عروس اليمن

عروس اليمن

‏قالت يا أمي ليتكم وأدتموني

قبل أن تبيعوني

ومن شبه الرجال تزوجوني

فقتلتم طفولتي 

ومن قصةِ حبٍ بريئةٍ حرمتوني

حاولت أن أفهم

حاولت أن أصبح إمرأة في ليلة واحدة

لكن جسدي النحيل لم يتحمل

فتعالوا وخذوا ماتبقى منه

يا أمي... ليتكم اختصرتم كل هذا الألم

وفي يوم ولادتي وأدتموني 

ورحمتوني

11 Year Old Yemeni Child Bride Dies After Wedding


Take Action!
#GirlsNotBrides

#endchildmarriage

#endchildmarriage

#EndChildMarriage

#endchildmarriage

#TooYoungToWed

زواج_القاصرات#
زواج القاصرات#

عروس الشام

عروس الشام

‏تتقدم لي وتظن أنك تتفضلُ عليَّ
أوهموك أنك

 "لقطة"

وأنني أنا الرابحة بالعملية

فتتكلم بحذر، وتدرس القضية

 كأن هذا العقد سيقيدك

كأنك أنت الذي تخاف من فقدان الحرية

يذهلني أنك تتردد 
وبكل عين وقحة تمزح

! وتتكلم عن أسر الحياة الزوجية

أنسيت أنك رجل شرقي؟

نسيت أن كل شيئ لك مسموح

ولن يجرؤ أحد من أهلي ولا مجتمعي 

أن يأخذوا منك أي حق من حقوقك الذكورية

أما أنا

أنا التي لن تستطيع الفرار منك

إذا قررت يوماً ان تفرغ بي كل عقدك النفسية

 "من بيت زوجك للقبر"
 نعم هكذا تربيت

مهما فعلت بي، لا الدين سينصفني 

ولا حتى منظمات الحقوق الإنسانية

هل رأيت الآن كم أن هواجسك تافهه ونرجسية؟

رغم ذلك، فها أنا أجلس أمامك مبتسمة...

أجازف بنفسي... أخاطر بعمري...

نعم سأقبل بك

وأنا بكامل قواي العقلية 

ليس لجمالك، ولا أحوالك المادية

بل لأني أنا أيضاً تافهه

وأحلم بالحفلة والفستان الأبيض 

كالغبية

عروس مصر

عروس مصر

تدخل إلى حارتنا القديمة

تدق باب بيتي الصغير

وتعطي أمي الهدية

تتكلم عن أعمالك في الصين 

وتجارتك في البلاد العربية

من بداية نشرة الأخبار حتى الأحوال الجوية

أخي الصغير يسألك عن سيارتك لأنه لم ير مثلها من قبل

ومن خوفك من الحسد لا أكثر

تغير الموضوع 

و تسألني عن دراستي في الكلية

فأخبرك عن معاناتي

ككل تلميذة

وعن دراستي التي لا تنتهي

فتجيب بكل برودة: 

"لا تتعبي نفسك، لن تحتاجين للشهادة"

ثم تكمل حديثك مع أبي عن أخبار الرياضة

نظرت إلى الجميع من حولي

 ألم يسمع أحد ما قيل هنا؟

ألم يشعر أحد في هذه الهزة الأرضية

لم يتوقف أحداً عند كلامك

أبي الذي صرف "دم قلبه" على تعليمي

يشرب القهوة  

وأمي التي كانت توبخني إذا يوماً التهيت عن الدراسة

تحضرها له فرحة سكر زيادة

هل أصيبوا بالخرس لأنك أول عريس دق الجرس؟

أما جدتي، فنظرت إلي بنظرةٍ لن أنساها

قالت عيناها: "إوعي تقبلي"

فتعلقت بعينيها السودتين كالمتعلق في طوق نجاة

استرجعت بهم قوتي

وشددت ظهري

وقلت شكراً

لن أقبل بهذه المسرحية

التي مهما كانت نهايتها

أنت بطلها وأنا الضحية

غرفتي البيضاء في بيت أهلي تبدو صغيرة لك

لاكنها تتسع كل أحلامي

...فالمسألة نسبية

Homage to Shahrazad

(click to enlarge)

إعادة تعريف

ليست كل من تنادي بحقوق المرأة مسترجلة

وليست الأنوثة أن تتخلي عن حقوقك كإنسانة

Araf!

