Women in India told to cover up or face acid attack

[Liberal_in_LA]

Indian Women Told: Cover Up or Face Acid Attack

(Newser) – A radical Islamic group in India has promised to kill or maim women who go unveiled or use cell phones in the open, the Telegraph reports. A note posted on mosques in the state of Kashmir warned that "if we spot any woman without purdah [head and face covering] we will sprinkle acid on her face," and "if we spot any girl using mobile phone, she will be shot dead." The note was signed by al-Qaeda Mujahideen and mentioned an affiliated group, Lashkar e al-Qaeda.

The threat comes as India grows more concerned about acid attacks on women, which are already common in neighboring Pakistan. But "women in Kashmir are more empowered than women from other conflict zones," says an analyst. "There have been campaigns to force women to wear veil but it didn’t sustain for long.” A police official fears that local militants are trying to recruit members with the campaign: "We have cases of militants trying to engaging boys of 12," he says.

http://www.newser.com/story/152009/indian-women-told-cover-up-or-face-acid-attack.html?utm_source=part&utm_medium=united

[LadyHawkAZ]

1. Sigh

Would anyone still like to discuss how veiling and bikinis are totally completely exactly alike, and we shouldn't focus so much on just one of them? I'm angry enough right now. Go ahead.

Why? WHY?? What kind of mindset does a person have that sees throwing acid on a person as OK? What exactly is it that is so fucking offensive about a woman that she must wear a damn tent or die? Do these people not have mothers or sisters or daughters? I don't understand it.

[LadyHawkAZ]

3. Closing in on 400 replies for pubic hair, but this is dropping with 2

[Liberal_in_LA]

5. yup. threads of women's rights or civil rights drop like a stone.

[Fumesucker]

15. At least (so far) no one is making bad jokes about it..

There really is no DU controversy on this and it's largely controversy (or sophomoric humor) that drives posts on DU and online forums in general.

That's why posts about FGM don't get garner many replies while those on circumcision do, circumcision is a controversial topic on DU and FGM just isn't.

Also many of us are just at a loss as to what to say, as a man with a daughter and two granddaughters that I love dearly I find this horrible beyond words but I have not a clue as to what can be done to curb this demented behavior. I'm not much of a "me too" type person so if I have nothing constructive to add or some argument to make I usually stay out of conversations..

[riderinthestorm]

18. Burqa threads are usually blockbusters of righteous cultural relativists who believe shrouding women

and disappearing them isn't something we should get involved in, protest about, or object to.

While we may protest and outlaw other misogynistic, despicable practices, for some reason full veiling almost always arouses a bunch of supporters who think its "bigoted" to object.

[LadyHawkAZ]

23. There's a person on my FB friends list

who genuinely believes that burqas are the feminist option and all veiled women choose to wear them, but Western clothing is a tool of the patriarchy and no woman really chooses it. And they call themselves a feminist. Ack.

[riderinthestorm]

36. There are even folks here on DU who make that argument

Because disappearing women in our society under a tent, which severely restricts their ability to interact with society as an equal, drive, practice medicine, be a performing artist, a fighter pilot, (insert your favorite occupation here), is soooooo much like a woman in a suit and heels (or a teeshirt, jeans and clogs. Or shorts, tank top and flip flops. Or....)

Anyway, am kick.

[JI7]

20. i think if someone agreed or tried to excuse it, it would get more replies

[AndyTiedye]

24. This May Point to a Certain Level of Despair at Our Ability to Do Anything About It

With 'friends' like Pakistan, who needs enemies?

Relations with Pakistan are so 'good' that they were keeping Osama Bin Ladin just 800 yards down the road from their military academy
and Obama had to send in the Navy Seals to get him.

This is horrible but what can we possibly do about it?

[dogknob]

41. Yeah, that is kinda pathetic, but what can you say about this besides "it totally sucks?"

As we get closer to November and open, violent voter intimidation escalates, maybe this will become a "sexier" issue because of its similarity.

Maybe this will cheer you up. It also dropped like a rock.

[JI7]

10. in many cases they kill their own mothers sisters, daughters in because of "honor"

[xmas74]

48. I don't know where to even begin.

Do they feel so powerless at home that they feel they must dictate what happens in public? Do they not like their mothers? Their sisters? Their wives?

I don't know. I know that I feel as though my rights and my daughter's are being taken away more and more every day here in the US but stories like this make me feel almost safe.

[siligut]

2. Is it because of the year?

I think Christian men are becoming more oppressive because they expect Jesus to show up soon. Are Islamic groups expecting some sort of religious occurrence, or is it because the oppression of women is a unifying factor for men?

