Rape : a social menace
By : Obaid Ullah Hamzah
According to the report prepared by “Mahila Parishad” a women’s rights organization based on news published in national dailies from January to July 2019, 731 women were raped and of them 276 were murdered in gruesome way. No doubt, incidents of rape, sexual violence and harassment are increasing all over the world . Developed countries like USA, France, Canada, Sweden and even developing countries like India and Sri Lanka are witnessing sharp rise in rape and sexual harassment. But it is a shame for Muslim countries and societies like ours whose people believe in a whole bunch of moral values and led by a Muslim women to suffer from this cursed phenomena . What is supposed about us in Muslim societies is that rape should be a rare and odd behavior as it was the case in past Muslim societies wherein strong moral values were maintained, stern punishments implemented, doors of obscenity closed and ways to immorality shut down.
Very sad to say that every crime of this nature is more heinous than the other in atrocity and barbarism. Perpetrators got rid of Victims by burning, throwing into river, burying. Now, It poses a severe threat to the safety of individual and security of the society and firmness of the family .
Solutions presented by experts, academicians and social scientists to this problem are diverse and very different and sometimes, opposing in nature because of each individual or groups’ own thinking and views. From an Islamic point of view , we would like to say that sexual explosion, moral collapse , porno culture , weak man-made laws and free mixing of both sexes in places of work and education are responsible to incite, provoke sexuality along with the very destructive role a section of media, obscene films, lewd drama and porno sites play in making illicit relationship with the opposite sex attractive to people. Is it rational to allow all of this happen in the name of culture, entertainment and arts and then shed tears for their consequences ?
Islamic rules protect women’s dignity, forbid her from wearing exposing dresses, command her to lower her gaze as man is commanded to do so. Man is also reminded that women is either sister or daughter or mother of any of his brother as he has his own mother, sister or daughter. Islam enacts laws and ensures exemplary punishments for those who dare to violate her honor and accuse her of adultery with no knowledge . In Muslim Societies, adultery is a rare case while rape is unthinkable. Our long history is a best witness to it.
We do not agree with the view that ignorance, poverty , undervaluing women etc are responsible for rape for this a almost an universal problem and that is a social menace even in highly developed countries and of course, educated class is not an exception . In the United States of America, in every 90 seconds , one woman becomes victim of rape despite all ways are open and lawful to fulfill one’s sexual desire with mutual consent.
What is the use of new laws if existing laws are not implemented ? Where will a woman get a safe shelter if she is raped in the police station by police men ? Steps must be taken sooner than later to eliminate or reduce the causes of rape and that must be done in well- coordination with all elements that have impact on the society and individual. Ways to promiscuity are to be closed and doors to chastity are to be opened wide. So that a new generation with high sense of morality will rise who will have a deep respect to the opposite sex.