8-year-old-girl-dies-from-internal-injuries-on-wedding-night

Great Article from an Indian rape victim

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/08/opinion/after-being-raped-i-was-wounded-my-honor-wasnt.html?hp&_r=2&


This part is what the Arab world should comprehend:

"Rape is horrible. But it is not horrible for all the reasons that have been drilled into the heads of Indian women. It is horrible because you are violated, you are scared, someone else takes control of your body and hurts you in the most intimate way. It is not horrible because you lose your “virtue.” It is not horrible because your father and your brother are dishonored. I reject the notion that my virtue is located in my vagina, just as I reject the notion that men’s brains are in their genitals."

الغرب الكافر

           

الغرب الكافر تعيين السيدة هادية طاجيك (مسلمة - 29 سنة) كوزيرة للثقافة ، لتصبح بذلك أصغر وزيرة في الحكومة النرويجية  وكذلك أول عضو مسلم في مجلس الوزراء على الإطلاق في الدولة الإسكندنافية . ملحوظة : النرويج نسبة المسلمين فيها اقل من 1% الشرق المؤمن بدون تعليق

The Stoning of Soraya

http://youtu.be/IWQ9phw1C9w

Just in case anyone is confused about my "aggressive" attitude against religious institutions, religions, and religious "Men"... 

You should know: They started it

مقال سعد إبراهيم

كتب سعد الدين إبراهيم

شاركت في أحد أفراح الطبقة المُتوسطة المصرية، بمدينة المنصورة مساء السبت 25/12/2010. ورغم أن ذلك اليوم يتزامن مع عيد الميلاد (الكريسماس) إلا أننا حرصنا على تلبية دعوة أسرة العروس نيّرة  شهاب الدين، والعريس الكيميائي محمد عبد المُعتصم.

كان هذا العُرس مُناسبة لرؤية معظم أفراد الأسرة المُمتدة، والأهل والأصدقاء من قريتي (بدين)، ومن مديني (المنصورة). ولأن الحفل أقيم في نادي الشرطة، فقد كان المشهد رومانسياً للغاية. وضاعف من هذه الرومانسية، بعض المؤثرات الصوتية ـ الضوئية، "الهوليودية"... والتي لم أشاهدها حتى في الأفراح الأمريكية، على كثرة ما حضرت منها خلال العقود الأربعة الأخيرة.

وللأمانة، كانت هناك لمسة تُراثية بدخول طابورين من حملة المشاعل، بملابس الفرسان من "العصور الإسلامية الوسطى" ذات الألوان الزاهية، والنقوش الذهبية المُزركشة. وكان هذا إيذان بقرب وصول العروسين. وبدى لي أن جمهور المدعوين قد أصبح مُدرباً على هذه الطقوس، فقد نهض كل من كان يجلس على نفس مائدتي، وكل الموائد الأخرى، استعداداً لدخول زفة العروسين التي استغرقت حوالي نصف ساعة، منذ دخول القاعة، حتى الوصول إلى "العرش"، حيث يجلس العروسان على كُرسيين مُزركشين، على منصة مُرتفعة حوالي متر ونصف، بحيث يراهما كل من في القاعة الكُبرى للأفراح في نادي الشرطة.

ومن عدد الموائد، وعدد الجالسين حول كل مائدة، خلُصت زوجتي، وهي عالمة اجتماع أيضاً، إلى أن هناك حوالي أربعمائة مدعو، نصفهم على الأقل من الإناث. وأنها كانت الوحيدة، بلا حجاب. وقارنت هي بين هذا المشهد، وأول عُرس حضرته في مصر، منذ أربعين عاماً، حيث لم تكن فيه أنثى واحدة "مُحجبة" وتساءلت، "هل معنى ذلك أن المصريات قد أصبحن أكثر تديناً، ومُحافظة، واحتشاماً؟

ولم أتطوع أنا بالإجابة... ولكن الإجابة جاءت عالية... واضحة... وسريعة الإيقاع، بعد دقائق من توجيه السؤال. فبمجرد بدء الموسيقى الشعبية الراقصة، ودعوة أحد المُطربين للجمهور أن ينزلوا إلى ساحة الرقص التي كانت تتوسط القاعة، حتى نزل حوالي ثلاثين شاباً... وبعد دقائق، انضمت إليهم عشرات المدعوات من كل الأعمار تقريباً... وكلهن "مُحجبات".

