The sad irony is that some have latched on to the idea that Aasiya's death was an honor killing, blaming the Islamic faith for the bizarre and gruesome actions of one violent man who just happened to be Muslim.
According to Orchard Park, NY police chief Andrew Benz, Aasiya had filed for divorce and obtained an order of protection against her husband on February 6. She was found dead at the TV station six days later. The police had previously responded to domestic violence incidents at the couple's home.
Over at BlogHer, Kim Pearson asks, "TV executive beheaded in Buffalo; husband charged - what's Islam got to do with it?" She examines why so many have been distracted by the 'honor killing' angle and ignored the larger picture - that we need to identify domestic violence in our communities and work to end it.
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You are wishing away a larger ideological problem that United Nations representatives state we need to face.
February 15, 2009 – Muslim women ‘face crisis over violence’
— “Muslim women around the world are facing a ‘growing crisis’ as Islamic governments fail to honour commitments to end inequality and violence against them, a senior UN official has warned
— Yakin Erturk: “In these countries, those who speak on behalf of Islam still justify things like stoning or killing a woman for this or that reason as being part of their religion. I have heard this at the most official of levels”
http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,25057454-5001028,00.html?from=public_rss
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,25057454-23109,00.html
I agree that the basic issue is one of domestic violence. But tell me, how often does domestic violence appear in western civilizations in the form of decapitation? Are you going to completely disregard the modus operandi and the background that makes it possible?
It is truly amazing how all the self-made Islamic scholars have arisen post 9-11; but not one can explain how the 3rd tower fell, what was that flash of light from the underside of the plane that traveled from the plane before the plane hit and why has all the tapes surrounding the pentagon has been consificated by the CIA. First, for the laws of Hudud which some people phrase as Sharia – there has to be 4 reliable male witnesses to se actual intercourse (as opposed to wiggling under covers) for one to be stoned to death. When a man came confessing to commiting adultry the Prophet (Peace be unto him) tried to command him to shut up. A thief’s hand wouldn’t be cut off for stealing something to eat because the law of Zakat (charity) supercedes. A true beleiver never kills another Muslim to prevgent inheriting that person’s sins. Notice only when the perpretrator of a crime is Muslim only then is their religion revealed. What was the religion of the murderer who was just found guilty in Iraq?
Caddieo, your statement spells out your prejudice and ignorant views. First off, nowhere in Islam does it say that domestic violence or honor killing is allowed, so lets leave Islam out of this. Another thing you mentioned was that decpaitation is not the usual method of killing in the crime of domestic violence in the western society. Well, perhaps you should do some more research:0 1986 Arizona-Phoenix, a woman was killed by her husband after he shot her in the head and then dismembered her body, including her head. 1965 NY, Brooklyn, a man shot his ex in the back with a shotgun and hacked her head off with an axe. 1977, Georgia, a man stabbed his wife with katana sword, cut off her head and barried her in the back yard etc.etc.etc…. you get the picture?? And couple years back the proffesional wrestler by the name of Chris Benoit strangled his wife with a cord and then his son, and then he hung himself. He was also a christian, a church goer; I wonder if it would be fair to bring his religion into this and say something absurd, like he belived he would go to heaven anyways since his belief says if a person has faith in jesus that he is the savior and that he died for your sins, that you will go to heaven no matter what? Thats atleast what the crusaders believed in the midevall days…
Attempts to remove Shari’ah law (and its punishments) from Islam are counter-productive to an introduction of women’s rights in Islam. Shari’ah gleans from Islamic sources, not limiting those to the Koran alone. These sources are limited to the religion of Islam, with various breakdowns according to schools of thought, etc.
Does abuse happen worldwide among non-Muslim peoples? Yes. But how many of them have a book saying that it’s ok to beat their wife (Surah 4:34) if a man THINKS his wife is dishonoring him?
What this man did was the ULTIMATE in Shari’ah. In beheading her he was treating her as an infidel and “smiting” off her head.
She shamed him.
She kicked him out of their home.
She filed for divorce.
Let’s ignore those who want to “leave Islam out of it” and fearlessly examine the truth wherever it takes us. Muslim “leaders” and apologists around the world do not speak as impressively as the beheaded body of this dead woman.She took her life in her hands to defy a religious system of silence and justification. Let us sift through to the facts in orDer to discover who and what is responsible for the death of Aasiya Zubair.
