Head of BridgesTV in Troubled Water
This is the story of Bridges TV, the US equivalent of the United Kingdom’s Islam Channel.
Founded in 2003, this is how the Muslim Brotherhood’s Islam Online described its genesis:
While driving one night last year, Muzzammil S. Hassan and his wife, Aasiya, were listening to a talk show that took an anti-Muslim turn. Aasiya turned to her husband and asked why there can’t be a way for American Muslim families to create a strong, safe and good environment for their children.
“In those days Muzzammil was preoccupied with writing for newspapers or doing interviews on radio stations. And I told him this is not our thing,” Aasiya recalls. She wanted something exclusively for Muslims that Muslims could create and control. “I wanted something entertaining and informative that [would show] we’re not an alien species.”
She suggested a 24/7 cable television channel where Muslim families could turn for quality programming and non-Muslims could learn something about Islam. And just like that, the seed for Bridges TV, a developing Muslim television channel set to air in 2004, was planted.
Soon, BridgesTV became a thriving niche cable channel, avaliable on Verizon FiOS TV, Dish Network, Comcast Cable, Time Warner Cable, Globecast World TV, WOW! Cable, Buckeye Cable, Selco Cable and Cox Cable, with quality programmes such as this:
The channel was soon beset by a pretty familiar controversy. Like an Islamist version of Alex Jones’ Prison Planet, it began to broadcast a diet on kook, nuts, bigots and extremists. Khomeinist Imams. Paul Findlay. “Israel Shamir”. The usual suspects. Here’s MEMRI’s Steve Stalinsky on its output. And, if you dare, here are some articles on RENSE conspiracy theorising about the cancellation of a “pro-Palestinian” show (they blame “Jewish cable operators”, of course).
But that isn’t the end of the story.
Orchard Park police are investigating a particularly gruesome killing, the beheading of a woman, after her husband — an influential member of the local Muslim community — reported her death to police Thursday.
Police identified the victim as Aasiya Z. Hassan, 37. Detectives have charged her husband, Muzzammil Hassan, 44, with second-degree murder.
“He came to the police station at 6:20 p.m. [Thursday] and told us that she was dead,” Orchard Park Police Chief Andrew Benz said late this morning.
Muzzammil Hassan told police that his wife was at his business, Bridges TV, on Thorn Avenue in the village. Officers went to that location and discovered her body.
Muzzammil Hassan is the founder and chief executive officer of Bridges TV, which he launched in 2004, amid hopes that it would help portray Muslims in a more positive light.
The killing apparently occurred some time late Thursday afternoon. Detectives still are looking for the murder weapon.
“Obviously, this is the worst form of domestic violence possible,” Erie County District Attorney Frank A. Sedita III said today.
Authorities say Aasiya Hassan recently had filed for divorce from her husband.
“She had an order of protection that had him out of the home as of Friday the 6th [of February],” Benz said.
And to think, the best Islamist TV channels in the United Kingdom can manage is a convicted terrorist.
Comments
| 14 February 2009, 10:24 am |
DavidT:
I like your website and appreciate its anti-bigotry, pro-left, and anti-islamist stance.
However…what the hell are we supposed to take from this story? Its a horrible domestic murder. What is your point in posting this gruesome tale?
| 14 February 2009, 10:40 am |
What is your point in posting this gruesome tale?
Identifying a moral compass and where it points.
| 14 February 2009, 10:45 am |
On a semi-related note, I watched some of Al-Jazera’s coverage of the Israeli election. In all seriousness, much of it was more balanced than the BBC.
| 14 February 2009, 11:13 am |
It is a pretty remarkable way for an Islamist tv station to collapse, I thought.
| 14 February 2009, 11:22 am |
I found this letter from
Sheikh Abdul Hadi Palazzi, Secretary General, Italian Muslim Assembly
http://www.amislam.com/demo.htm
“In joining the praiseworthy initiative organized by your daily newspaper (Il Foglio), the democratic and moderate Muslims belonging to the Italian Muslim Assembly and to the Cultural Institute of the Italian Islamic Community want to voice their solidarity with Israel, threatened in its own right to exist, and extend the same solidarity to those democratic Iranians who have been fighting for years against a clerical dictatorship which has corrupted their country, changing it into a barbarous entity.
