUNRN
STONING - LEGAL OR PRACTISED IN 16
COUNTRIES & NO SIGNS OF ABATING
WOMEN UNDER MUSLIM LAWS SUBMISSION
TO THE UN SECRETARY GENERAL ON THE QUESTION OF THE DEATH PENALTY TO THE UN
HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL
Direct Link to Full 6-Page March
2014 Submission:
Exerpt: "Stoning can be seen as the violent pinnacle of a
system of policing women’s freedoms in relation to concepts of sexual
'morality'. Women are the primary targets of these concepts, owing to
patriarchal interpretations of religion, and misogynist culture more generally.
Women are perceived to be the bearers of ‘honour’ and as such their commitment
of zina is viewed as a more serious transgression than men's and is punished at
higher rates.....
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POEM FOR FARZANA PARVEEN, PREGNANT
YOUNG WOMAN STONED TO DEATH IN PAKISTAN
29 May 2014 - From Sameena Nazir,
Executive Director, PODA-Pakistan - www.poda.org.pk
- I am sorry Farzana
your child could not see the Haven under your feet
because it was killed
in your womb with bricks when you were three months pregnant
- I am sorry Farzana
you were killed by the followers of a religion that shocked the world 1400
years ago with the message “do not kill your daughters”
- Dear Farzana, I
cannot stop thinking if you died from the pain from the bricks in your head
or from the shock of seeing your brother and father pelting bricks on you
?
- I am sorry Farzana
your Muslim family did not know that Islam allows an adult Muslim woman to
marry with her own choice
- I am sorry Farzana
there will be no mass protests for you in the streets of Pakistan by religious
groups and political parties because you are not
“the daughter of
our nation”
- I am sorry Farzana
that the 30 people who saw you being killed with stones did not come to help
you in Lahore
- You know Farzana
that most Lahoris would rush and get hurt to catch a kite if they see it
falling
- But all of them saw
you bleed to death but did not run to help you because it was your family’s
private matter
- I am sorry Farzana
that your brothers and father and cousins who stoned you to death will never
get punished
- Because your murder
is not a crime against the state – it is a crime against your family
- I am sorry to tell
you Farzana that even if your mother files a case against your father she will
be emotionally blackmailed to forgive her husband and sons and your case will
be closed for ever under Qisas and Dyat law
- I am sorry Farzana
no one will call you a Shaheed and no one will put flowers on your
unnamed hole of a grave
- I am sorry Farzana
that you were a woman in Pakistan where the laws and police protect the big and
strong politicians when they go to visit their own villages
- I am sorry Farzana
that the police in Lahore did not protect you knowing that you were under
threat from your family members
- I am sorry Farzana
you are not a front page news on any of Pakistani paper today because today’s
top story is trade and your life has no value for any transaction in our
country
- Do you know Farzana
that all the TV channels are also discussing security situation in Pakistan and
all the experts are wise men
- And you know Farzana
the other most popular program on our TV is still more wise men reminding us
that Islam respects women more than any religion in the world
- I am sorry Farzana
you did not get any respect for your Islamic right to marry with your own
choice
- I am sorry Farzana
that what you did is not a crime but you were punished as a criminal
- I am sorry Farzana
that many girls in villages across Pakistan will not sleep tonight due to fear
after they hear the story of your death and their family tells them this is
what happens to bad girls
- I am sorry Farzana
you died at the age when most young women in the world are still enjoying youth
- Rest in Peace
Farzana !
- May you always live
long on the conscience of all those Pakistanis who have one !
- May the little girls
in your village continue to dream !
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