WHen Muzzamil Hassan stabbed his wife over 36 times he had more in mind than achieveing her death. He wished to show his absolute control over her. According to Sura 4:34, he had the right to beat her into submission, if he chose. According to Sura 4:17 he had the right to imprison her for the rest of her life if she dishonored him. Sura 4:17 says that a man who has been betrayed by adultery can lock up a woman for the rest of her life or whatever else Allah allows. What Allah allows is open to interpretation. IN this case it was beheading. SHaria all over the Muslim world supported Muzzamil’s right to behead Aasiya for dishonoring him by seeking divorce. See the scholarly work of Noni Darwish which looks at Sharia in many Muslim countries to compare and contrast. Se also the work of Dr. Phylis Chesler, expert on honor killings among Muslims, the methodology and jusitfications. Here is the overwhelming reality – Sharia endorses, nurtures and protects honor killing and beheading as a means. Reformers are turned away as Islamic scholars around the world have insisted that honor killings are necessary to keep order in the family. These acholars are not particularly radical . They are ordinary Muslims giving the standard and accepted opinion regarding this hideous practice.
When Muzzamil painstakingly severed his wife’s head from her body, he did it with a religious purpose. He told police that she now, beheaded, could not enter Paradise. This renders ridiculous all commentary that Islam had nothing to do with this murder. It is the deliberate repetition of nonsense known as Taqiyya.Taqiya allows lies to be told in order to protect the honor of Islam.
Muzzamil knew the Koran . The suras of the Koran describes women as stupid, deceitful and property. The life of Mohammad itself was full of instructive behavior that Muzzamil, like any other Muslim man could use to justify killing and beheading Aasiya. Mohammad had himself often encouraged the beheading of others and the rape, beating and murder of women.The life of Mohammad is too well known to honestly dispute this. Muzzamil acted consistently with ordinary interpretations of Islamic doctrine.
This is the reality that Muslim women deal with. It is not radical Islam that is the enemy. The enemy is ordinary Islam where domination is idealized, murder accepted, absolute submission required. The problem is too big for the court and should be brought to the attention of Congress. Immigration from those who are committed to this belief system should be ended. It is incompatible with a core American value of democracy and freedom of every individual before the law. Honor killings on American soil should be relentlesly prosecuted and above all, the truth must be relentlesly spoken.
Bravo Bronwyn! Excellent presentation of facts, not bluster. Abu and Nawaz could use a few lessons in addressing the issue with logic not venom. As you so well expressed, there is an acceptance of spousal abuse in Islam, that is not only supported by tradition, and the historically respected Islamic teachings, but by current Imams as well. How do we know this is still a currently accepted practice? In the US there are approximately 1209 mosques (according to Islamic statistics found online). When the reports came out regarding this tragedy and began to focus solely on domestic violence, rather than sharia law, how many of the imams spoke out against said domestic violence? According to the news reporters “not less than 9″. Hmmm, that leaves, what, about 1200 mosques whose leader feel that nothing need be done? Their silence speaks volumes about what Islam believes is fair treatment of women.
The killer was not a practicing Muslim; his wife was. She was the inspiration and impetus behind the TV station; her life’s work was to dispel the myths and stereotypes that some here are so quick to repeat. Shame on you for dishonoring her in death.
I appreciate Linda’s comments. Domestic violence knows no historical, cultural, or religious boundaries. The specific circumstances of Aasiya’s death speak to the brutality of the man, period. Several thousand Islamic leaders have honored Aasiya by speaking out firmly against domestic violence and reaffirming the Muslim community’s support of abuse victims. Check my blog to find Islamic counseling services and Muslim women’s shelters; they have been around for years.
I don’t claim to know much about Islam or it’s teachings. The man killed his wife and he should be punished under the law of the country he is in.
“I agree that the basic issue is one of domestic violence. But tell me, how often does domestic violence appear in western civilizations in the form of decapitation? Are you going to completely disregard the modus operandi and the background that makes it possible?” caddieo
Your question begs this one: What method has NOT been used in Western Civilization to kill a partner/spouse/lover/date, etc.? Women are burned to death, stabbed to death, beaten in the head with hammers, etc., and some are dismembered ( http://elfninosmom.wordpress.com/2008/10/19/boyfriends-gone-wild-edward-covington-murdered-and-dismembered-girlfriend-her-children-and-even-her-pets/ ). Surely you cannot be saying that those are more “CIVILISED” ways for a death to happen? It isn’t about anything but power and meanness.
I really disagree with those who deny that this is a form of an honor killing! This serves the prosecution. Please look up the killing of Methel Dayem in Cleveland, a Palestinian, killed by her ex-husband and his cousin. Look up the Kurdish woman killed in England in 2007, raped and beaten to death. I agree male violence against women is universal; but the issue is that many Muslim women cannot seek help such as protective orders, or ending a marriage, and cannot get anyone to step in and treat their husbands. If they do, they have challenged that man’s public image, which is NOT to say this is an ideal Islamic attitude, but a real life mountain of spousal abuse, spousal rape, emotional & psychological abuse by men who feel they have the right and power to treat women this way. Islamic authorities and community leaders mostly won’t step in as if they do, the same thing happens, the man has been shamed. I know, I’ve tried calling them.
Kudos to you Huda for providing safe havens!
