Girl Refuses to Wear Hijab: Strangled by Father
UPDATE: she has died. May she rest in peace. And may her father and all the others involved be punished more severely that they could ever have imagined. Thanks to commenter David L. for updating us all.
A 16-year old girl, reportedly called Aqsa Parvez, refused to wear the hijab (the headscarf worn by some Muslim women). Her father got angry with her and tried to force her to wear it. She, however, didn’t give in.
The result? She’s now in the hospital in critical condition after her father strangled her.
In case you’re wondering where this happened, in what Arab country: the village’s name is Mississauga. That’s in Canada.
Aqsa’s (assuming it’s her indeed) father, who is 57-years old, called the police yesterday telling them that he had just killed his daughter. When police officers and paramedics arrived on the scene of the crime they saw the girl “lying on the floor without any vital signs.”
Police haven’t charged the father yet, because they don’t know whether the girl will survive. If she lives, they’ll charge the father with attempt to murder, if she dies, murder… obviously.
High school friends of Aqsa told reporters that this wasn’t the first time that her father tried to oppress her. “She got threatened by her father and her brother,” said Dominiquia Holmes-Thompson, who had known Aqsa since they both started high school together. “He said that if she leaves, he would kill her.”
Dominiquia further explained that Aqsa wanted “wanted to go out with her friends, hang out and just be like a normal person.” But her father “was always trying to control her … he wouldn’t let her go out or do anything.”
What makes the tragedy even worse is that Aqsa moved out one week ago. She moved in with friends because she refused to be oppressed any longer and was afraid. She came back yesterday to get some of her stuff.
One wonders why no one was accompanying her, but that’s quite useless.
This man – whether Aqsa survives or not – should be put in jail for the rest of his sorry life and the other family members, such as Aqsa’s brother, should be deported if they don’t have the Canadian identity.
Also blogged at LGF, Michelle Malkin.com, The Jawa Report and The Strata-Sphere.
This is the sort of story that makes me very much in favor of multiculturalism – the General Charles James Napier version: "We also have a custom: when men burn a woman alive, we tie a rope around their necks and we hang them. Build your funeral pyre; beside it, my carpenters will build a gallows. You may follow your custom. And then we will follow ours."
Awful.
I remember , years ago, the guy , who lived 4 houses down the street from me, killed his son for going to secular school without his permission.
His was baptist.
Good quote, David.
Stupidity knows no boundaries.
Sashal, is this sort of thing more common to Islam or does it only appear that way?
sashal: when and where was the case that you mentioned? I’d never heard that story.
I don’t think it’s more common. What’s more common is that events like this gets linked to Islam more often than others. If a Muslim nut case husband beats his wife it’s a "cultural problem", when a white westerner does the same (And there are plenty of examples of this , mostly in trailer parks.) it get attributed to lack of education, alcohol abuse etc.
–Ilker
"Sashal, is this sort of thing more common to Islam or does it only appear that way?"
I for one think that if you scrutinize one group of people more than others you will start to see an "disproportionately high" amount of immoral acts committed simpy because you will get a disproportionate amount of info about it. Which people do more bad stuff and why is not something you get a good inkling of simply by compiling anecdotes.
But studies, stats and even unbiased/proportional news do point in the same direction, and naturally Islam must change. I’m just saying – anecdotes, no matter how outlying or eye-catching, just isn’t a fair way to assess people or get the gist of things. Islam’s adherents often deserve criticism and scrutiny, but one must be fair and substantial, not turn to vagaries or generalizations (I do not have anyone in mind – Moore was using the above atrocity as a representation of something that is, unfortunately, larger in scope.).
Ilker,
I don’t think your assessment is accurate. It so happens that spousal abuse in rural America IS linked more to cultural problems like poor education and alcoholism, whereas in some sectors (read carefully- I’m definitely not applying this to all Muslims), abuse of women is sanctioned by the prevailing social order of the religious clerks and governments.
Those are both ‘cultural’ problems, but they differ as to whether or not there is any societal support for the victims involved.
C Stanley,
You are correct. There are societies, cultures and countries that promote this kind of behavior. Those are "cultural problems" that need change for sure. On the other hand a Muslim husband that lives in let’s say Canada that beats his wife due to alcohol abuse or out of plain ignorance, would be doing this not because of the same forces. In this case what needs to be "fixed" would the person himself, not one particular Muslim society’s interpretation of Islam. I hope this makes it more clear.
–Ilker
David: awesome quote. Sashal: that’s terrible, but I’d like to second Christine’s question.
There’s no question in my mind that it’s more common among Muslims.