[whathehell]

27. I'll go with the latter..

Although, to be honest, you really can't compare Christian "oppression", in scope or intensity, to that

of radical muslims. This is the ONLY culture/religion I know of where large numbers of men

have no problem murdering their own daughters/sisters/wives, on some insane basis of "honor".

Some poor 17 year old in Britain was just murdered by her father AND mother for "daring" to

refuse to an arranged marriage.

[kiva]

4. Great...

let's enlist the services of 12 year old boys to throw acid in a woman's face, or to shoot her.

There is a reason that, whenever I think about where I would be happy/willing to live in the world, that many places are off of my list because I'm a woman. And yes, I know many men who would also refuse to willing live in a society like this.

[Liberal_in_LA]

6. conversation heard on a bus, years and years ago...

man #1 - I'd never live in Saudi Arabia (or some named Middle Eastern Country)
man #2 - <confused look on his face>
man #1 - because of the way they treat women
man #2 <seemingly surprised that someone would take that into consideration>

[kiva]

19. I've met a few man #2

but luckily more man #1s .

Every time someone starts a thread at DU about where they would like to live, I notice that members who identify as male seem to have a broader number or choices than women. Not a criticism, just a comment.

[HopeHoops]

7. Yeah, it's SO the women's fault for the men's uncontrollable woodies. WTF?

Why the hell can't they just "spill some seed" and get over it?

[Matariki]

14. Because seeing a woman talking on a cell phone "in public"

is so, so arousing. Oy.

There are few things that make me like the death penalty would be justified and this is definitely one of them. In fact the idea of shooting these assholes in the face has it's appeal. Maybe they can be rounded up and sent hunting with Dick Cheney.

[gollygee]

8. What kind of punishment are men getting for these attacks?

Horrible

[longship]

9. Religion is such a positive influence in the world.

It protects us all from women showing their hair. (That's head hair, if you were wondering.)

It's times like this that makes this atheist wish for there to be no more religion. There's already too much madness in the world.

I cry for women in those cultures.

[WinkyDink]

11. I think you can be a bit more specific, re: "religion." J/S.

[longship]

12. I stand by my post as I wrote it. nt

.

[whathehell]

29. Of course they could.

but the unspoken rule here is there is but ONE religion that is allowed

to be singled out and criticized by name, and that is Christianity, which, in turn,

is unfailingly interpreted as the Conservative Fundamentalist variety, though everyone

knows that to be an actual MINORITY, bearing little resemblance to what's

known as "Mainstream Protestantism", or even "Mainstream Catholicism"

Deviating from this rule will likely result in a pc shit storm in which the

"deviant" will be castigated and condemned for their "bigotry" and "cultural intolerance".

It's absurd, of course, especially when one considers the strong and obvious

differences among many of them.

[LadyHawkAZ]

30. An argument known and loved by atheists as:

[whathehell]

31. They're being "oppressed" because, like most countries, one religion predominates?

Stupid argument, especially in light of the fact that most atheists here

routinely, and falsely lump ALL "Christianity" under the big, bad Fundamentalist banner,

and it's particularly bogus in that we at least have no "state religion" as some other

countries like the UK, for instance, has, although the Fundies, overall, can be found

guilty of trying to minimize, or even destroy the Separation of Church and State

which most of us embrace.

Anyone with ANY knowledge of Christianity in America knows of it's highly diverse nature

and that those trying to equate the majority of it with the extremist, right wing agenda, is either

lying or terribly ignorant.

.

[Fumesucker]

33. If there are so many liberal Christians..

Then why is it that so often it is left to the atheists to object to religion being inserted in government?

Specifically the Christian religion of course.

By their fruits shall ye know them. As far as I can tell liberal Christians (and I used to be one) largely keep silent in the face of the fundamentalist Christians.

[whathehell]

37. There are many liberal, or at least moderate Christians, and though I find their silence

on the issue bewildering and depressing, I'm not sure that it indicates a lack of numbers.

I'm agnostic and haven't practiced Christianity for many years, so I don't have

an explanation...Is it cowardice?...I have no idea. I only know that I was raised

Catholic in a large northeastern city and the idea of separation of church and state was sacrosanct

in both my family and my community.

[Brigid]

42. Being a liberal Christian these days . . .

Is like trying to talk in a room full of noisy two-year olds. You just get drowned out. Besides, the noisy, stupid ones get more press.

[Fumesucker]

43. Liberal Christians could raise the same objections that atheists do to religious intrusion in govt..

But by and large they don't or else the atheists wouldn't have to do it.

I wonder why that might be?

[Brigid]

46. Actually, we are doing that.

There are nuns standing up to the Vatican, which for some reason decided to pick a fight with them, and Franciscan brothers speaking out in support of them. There are numerous religious groups speaking out against Ryan's budget plan, including the faculty at Georgtown University. And have you ever heard of Nuns on a Bus? All this has been discussed right here on DU.