“We thank you for giving us and many other Italian citizens an opportunity to show our love for Israel with a concrete initiative.”
This demo took place in 2005, so I thought I had better find out what their attitude is now on http://www.amislam.com
This is one of their most recent statements:
“We heartily support Israel’s anti-terror operation against Hamas in Gaza.”
Watch the video (in Arabic and English)- on their site!
| 14 February 2009, 11:27 am |
The account I read on the Associated Press site said that the impetus behind Mrs Assiya’s remark was her pregnacy in which case at least one small child is left an orphan.
| 14 February 2009, 11:35 am |
The question is – how much of the mindset of Muzzammil S. Hassan that resulted in this murder was inculcated by his Islamic conditioning?
I guess it’ll be difficult to pin this one down.
What we can say, is that Islamic conditioning promulgates attitudes and a mind set whereby women are viewed as chattels. That there seems to be a correlation between Islamic conditioning and domestic violence, that the Koran is often – even by Muslim clerics – cited as endorsing wife beating, that ‘honour’ killings are common in Muslim society and that Islam is an especially violent religion.
U.N. Finds That 25% of Married Syrian Women Have Been Beaten – New Your Times,
For Some Muslim Wives, Abuse Knows No Borders – The Washington Post,
Addressing Violence Against Palestinian Women – IDRC,
Pakistan’s rising toll of domestic violence – BBC,
There’s plenty more of this sort of stuff out there.
| 14 February 2009, 11:49 am |
Nick (ex South Africa)
and that Islam is an especially violent religion.
Surely you jest.
That is a racist and bigoted comment.
Off with your head.
| 14 February 2009, 12:29 pm |
Said the peaceful followers of the religion of peace …
| 14 February 2009, 1:04 pm |
The guy was cheating on her and she wanted to separate.
And so she was.
I heard about this yesterday, but it’s just one of counless similar stories.
A young teenager was killed last year by her family in Toronto and burried in an unmarded grave identidifed only by a numer. Attempts by the public (donations have been collected) to buy and install a proper headstone have all been thwarted by the cemetary on pressure from the family.
| 14 February 2009, 1:29 pm |
Off topic, but the Guardian objects to a play featuring racial stereotypes of Jews
| 14 February 2009, 1:45 pm |
The best part was left out: Muzzammil Hassan is known as a “moderate Muslim.”
Obama just ponied up $20 million of our cash to facilitate emergency immigration from Gaza. My immediate thought was, “oh, great, they’ll be a spike in honor killings in the US.” And, there will be.
| 14 February 2009, 1:48 pm |
Attempts by the public (donations have been collected) to buy and install a proper headstone have all been thwarted by the cemetary on pressure from the family.
Ridiculous. You lose your rights when you murder your children. This would have been an opportune time for so called “moderate muslim” leaders to step in and insist that the cemetary allow it.
| 14 February 2009, 2:09 pm |
Ridiculous. You lose your rights when you murder your children. This would have been an opportune time for so called “moderate muslim” leaders to step in and insist that the cemetary allow it.
Her name was Aqsa Parvez, and her life is represnted by a small numbered plate barely visible in the grass.
Her elder brother and father killed her and are charged with murder.
Her mother was not involved and appears completely indifferent to the whole affair, as though her insides were made of wood.
When Canada’s leftwing human rights commissions were confronted by the growing numbers of ‘honour’ killings in Canada, they called it ‘problematique’.
As their insides were made of wood as well.
| 14 February 2009, 2:19 pm |
It is a pretty remarkable way for an Islamist tv station to collapse, I thought.
Or a chance for the usual suspects to vent their spleens about muslims.
| 14 February 2009, 2:29 pm |
Yes, Shortie. This is no more than a talking point on domestic violence and family murders. As far as I can see, it was one niche television station amongst many.