I can agree with that to a degree, but research in the Netherlands leaves no doubt that women are more often oppressed and beaten among Muslims then among non-Muslim Dutchmen. Same goes for honor killings: it’s actually not as much a Muslim phenomenon as it is a cultural thing, but we don’t ‘practice’ this while Muslim immigrants do (especially Kurds).
Also very true: in the Netherlands they had to start shelters, specifically for Muslim women who get beaten up at home.
True – but if it’s defended by his family on religious grounds, and by neighbors, etc., then it’s not just a cultural, but also a religious issue. At least, if they defend it based on their religion (and quite some do).
Frankly, I think that the best way to deal with this problem isn’t by denying that it’s more common among Muslims, but by recognizing that it is more common but not to act as if all or even most Muslims are like that (Lord knows they’re not).
It is more common among Muslims. However the reason why it’s more common is not because of Islam. You won’t find this kind of behavior among educated Muslims. It’s an issue that has to do more with lack of education and ignorance than anything else. I don’t think it’s more common in "Islam". By that I mean Islam does not promote this, although some Muslim societies have false interpretations that contribute to such awful events.
–Ilker
Ilker,
Wouldn’t you agree that it’s fair to say that some branches of Islam do promote abuse of women while others do not? I’m not even making a claim about the relative numbers of practitioners of each branch, but still, I can’t see how or why anyone would deny that there are Muslim clerics who promote violence against women.
C Stanley,
You are absolutely correct. Especially countries under sharia rule have a horrible record about this.
–Ilker
Yes, and obviously that is the difference you also pointed out between this case occurring in Canada vs. in a country with sharia law. Unfortunately the act wasn’t prevented, but at least the guy will be punished for it (whereas in some countries, a woman who is a victim then gets punished again by the legal system if she complains about a rape, for example.)
But also consider that the guy in Canada didn’t just come to his belief that he could treat his daughter this way on his own. That’s what we are trying to say about the influence of religion.
Christine: exactly.
Ilker: true – and that’s why educated Muslims should do their best to enlighten their co-religionists
Although – it’s not just a problem of education; the radical leaders, for instance, are often very educated.
To update, we are now dealing with murder. Aqsa Parvez died in hospital late last night. (Globe and Mail) Absent a death penalty, one can only hope that Canada maintains a supermax prison on the American model, and that her father and any other member of her family who connived at her death spend the rest of their lives there.
How tragic. May she rest in peace.
David: that’s horrible. May God bless her soul.
I knew it, the Muslims are now starting to barehandedly take over Canada with their evil religion.
Only one answer; give President Bush emergency powers! Only he can protect us from this evil that is worse than all others this nation has faced. Trash the constitution, I need protection from super evil!
Please, please continue reporting every crime any member of this faith might commit. I’m tracking them on a map in my basement and it looks like they’re moving toward me.
God bless you!
It would be interesting to know: does this sort higher levels of abuse happen in Indonesia and Malaysia? I.e., is the problem Islam (as seems to be implied here), or is the problem with the cultures of South-West Asia? Sure, they justify the abuse with references to Islam, but since most abuse is justified by references to the prevailing religion (see the history of slavery in Europe and America, for example), that hardly proves that the religion is the problem.
I volunteered on a child abuse hot line for many years. We were trained that a danger sign for possible abuse was fundamentalist religion. A proportion of both Muslims and Christians can be considered fundamentalist – but that means a far larger number of parents in the US and Canada behaving this way will be Christian. The family needs help.
Mamased, yes we have a long record of anti-Muslim bigotry at this blog…
Linda: yes, good point.
Just came back(can’t be all the time at the comp).
That happenned in the 70th in my old country( not sure now what year was it-think 1975)-Russia.
Really? There were religious schools permitted in Russia during the 70s, or was the father just trying to prohibit the child from attending school at all since it was secular?
Tragic!
I think the (secular) law of the land should be applied strictly. Cultural or religious issues should constitute neither a mitigating nor an aggrevating factor (in the courtroom or in our debates such as here).
I’ll admit that Muslims are more likely to abuse their families if ya’ll will admit that Christians are more likely to shoot up Colorado megachurches.
he was prohibiting the school,education, period.
Yes , religious schools were permitted( in small restricted numbers) and one could practice religion openly if one would give up on a carrier in the communist government.
Just heard on a radio another blatant lie from Rush( out of many)( yes, I listen to him while driving, on my local FM station-lots of fun catching him in lies every so often) , he was saying that in Russia Christmas trees were forbidden and one could get in Jail for having one-total BS.
Our family and everybody I knew had them and decorated them.
There was no fear to have one. They actually displayed the huge one right in front of the Kremlin every year( they just renamed it into NEW YEAR tree).
re: David’s stupid Napier quote that seems to evoke erotic fantasies for the circle jerk set here – Napier said this to a HINDU delegation during his time in India. It wasn’t made in reference to Islam at all.