وبين الحين والآخر، حينما تُظهر إحداهن مهارة في الرقص، فقد كان من يرقصون بالقرب منها، يتوقفون عن الرقص قليلاً، ويُفسحون دائرة خاصة لها، ويقومون بتشجيعها، بتصفيقات إيقاعية، تُضاعف من حماسها، وتُغري أخريات، بالنزول إلى الساحة، والتنافس معها.

ورغم أن الرجال كانوا هم المُبادرون بالرقص، إلا أن النساء كانوا الأكثر مُثابرة، والأطول باعاً وإبداعاً... ولاحظنا أنه كلما كان "حجابهن"، أكثر اكتمالاً، كلما كُن الأكثر حركية، وتحركاً، وإبداعاً. وكان تفسير زوجتي لذلك، أنهن الأكثر "مُحافظة" أو "كبتاً" في حياتهن اليومية العامة. ولذلك فإنه بمجرد إتاحة "فرصة شرعية" لهن، فإنهن يستغلنها إلى أقصى درجة. وأنهن في ذلك مثلهن مثل الرجال في حلقات "الذِكر" الصوفية، حيث يتوحد الصوفي الراقص مع "الملكوت" من حوله، أو هكذا يتوهم! وكذا نساء الطبقات الشعبية الدُنيا، حيث يؤدي لهن "الزار"، نفس الوظيفة التنفيسية.

Another Perspective...lol

http://amazingwomenrock.com/the-story-of-creation-from-eves-perspective

A Closed Group

There's only 1 group on FB dedicated to Women in Islam, and it's called: Facts About Women In Islam

There are only 277 members, and their profile pics are either religious (them wearing hijab, or the word "allah" etc) OR pictures of famous actresses! lol This tells you alot about the psychology of the members.

Anyway, I'm sure the 2 admins meant well in creating this group, as they claim in sms English: "all r welcome to ths group..."

Yet, it's a "closed" group..lol You need to request permission to join.

They also mention: "here u can ask any personal questions on Islam"
This is very funny to me, cause:
1- There are no Muslim "shaikhas", so what exactly are their credentials to answer questions on Islam? They have a male Shaikh that they resort to... who is he? or who are they? what are their credentials?

2- We all know the reason this group is closed. Basically it's because the admins can't handle criticism. In another words, they can't handle the FACTS that someone else brings up, they just want to put their own.

So what is the purpose of this group exactly?

Women in the Muslim world have become their own enemy. They create circles and groups and spread the misconceptions & fallacies that they have been taught for years in order to feel better about their lifestyles... (the lifestyle they THINK they chose) These topics range from Religious laws, to sex, to "dress code" arguments. And even when you have similar views in the same group, they still fight among themselves on who's doing it "better", and who's more "pious", and 90% of the time, it's the extremists that win the arguments cause most of these women have no knowledge of the Qura'n or the history of Islam. So these groups become something like support groups... group therapy that helps these women cope... They need them in order to function in a world that's unfair to their gender. They go to these meetings in order to validate their choices, and reassure themselves. That's why they attract many, but accomplish NOTHING. Because there is no room for critical thinking or any "out of the box" ideas. It's all borrowed knowledge, and borrowed morals. Those who host these gatherings are of course in charge of making sure that if anyone "strays" from the path, they are put back on track.
It's a dangerous trend that started long before FB groups were popular. Example: The famous Qubaisiate (pronounced koo-BAY-see-AHT) movement lead by Munira al-Qubaysi. This is not a moderate movement by any means. They are pretty hard core. They also are a "closed" group. You need an invitation to attend.

I guess the only FACT that is evident here is that: When it comes to Women in Islam, the subject will continue to be "CLOSED" until further notice.