For titillation, I think of the scene in the film of A Scanner Darkly where Alex Jones was taser’d.
| 14 February 2009, 2:33 pm |
Actions speak louder than words?
| 14 February 2009, 2:43 pm |
An aside to Valentines Day.
http://pointdebasculecanada.ca/spip.php?article912
Few women are as beautiful as a persian women.
| 14 February 2009, 2:45 pm |
Short order cook. It would be absolutely impossible for a contributor to HP to write something which touched on someone who happens to be Muslim, or anyone who sounded a bit Muslim, or had once been Muslim, or had the slightest connection to Islam, without the usual suspects coming out and venting their spleens about Muslims.
This posting is about a specific individual and his unpleasant views and behaviour: of course the bigots will use this as an excuse to condemn “the Muslims”, but they also did that when Muslims condemned anti-Semitism.
| 14 February 2009, 2:53 pm |
Another contribution to civilized society! Gsirrah, God made us higher than the animals!
| 14 February 2009, 3:03 pm |
You’re right Gsirrah, I’m not blaming David T for airing this. It’s just a shame that this site is sometimes so infested with these people.
About the TV channel, I’m not so sure. The program linked to seemed like a fairly worthy discussion, and the show which featured Shamir was axed after half a year and its editor fired due to complaints about racism. I think it might be necessary for a channel with this one’s stated purpose to feature the kind of extremists and extreme views referenced, and not to pretend that they don’t exist. Obviously I haven’t seen the channel and its general editorial line, but I don’t think the evidence presented is enough to warrant a condemnation.
I don’t really want to comment further on the murder other than to say it’s a tragic incident and it demeans anyone to use it as an excuse for gloating or point scoring.
| 14 February 2009, 3:29 pm |
Uh, I know of no other culture that has so called “honor killings.”
And it appears a number of HP commenters want to defend Muslims – but not Muslim women and children victims. Instead of addressing the problem, they demand that people not talk about it.
| 14 February 2009, 3:33 pm |
You’re right – now we’ve solved our problem with domestic violence it’s definitely time to focus on the muslims.
| 14 February 2009, 3:36 pm |
What an ignorant and callous comment and not unexpected from your ilk.
| 14 February 2009, 3:37 pm |
Phew, good to know that it is only Muslim men who are wife-killers.
After all, prior to the visibility of Muslims in Britain, I don’t believe there was one case of domestic violence or abuse. I mean, it is not like people have tried to justify their right to abuse women and children for religious principles or secular priciples before (when was the legal right to rape one’s wife in the UK overturned?), and the claim to beat one’s children cos it says so in the Old and New Testaments.
Nope, the only reason for the novelty of domestic violence and wife-killing is the Islamic religion. (I mean, it’s not like any slimeball wife abuser would seek to justify his actions as a way out of responsibility, like, she didn’t put salt in his eggs). I assume, therefore, that all those millions of Muslim men that don’t kill their wives, who may actually love and respect their partners are “bad Muslims”.
And, yes I too will say no more – I will leave that to the racist bigots who are appreaing in all their stark relief on this thread.
| 14 February 2009, 3:38 pm |
I’m sorry, but I don’t think the article should have been published.
Not that violence inside muslim household isn’t a worthy subject.
We have just had a discussion this week in Denmark, when it was made public, that in one immigrant class two thirds of the pupils had experienced violence at home.
But I don’t think indvidual cases like this one, should be used in a politically way.
| 14 February 2009, 3:38 pm |
My ilk? Ignorant and callous? Can you even speak English?
| 14 February 2009, 3:39 pm |
The truth of light is often painful to the soul just as the brightness of the sun is hurtful to physical eye’s by it’s very nature!
| 14 February 2009, 3:44 pm |
So all we´re allowed to say about muslim honor killings is, that
they are “tragic events”. anything else is deemed unsuitable.
Political correctness is posh fascism.
| 14 February 2009, 3:53 pm |
It’s not political correctness, it’s having a bit of fucking respect. For all you know, this woman’s kids are reading this thread, using their mum’s death as an excuse to have a pop at muslims. Sorry for being emotive, but people are still human beings, regardless of what religion they are, and whether or not you’re talking about them on the internet or to their face.
| 14 February 2009, 3:56 pm |
http://www.actnow.com.au/Issues/Honour_killings.aspx
“Honour killings are a global issue, with violence and killing in the name of honour being recorded in Afghanistan, Argentina, Bangladesh, Britain, Brazil, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, Germany, Guatemala, Holland, India, Iraq, Iran, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Pakistan, Palestine, Peru, Sweden, Syria, Turkey, Uganda, Venezuela and the West Bank. Despite this, the majority of honour killings occur in the Middle East, in Muslim settings.