[Fumesucker]

47. The Vatican is not the US government.

And the Ryan plan, vile as it may be, is not a religious intrusion on government.

Atheists sue to remove ten commandments monument.

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/05/28/atheists-sue-florida-county-to-remove-ten-commandments-monument/

Atheists sue to remove cross from 9/11 memorial.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/atheists-sue-cross-world-trade-center-museum/story?id=14169830

Atheists sue Little Rock's bus line..

http://www.funnymos.com/atheists-sue-little-rocks-city-bus-line.html

ATHEISTS SUE FEDS OVER ‘UNCONSTITUTIONAL’ TAX BENEFITS FOR CHRISTIAN MINISTERS

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/atheists-sue-feds-over-unconstitutional-tax-benefits-for-christian-ministers/

Atheists sue country club for religious discrimination

http://pandasthumb.org/archives/2012/05/atheists-sue-co.html

Atheists sue to remove Jesus statue from Big Mountain

http://missoulian.com/news/local/atheists-sue-to-remove-jesus-statue-from-big-mountain/article_d8e79fcc-527f-11e1-bcdd-0019bb2963f4.html

Atheists Sue Pennsylvania Lawmakers Over “Year of Bible” Proclamation

http://www.thenewamerican.com/culture/faith-and-morals/item/1135-atheists-sue-pennsylvania-lawmakers-over-%E2%80%9Cyear-of-bible%E2%80%9D-proclamation

RI School to Remove Prayer Banner After Atheist Teen Wins Lawsuit

http://www.christianpost.com/news/ri-school-to-remove-prayer-banner-after-atheist-teen-wins-lawsuit-67067/

Irmo High School Atheist Sues Over Graduation Prayer

http://www.free-times.com/index.php?cat=11002508102222227&ShowArticle_ID=11010606122815693



I could go on in this vein for quite some time, showing where atheists had to step in where liberal Christians fear to tread.

[whathehell]

49. I agree...

but noisy, stupid EVERYTHING gets more press these days, dontcha think?

[LadyHawkAZ]

40. True. It's almost as horribly unfair as lumping in

the majority of Republican voters, in all their highly diverse numbers, with the Dubya administration.

[whathehell]

50. If you're being sarcastic,

I'd call that a big FAIL.

[LadyHawkAZ]

56. I should really learn to use the red sarcasm tag

Do elaborate on the fail.

[whathehell]

58. You really should, at least until you sharpen your aim.

The "fail" is that anyone with even a rudimentary knowledge

of the world's religions know that they are just a tad more "diverse"

than the idiotic base of the Republican party in this country.

[LadyHawkAZ]

59. We weren't talking about world religions

we were talking about

Anyone with ANY knowledge of Christianity in America knows of it's highly diverse nature

and that those trying to equate the majority of it with the extremist, right wing agenda, is either

lying or terribly ignorant.

Not all conservatives are elderly obese white wealthy male warmongers either. But when they provide moral support to the people that ARE, they are helping them to exist and continue to do damage. Standing silently by and refusing to fight back against them because they share the same label is, yes, moral support. This principle is the same for any label, any banner, anywhere in the world- if someone is misusing a label it is the responsibility of the rest of its followers to remove them from any association with that label. This isn't happening. The point stands.

[whathehell]

61. In my most recent posts I have been talking about world religions

but at the point that I DID restrict it to Christianity, I reiterated the fact

of its diversity, but didn't apologize for their seeming neutrality on Fundamentalism.

I simply said I didn't understand their reasoning and allowed for the fact

that their reluctance to speak out might be due to cowardice, so

I'm afraid my point stands as well.

[LadyHawkAZ]

67. My assumption is the same as yours

hence the contempt. There are still areas of the country with laws on the books barring atheists from public office. We're more disliked than any religion in our own country, but we speak out.

Have a look at the SPLC hate group list, and tell me there's not a valid reason that we're so critical of US Christians.

[reformist2]

34. It looks like a Pac-Man, lol. /nt

[Union Scribe]

62. You complain people aren't talking about the issue in the OP

and yet you've done everything possible to derail the thread with posts about pubic hair and this shit.

[LadyHawkAZ]

66. My big complaint was that the thread dropped with 2 replies

Last edited Wed Aug 15, 2012, 02:50 AM - Edit history (1)

If a side tangent keeps it kicked and gets people to read it, I'll go along with that.

ETA apparently you missed the "poor oppressed U.S. christians!" post I was responding to? Since you're complaining about me going off topic and all? I would assume you just responded to the wrong person had I not seen your post down thread.

[hifiguy]

22. Agreed, nt

[truebrit71]

32. I cry for humanity...we have nuclear technology but still believe in sky-fairies...

...that's utter madness...

