Men needn't worry...

Capital suggestion: Men needn't worry
By Dr Farrukh Saleem: The NEws April 22, 2007

Over the past year, according to published reports quoting Taliban commanders, 61 female teachers were killed and 183 girls' schools bombed. Men needn't worry. It's all about women. It's all about absolute subjugation of the weaker sex. It's all about crushing the already 'battered half'. It's all about subduing the fairer sex. And, most importantly, it's all about keeping them illiterate. "Kia aurat naqisul aqal hoti hai" (are women mentally deficient?).

In February, they were a hundred miles from Islamabad. In Kohat, Government Girls Middle School was bombed. On February 4, the following notice was pasted to the board outside Mohammed Hussain Maila Girls' High School in Dara Adamkhel: "We have decided to bomb the school building. If a student shows up and dies as a result she will be responsible for her own death." Of the 500 female students 300 have dropped out. On February 23, they managed to shut down Peshawar Grammar School, City School, Frontier Education Foundation, Bloomfield School and Beacon House School, all English medium co-educational schools. On February 24, they threatened to bomb a girls' school in Mardan.

In March, they reached Islamabad. It all begins with the burning of videos followed by pamphlets left at girls' schools; 'be veiled or we will bomb you'. Fatwas are issued against female teachers and ministers. Van drivers transporting female students are then threatened. And, finally, parallel judiciary to dispense 'Islamic justice' is set up.

Women should cover themselves from head to toe. Women should not work outside the house. Women should not be treated by male doctors. Women should not leave home without a male chaperone. Women should not leave home without the permission of her male guardian. Women should not participate in any public decision-making body. Women should not drive. Women should not be educated beyond the age of eight. Women should have no legal recourse in cases of domestic violence. Women should be 'minors in perpetuity'.

In effect, women should not have any independent legal identity regarded as property at best, ideally a pet. In essence, men are meant to possess women; control her, own her, occasionally beat her, and shrunk her away 'when not desired and returned to normal size when needed'. Women, the 'tempter of humankind', must be publicly flogged for any violation of the law.

Men needn't worry a token beard will do. Surely, ignorant mothers will raise idiots as our sons and daughters but they'll all be our idiots. Naturally, by 2025 we shall be the only country with 230 million idiots but they'll all be our idiots. The Pakistan Army needn't worry either. When was the last time you saw a general in a burqa?

The writer is an Islamabad-based freelance columnist. Email: farrukh15@hotmail.com