It is important to note that Islamic law and religion do not support the practice.
The practice in fact has tribal roots which precede Islam and can be traced back to the Hammurabi and Assyrian tribes of 1200 B.C. It stems from a belief that women, like livestock and land, are the property of men, and that it is a man’s role to ensure a stable family structure. A woman’s virginal status is seen as both the property and responsibility of the man.”
| 14 February 2009, 4:11 pm |
Shorty – but people are still human beings.
Not so sure about you Shorty – you seem a bit lacking of something, if I may put it ever so delicately.
| 14 February 2009, 4:17 pm |
“For all you know, this woman’s kids are reading this thread, using their mum’s death as an excuse to have a pop at muslims.”
Hm. If that is your point, perhaps you should after all blame David T
for airing this.
| 14 February 2009, 4:17 pm |
http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/full/164/11/1700
Nick (how I miss the old South Africa). This one is for you.
And, John P. – those Jewesses are a bit tasty too, what with their black eyes and long black hair……..or, you prefer the Sabras? Long blonde hair, legs as long as your ignorance? Just there for the taking, eh?
Funny how racist men want to shag what they want to prohibit. I believe the odd nazi or two had Jewish mistresses. Forbiden fruit mmmmm
| 14 February 2009, 4:23 pm |
It’s not political correctness, it’s having a bit of fucking respect.
No, it’s about you trying to shut down discussions you dislike.
For all you know, this woman’s kids are reading this thread, using their mum’s death as an excuse to have a pop at muslims.
They are only 4 and 6. And if they are reading this thread, they will see you attempting to discount the murder of their mother for your own political purpose.
| 14 February 2009, 4:25 pm |
If only heads would roll at the BBC. Now there’s an organisation in need of some blood-letting.
Da dum tish. I’m here all week. Try the veal.
| 14 February 2009, 4:28 pm |
Not so sure about you Shorty – you seem a bit lacking of something, if I may put it ever so delicately.
Well, I was lacking a cunt, but luckily you’ve turned up…
Hm. If that is your point, perhaps you should after all blame David T for airing this.
No, David T is just reporting it as it is – a man who runs an Islamic TV channel killing his wife. It’s everyone who’s using it as another excuse to go on about muslims that’s the problem.
| 14 February 2009, 4:31 pm |
They are only 4 and 6. And if they are reading this thread, they will see you attempting to discount the murder of their mother for your own political purpose.
Where have I discounted the death of their mother? Your first post on this thread was, in case you’ve forgotten:
Obama just ponied up $20 million of our cash to facilitate emergency immigration from Gaza. My immediate thought was, “oh, great, they’ll be a spike in honor killings in the US.” And, there will be.
so you can get right off your fucking high horse talking about me making a political point you fucking racist prick.
| 14 February 2009, 4:41 pm |
Where have I discounted the death of their mother?
By trying to prevent people from discussing her murder.
so you can get right off your fucking high horse talking about me making a political point you fucking racist prick.
Thank you for confirming that you couldn’t care less about Muslim women and children being murdered. However, you had already made that abundantly clear.
| 14 February 2009, 4:44 pm |
If airing this story on a blog known for its polemic comment threads
is OK, you must take as it comes.
The sanctimonious handwringing is uncalled for.
| 14 February 2009, 4:45 pm |
Thank you for confirming that you couldn’t care less about Muslim women and children being murdered. However, you had already made that abundantly clear.
Don’t give me that shit. You can pretend all you like that you give a shit about muslims, but we all know that you’re just a little racist twat.
| 14 February 2009, 4:50 pm |
If airing this story on a blog known for its polemic comment threads is OK, you must take as it comes.
I guess so. David T must have suspected what would happen on this thread, but as he’s said before, he’s not responsible for the commentors on this blog, and I agree with him. As you can probably see from my replies to other commentors, I am not afraid to take it as it comes.
| 14 February 2009, 4:52 pm |
You want a discussion of “honour killings” then have one.
