:: Dhivehi Observer :: Peoples Press ::

Nasreena and the veil

By a Male' Correspondent, Sunday 11th July 2004

Some time ago a fellow dissident vehemently complained to me that Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom had yet to make his wife, Nasreena Ibrahim, wear the veil. Although I didn’t know at that time whether to laugh or not, I have learnt, since, that this is apparently a serious issue, among a considerable section of the Maldives opposition.

The recent opposition-initiated debates on constitutional reform, which Gayyoom has now banned following criticism of his government and calls for his resignation, has exposed how the government has effectively stripped an entire population off basic human rights. But it has also brought to light the unwelcome fact that when women’s rights are at stake, no one gives a toss.

When Nazeer Jamal expressed his view that women should not be allowed to rule, and tried to pass it off as unassailable Islamic truth, no one from the gathering challenged the former presidential candidate, even though what he was suggesting would violate both the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and, indeed, the Islamic Declaration of Human Rights.

At high-profile meetings to root out problems in the system, some forms of abuse, it seems, are not worthy of debate. Or, perhaps, in this marriage of liberals and the religious right, where compromises are bound to be made, women, as always, are the most expendable thing.

This in a country which boasts the first ever female ruler in any Islamic nation. We may also be the only Islamic country to have women-only mosques, and headed by female imams. Moreover, Maldivian women are known for their ability to give a piece of their mind when needed (and how!). It is no coincidence that one of the most impressionable speakers at the male-dominated debates was Ms. Zuhera.

The truth is, anti-women sentiments among the emerging religious right are not influenced by Islam, but by pre-Islamic values and prejudices that continue to exist in the countries which offer dubious scholarships for Maldivians to study Islam.

Misogynists in some societies have for centuries tried to attach their own un-Islamic legacy or custom to Islam. Moreover, certain sneaky “scholars” have a habit of reading liberally and broadening the scope of rules granting authority to men, while reading literally and strictly those imposing limitations on women.

Unfortunately, returning scholars sometimes import wholesale the misogynistic codes prevalent overseas. Because they also attach Islamic values to these codes, and because most Maldivians are ignorant about the religion they follow, they can get away with it. This was how Gayyoom and his classmates initially gained support in the Maldives. Naturally when he sees other people trying to use the same trick he just locks them up.

The scholars and their supporters formed a considerable part of the second gathering to debate constitutional reform. There was a moment when it seemed like a clash was about to erupt between the religious right and the liberals, when someone suggested that Mauhadh and Arabiyya graduates didn’t take drugs, unlike young people coming out of schools teaching a western education. But the gentleman who made the remark hurriedly moved on from this train of thought, and any hostilities that arose were temporarily submerged.

But Nasreena’s veil will not go away. Proponents of the party system, democracy, and human rights must make it clear not only to Gayyoom but also to the sections of the opposition, that no discrimination or human rights abuse of any form will be tolerated in the New Maldives.

For more on women and Islam:

http://www.arches.uga.edu/~godlas/Islamwomen.html