While I realize religious issues predominate this story, I don’t think she would have been in any different situation if she had been Christian or Jewish. Why? He had money and power. Women in those marriages are typically on their own to survive the best they can. Too many don’t.
And, I’m mystified that not many folks are talking about the trauma done to their children.
This story is just awful from every perspective.
LOOK, THIS POOR LADY IS DEAD. SHE PROBABLY LIVED IN FEAR AND THE FACT IS THAT MUSLIMS BEHEAD THEIR VICTIMS ALSO WOMANS RIGHTS ARE ABUSED UNDER THE MUSLIM DOCTRINE . YOU DON’T HAVE BE AN EXPERT ON MUSLIM FAITH. ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS PAY ATTENTION TO THE NEWS AND READ
Firstly, let’s stop assuming that domestic violence is limited to Muslims, and stop using these poor women as pawns to demonise The Islamic Faith. The following are some simple facts people should not ignore and realise that domestic violence knows no religious boundaries – Islam is the second biggest faith after Christianity I believe, so consider the following facts that remain hidden from media limelight – it just so happens that Muslim are flavour of the day right now so we’re quick to jump on the anti-Muslim bandwagon. I like to be objective rather than follow the herd mentality. I truely commend Ms Lowen for her honest article – please keep up the good work lady.
Battering is the single largest cause of injury to women—more than auto accidents, muggings, and rapes combined. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists reports that 3 to 4 million women are beaten in their homes every year. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, approximately 2,000 women are murdered every year by an intimate partner.
According to Detective Sgt. Don Stewart author of the book ‘A Pathway Out of Domestic Violence’, and retired police officer who handled domestic violence cases for 25 years, says one out of every four Christian couples experience at least one episode of physical abuse within their marriage.
In June 2007, professor of Christian theology at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary Bruce Ware told a Texas church that women often bring abuse on themselves by refusing to submit. Debi Pearl, author of the bestselling submission manual, ‘Created to Be His Help Meet’, writes that submission is so essential to God’s plan that it must be followed even to the point of allowing abuse. “When God puts you in subjection to a man whom he knows is going to cause you to suffer,” she writes, “it is with the understanding that you are obeying God by enduring the wrongful suffering.”
So Dr. Reason’s approach to the valid critique is to use the usual “well others did it too”, which explains his rant on Christians.
Good to know that “reason” today is mistaken for an infantile “others do it too” argumentation.
Yes wife beating, spousal rape, suppression of basic rights is not limited to Muslims, but Islam remains the only religion, of which the contemporary internerpretation as preached by the scholars, advocates/commands such things.
Christianty as well as Judaism went through some changes during time, in case Mr Reason didn’t notice. Muslims tend to go by the fatwas and interpretation forwarded by the scholars which is where the problem lies – today.
I don’t think Allah or Islam are the problem, but when majority of believers put their faith in various scholars, imams, sheikhs, and clerics who they rely on from small matters like how to fold your hands when payin your daily salah or how to treat your wife who is not obeying you then this becomes problematic.
Therefore although yes other books be that the bible, talmud, torah or whatever say these things or similar, they do not enforce it nor practise it. That is the difference which is why Islam is being discussed and held responsible (interpretation at least).
How sad to find this discussion … the Quran does not advocate violence against women, in fact it’s to the contrary.Although i am NOT a muslim i decided to look into islam to figure out what makes them “tick”, let me put it this way, since 911 just sitting on a train or bus with anyone who looks to be of middle eastern appearance has freaked me out! So following the good advice of my Christian parents i put off having an opinion until i knew what the heck i was talking about. The upshot is this … NOWHERE in the Quran did i find any verse saying beat your wife, Mohammad gave advice to someone who asked about what to do about a wife who’s doing things contrary to what is best for her family … his reply was to give her a good talking to, if that doesn’t work, don’t share her bed and then if that doesnt work he TAPPED the person with what appears to be the equivalent of a TOOTHBRUSH and says do that if she continues. A LIGHT TAP GUYS … seems to me that you are talking out of your rear end … study the subject THEN make an informed comment and grow up.
oh and btw … true muslims follow Mohammads way NOT the way of someone who puts their own spin on islam
We know that, basically, many religions condemn murder and violence, but let’s get real. Over thousands of years, religion has been used to justify many evils, from cheating to murder to slavery and to, yes, domestic violence. The people who commit these crimes are not above using the Bible, Koran, or whatever to justify what they are doing. Why? “Because it’s in the Bible” or “That’s what God says I should do.” Think about it. Who’s behind most of the honor killings in the Middle East? Radical Muslims. Who’s behind the bombing of abortion clinics right here in our country? The radical Christian right. Who was responsible for slavery? Christians. Though the crimes and people varied, they all had one thing in common: they used religion to justify what they did. Is it surprising that many people are sour on religion? Of course, most religious people don’t do what these people did, but these fanatics are giving them–and religion–a bad name.