Par for the course with the wing nut set I guess…
And that’s relevant because… what? Did someone argue the opposite?
Really, KC. I took the Napier quote out of WikiPedia, so I know exactly what Napier was talking about and to whom he was speaking. Do try not to get so worked up that you can no longer distinguish between a method of suppressing barbaric practices and the particular barbarians among whom some specific practice is to be be suppressed.
This reminds me of the scapegoating that the Nazis did in order to re-class some groups as sub-human.
John: What reminds you of the Nazi scapegoating, and in what way? Surely you don’t mean that criticizing a father for killing his child in order to enforce his religious beliefs should be off limits, lest we cause anyone to view that religion in a prejudicial way?
And besides, I hardly think you can accuse Michael of having an anti-Muslim prejudice since he’s going to marry a Muslim woman.
Islam requires that Muslim women wear the headscarf (they don’t have to cover their face!) when they reach pubirty. It’s out of modesty. Muslims believe that this is a divine command which means that they shouldn’t disobey it. However, Islam prohibts abuse too. The father had no right to commit such an atrocious act. Islam also prohibits anyone from forcing someone to do something against their will. The headscarf is a requirement, but if the girl didn’t want to wear it, the issue will be between her and God. Islamically, the father shouldn’t have used force. It is sad that some Muslims don’t follow Islam properly, and it is even sadder that these are the people being used as examples for Muslims.
sorry.. typing error.. *puberty.. and *of Muslims.. not for.. :S i hate making typos!
Actually, NK, "Islam" doesn’t teach that. Some Muslims believe that, others don’t. In fact, Muslims only started wearing headscarfs four generations after Mohammed had died. They copied the behavior of some Christians they met / interacted with.
The leading theological schools nowadays say women should, but I consider that to be part of the broader movement to oppress and to control women; something Mohammed would never have allowed or encouraged – he wanted to improve their lot in life and relied greatly on his first wife especially.
Actually, that is not true. Islam does require women wear the hijab. It’s in the Quran (Muslim holy book), and the Quran was revealed during Prophet Mohammed’s time (pbuh). Just because a woman wears the hijab, doesn’t mean that she is controlled.
Aqsa Parvez – Honour Killing
Islam is a religion created by MEN for MEN.
Aqsa Parvez was killed because of ignorance & control & honour.
I hold accountable the ISLAMIC LEADERS in CANADA Who DO NOT preach proper Islamic rules & regulations. They BEND the truth to fit their male dominated views of Islam.
All human rights groups have a social obligation to rise & question & challenge the people accountable for Aqsa’s senseless murder. IT WAS AN HONOUR KILLING.
As a woman, as a Canadian, as a young woman, I DEMAND JUSTICE for a young innocent girl who wanted to live life in Canada as freely as she was supposed to, as per Canadian law.
It angers me that our families & ancestors leave their oppressed, unsafe countries to come to Canada for a "better life", yet act like hypocrites.
"WHEN IN ROME, LIVE LIKE THE ROMANS"
Aqsa Parvez’s ENTIRE family should be prosecuted, all the children should be taken away by child services.
THIS IS A HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUE, THIS IS A WOMEN’S RIGHT ISSUE, THIS IS BASIC CANADIAN RIGHTS ISSUE. THIS IS AN AQSA PARVEZ ISSUE.
LET’S NOT HAVE ANY MORE HONOUR KILLINGS. PLEASE.
Women in Islamic families are FORCED to wear the hijab.
There should be a vote, unannouced, in all middle schools & high schools, & ALL the girls should be asked in confidence whether or not they HAVE to wear the hijab or not ? & Then the government should BAN the hijab.
Aqsa Parvez would’ve liked to have her vote to count.
Young Afghan-Canadian Woman
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
"If a Muslim do something bad then it’s a "cultural problem", and when a white westerner does the same then you all will say its a part of life. Well …a great applause for all you. I will say Just update yourself guys and be broad, be mature and be realistic. Dont say anything if you have no knowledge and no broader view. You are the people (who have taken part in this talk), who make cultaral problems, you all people are criminals.
just remember on thing Islam teaches us that
"be patient, First think and then do any action"
Islam is the most peacefull relegion is this world but unfortunately you all dont know.
In Moslem countries, parents believe it is their duty to prevent their children from developing naturally into being the unique people they are. They feel they must smother, coerce, control their children in a callous manner. They have a simplistic, narrow outlook. And, it’s just as prevalent among the most highly educated. No degree of normality is allowed for a Moslem teenaged girl. Cruel and inhuman treatment of girls is par for the course.
Isn’t multiculture wonderful!