[whathehell]

38. The people you know may believe in "sky fairies"

that notion lost credibility with the rest of us around the time

we stopped "believing" in The Tooth Fairy.

[RC]

39. God is needed.

How else can we justify killing so many people, if God isn't going to sort them out for us?

[whathehell]

51. Sure...

because everyone knows that religion is the only reason for war and killing people.

[RC]

63. Actually religion is used by the military to get people to go to war.

They are more apt to try to be a hero if they think there is a Heaven and/or an afterlife, if they get killed heroically.

[hifiguy]

44. Terrifying, isn't it?

Our capacity to destroy has vastly outrun our ability to think clearly. It really is hard to see humanity surviving in its current state for the next hundred years. Eventually someone will push the button in the name of some non-existent creation of human imagination.

[AverageJoe90]

13. Fascism at work.

Fascism is fascism, no matter if it comes in an Islamic, Christian, Hindu, or atheist variety............

[cali]

28. this isn't fascism. It's garden variety misogyny

[RainDog]

16. If I were a woman in this part of the world

I would definitely want to carry a weapon. And any man who tried to do something like this to any woman would be dead.

[Dawson Leery]

17. Clearly they did not get the message from Seal Team 6.

[shanti]

21. they're doubling down

fuckers...

[Monk06]

25. This isn't about culture, religion or conservatism. This is about enslaving women and it has to be

faced by political leaders. No country where women are treated this way should enjoy diplomatic recognition among civilized nations. Countries where women have no rights and have to fear being raped and murdered in public for making a phone call should be denied membership in the UN at the very least.

Let such cultures and nations be recognized for what they are, barbarian gangster states.

[Nuclear Unicorn]

35. These are non-state actors. I doubt the Indian government approves and will probably prosecute.

I believe because I hope.

[Monk06]

53. The Indian government is a strong defender of women and dalits (untouchables) since the

the implementation of the constitution in 1950. Violence against women in India occurs most often in rural Hindu and Muslim areas where laws against discrimination are widely disregarded and locals refuse to cooperate with the police when acts of violence are committed against women. Traditional values is always the excuse. (sound familiar?).

The two most notorious areas where these crimes occur are Uttar Pradesh and Kashmir. Pakistan has been waging guerrilla warfare in Kashmir against the Indian government. So it is especially difficult to defend women against violent Jihad-ism there.

My gripe isn't with countries like India that formally recognize and defend women's rights. The countries which should be punished with UN sanctions are nations like Saudi Arabia, Dubai, and Somalia among others where the denial of the basic human rights of women are formally grounded in the legal codes of those countries.

The US could lead by example by proposing sanctions against countries where women are treated like livestock. The US government could lead by example and finally resubmit the Equal Rights Amendment to Congress and this time tell the Teahadist bible beaters to pound sand.

[redqueen]

45. Well said!

If severe punishments are not handed down for these crimes, there must be consequences for the governments who fail to protect their own citizens.

[aquart]

26. Oh, gosh. The simple basic things I would like to do to those pricks.

Real simple. Real basic. Really painful.

Take those little vials of acid and drip them...trickle down does work, correctly applied.

[Alduin]

52. This, among many reasons, is why I absolutely hate religion.

This is beyond despicable.

[whathehell]

54. Of course,

because we all know throwing acid on women's faces is a central tenet of "Religion".

Why don't you big bad "haters" grow a pair big enough to make the obvious distinctions ?

[Alduin]

60. It's because of their religion that their making those claims.

Good god.

[ArnoldLayne]

55. Its time for a few drone attacks in India on

those low life Prick woman haters..Al Quaeda!

[Odin2005]

57. This is why religion sucks.

[Union Scribe]

64. Women in India attacked, Christianity condemned on DU.

Film at 11.

[frogmarch]

65. It’s a form of political terrorism

and stems from the ongoing dispute between India and Pakistan over control of Jammu. Radical Islamists use terrorism to try to claim the region for Pakistan. India now controls about 2/3 of the disputed territory (which it calls Jammu and Kashmir) and Pakistan 1/3 (which it calls Azad Kashmir “Free Kashmir”). Last I heard, China still controls 2 small portions in the north. Various Islamic militant extremist groups have been active in Kashmir ever since Partition in 1947, when Pakistan was created, making India and Pakistan two separate states, but giving Kashmir to India, despite the fact that more than 3/4 of its population were Muslims.

The article doesn’t say whether all unveiled women in Kashmir are being threatened with acid, or just Muslim women, but I suppose all unveiled woman are being threatened, because after all, these radical Islamist assholes are trying to make a point now, aren’t they? I used to have cousins on both sides of the dispute, but they are all dead now.