No Comments

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newsvideo/8036686/French-women-cause-a-stir-in-niqab-and-hot-pants-in-anti-burka-ban-protest.html

طلّ الملوحي

This is for those who still believe that Syria gives a crap about the "Arab Cause"

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Tal-al-Mallouhi/160780360602701?ref=ts

The issue with Hair

It seems us Arabs have an "issue" with hair... Controversy over covering it up or not, shaving the beard or not, waxing or not... what's the deal?

I understand that "grooming" habits change from culture to culture... but this is really silly...

The obsession with Hair is also apparent with our neighbors, the Jews. Hasidic Jewish men grow out of control beards too, and the women actually wear wigs, so that they don't show their hair! Smart... why didn't we think of that? Tricking God! Those Jews... always innovative...lol

Surprisingly, I never addressed the hijab controversy on this blog... but i guess it was bound to happen, so here it is:

Covering a woman's hair is not about obligation or morals or obedience, it's just another example of how MAN managed to take away a huge part of the female "power".

I once had extensions put in my hair, and i gotta tell you, the feeling was AMAZING... when i went out, and the wind was blowing my hair (and my fake hair) i felt like Samson! so STRONG... like i'm gonna fly! i can never imagine cutting my hair short... let alone covering it. Why do you think women have phrases like "bad-hair day"? cause hair is THAT important... You don't feel "pretty" unless your hair is clean & neat... When you feel "pretty" you feel confident, and men don't really want that. They want you helpless, weak and timid.

Yes, your Hair is your POWER... men understand this, and they resent us for it... they can't stand the fact that we have "sexual" power... so they somehow managed to trick us into believing that covering up is about conservativeness or being discreet... which is B.S. A covered woman can be as sexual and as deviant as any other.

Besides, if the point is to drive attention away from yourself so that you don't commit any "sins", you can just go out looking like crap... don't shower, and dress like a bum, that'll do it...

Now, if you happened to be one of those extremely beautiful women, then you just have to ask all the men in your town to do what "God" suggested: Cover up! Yes, let THEM cover their eyes so they can't see YOU. Let's see how they feel with covering their faces, and walking with a blind dog. Sure they will find it hard at first, but the reward will come in the afterlife :P
Now where have you heard that phrase before? lol

This idea sounds absurd, but for me so is covering up a womans HEAD!

Why do WE have to make our lives more difficult so that we can prevent a man from having "impure" thoughts? Why should we not enjoy a day at the beach, like men do? where is the "divine wisdom" in that? Do you really think it's a coincidence that all these so called divine rules are made to cater to men and their egos?

So as for hijab, i say: My hair is a RED LINE, (and it's also red, but that's besides the point...lol) No one will be able to convince me that it's a divine obligation, cause i'm sure the almighty is not sitting there trying to figure out how to make the lives of the male population easier...

And to anyone that still thinks this is my OBLIGATION, i say:

BACK THE F*** OFF MY MAINE!

Why men ignore their wives!

Take out the trash? Why husbands don't listen - LiveScience - MSNBC.com

Great! Now they have a SCIENTIFIC excuse!!!

A drive thru misery...

After dropping off the kids at school this morning, I was listening to BBC radio, and they were talking about child trafficking in Afghanistan. Women are selling their children for $200 or sometimes $100!

I've heard of this phenomena before, but i never really thought about it deeply, until i had my own kids.

At first my reaction was: How could they? How do you have the heart to watch your child leave with a stranger to the unknown? The only thing that you do know is that you will probably never see them again!

One of the women that had sold her 4 year old started talking... She said: "It's not just for the money, i gave up my child because I'm hoping he will go to a family with better living conditions, so he can be safe & he can live a good life."

I felt the pain in her voice... But still i thought: Ok.... But why do they keep having kids if they can't even afford to feed themselves, let alone a child? Is it selfishness?

Or

Is it selfish of me to assume that they should know better?

I wanted to imagine myself as her for a moment...

Uneducated, poor, and living in a war torn country... Did she really CHOOSE anything?

These women can't get an education, even learning to read has to be done in secret, they have to marry at a very young age, get pregnant immediately after, and then reality hits: Everything that you've been taught about your duty as a woman has led to this.

You can't work if you can't even read, (that's if there are any jobs available in your area)

You can't keep having kids... but you can't exactly deny your husband sex either...

You are stuck! You obeyed all the rules and now you are faced with having to sell a child to feed his brother!

If that's not agony, i don't know what isIf that's not agony.

On top of all that, there is a big chance you will be arrested cause it's illegal!

It's not illegal that you can't get an education... it's not illegal that you get married at 12... it's not illegal that you have to wear a bag covering your entire body in the scorching heat... But it's illegal to give your child away in hope that he/she will have a better life then you ever did.

Shouldn't the govt. solve the root of the problem first, before punishing this woman?

The cost of keeping her in a jail cell would have prevented her from giving her child away in the first place!

Do they really think that this woman had any other option?

I'm not saying selling children should be legal... But for one thing: the laws of an uncivilized society are usually only exercised on the weak... Ya, she's put in jail, yet the person that bought the child is home free & probably on the first plane out of Afghanistan...

Second: These women have to abide by one ridiculous law after the other, without having ONE law that actually protects them... so what good is it that they follow any of them?

If it was me, I would probably go crazy! Not that i would last one day in Afghanistan, but if i did, I would be angry, and vengeful and I won't even know why or at whom.

Well, angry at the world! A world that makes these situations possible...

We are allowing this to happen... we are all responsible... Greedy & selfish decision makers, with greedy & selfish people backing them up...

I don't know how to save the world, but as a mother, all I know is: No woman should ever be put in this position... No woman should be subjected to this kind of suffering.

Then I got home... and i went about my day as usual............ forgetting all about the subject.

I guess the least thing i can do is blog about it.

Women In Art

Thelma & Louise Vs. 3abeer & Khadija

Well, not yet, but I can see it coming!

It turns out that Majlis Al Shoura in Saudi Arabia has advised the Court of Ministers regarding women driving in Saudi Arabia. They agreed on a list of rules & regulations.
Of course this will not take effect immediately, it'll take a few years to finalize it...

I know this is a positive step, but I can't help staring in awe at these ridicules rules!

Rules and Regulations regarding women driving vehicles:

1- Must be at least 40 years of age.
2- Must have permission from her guardian (husband or father or brother...)
3- Must have a valid driving license from a womens driving school.
4- Should be modest in clothing and not have makeup on while driving.
5- Women can only drive inside the city if alone. She must have a guardian with her if driving outside the city.
6- Driving is permitted between the hours 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. from Saturday to Wednesday; 2 p.m. till 8 p.m. on Thursday and Friday.
7- Must have a cell phone with her in case of emergency.
8- In case of a car break down or an accident, she should call Women Police Service for help.
9- She will have to pay a certain amount of money (credit on her driving license) which will be used by Women Police for her tire puncture repair or other maintenance.

Government responsibilities:

1- Creation of female Police force who will be specialized in multiple fields like driving, taking calls with companies to repair cars, rent cars, and also issuing traffic citations.
2- Creation of free women police center for emergency calls.
3- Opening Islamic propagation center in the Women Police department inside the cities.
4- Renewal of driving licenses every year.

Violations in General:

1- If any driver chases a female driver, if caught or proved, will be jailed for minimum 8 months with fine.
2- For those drivers who try to stop women drivers in any way like making their way narrow will be jailed for 1 day with fine.
3- If any driver hurts the women drivers will be jailed for 1 month with fine.

(Notice that if someone "chases" a woman he's jailed 8 months, but if he actually hurts her, only one!)

For Women:

1- Those women drivers who do not follow Islamic behavior their license will be suspended for minimum 6 months with 500-1000 Riyals fine.
2- Their guardian will be notified in writing by the "Hay'et el Amr Bil-Maaroof" (religious police)

Ahhh... What can I say?
Where do I even start?

I won't... I'll say nothing (and knowing me that's very hard to do!)
I'll try to be optimistic & positive and just say that it's good they are working towards reform.

This song makes me feel like i'm 16 again

"Girl, You'll be A Woman Soon"