There has been a great deal written about it. Please cite your sources, since this is a very complex matter. You may also want to refer to the increasing literature written by feminist Muslim’s on questions of exegesis of the Koran, the diverse schools of interpetation as well as the debates that are currently taking place.
If you are referring to the case at hand, could you please state where the “defence” of “honour killing” is raised.
Or, do you just want to vent your racist views about Muslims and. in so doing, show us all that you know little about Islam, little about the Koran, that you know little about “honour killings” and that you know little about the cultural, social and political contexts in whch they arose and are active today as well as the immense opposition to them; in other words, that all you know about is opening your fucking big mouths and thinking that ignorance is a legitimate basis of “discussion”.
| 14 February 2009, 4:53 pm |
My ilk is feeling unwell reading this thread.
At least Islam Channel had a convicted *anything*.
| 14 February 2009, 4:54 pm |
Don’t give me that shit. You can pretend all you like that you give a shit about muslims, but we all know that you’re just a little racist twat.
It’s your own shit. Deal with it, you lying misogynist cunt.
| 14 February 2009, 5:02 pm |
Ignorance is Bliss l am sure your muslim master’s will be pleased with your work here, Just for the record is their anything, anything at all that a muslim could do that you wouldnt justify or play down because someone at some point in human history had done something similar?.
Please do ask your islamic controller for advice.
You utter twat.
| 14 February 2009, 5:03 pm |
If you are referring to the case at hand, could you please state where the “defence” of “honour killing” is raised.
It will be as soon as the defense atty begins preparing the case.
Or, do you just want to vent… [blah blah blah snip Ignorance's phony intellectual masturbation]
Who gives a crap about the cultural, social, and political contexts of honor killings, you fool? It’s illegal in the US. (However, I have no doubt the way the UK is going down the drain, it won’t be illegal there for long.) Another woman was murdered. Something you and the other yoobs don’t give a damn about because it contradicts your phony political correctness memes.
| 14 February 2009, 5:10 pm |
“Honour killings are a global issue, with violence and killing in the name of honour being recorded in… Argentina”
Maybe one or two in Argentina, but not the appalling rate of the Muslim world. FFS I come from Argentina, and people didn’t even know what an honor killing was before we got M.E. news on cable!
| 14 February 2009, 5:10 pm |
You’re an idiot. Read your comments on this thread. Not once have you said that you’re saddened by this woman’s death. Not once have you expressed sorrow for the plight of her children. All your comments are there for everyone to see. You’re stupid, you’re racist, go away.
| 14 February 2009, 5:11 pm |
Breaking news! Obama has allocated 20 million dollars for emergency immigration of Palistinians from Gaza. Whats the dance now?
| 14 February 2009, 5:36 pm |
It gets worse. It seems that this Muzzammil Hassan character charged with de-capitating his wife, was given an award in 2007 by the US version of the MCB – CAIR.
If he proves to be guilty, I think it’s not really an outrageous stretch to say that if Hassan’s goal in starting this Islamic TV station was to help portray Islam and Muslims in a positive light, the founder chopping his wife’s head off at the TV station, could be argued to be a rather less than optimum strategy. Especially at a time when Islam has developed a bit of a reputation amongst some Right wing, racist, Neocon, Zionist types – for informing violent behavior in its adherents.
Some folks seem to think making this point, rather beyond the pale. Ah well, there’s no accounting for folk!
| 14 February 2009, 5:37 pm |
“Despite this, the majority of honour killings occur in the Middle East, in Muslim settings.”
From the quote cited by “Ignorance”.
So it´s not ALL about muslimhaters venting their spleen. Is it?
| 14 February 2009, 5:46 pm |
You’re an idiot. Read your comments on this thread. Not once have you said that you’re saddened by this woman’s death. Not once have you expressed sorrow for the plight of her children. All your comments are there for everyone to see. You’re stupid, you’re racist, go away.
And you’re a moron. Read your own comments. All your comments are there for everyone to see, too, jerkoff. You and your fellow morons don’t give a damn about either the victim or her children. You express some phony trite sentiment and declare, ‘problem solved!’ And demand that everybody, in your phony little dictatorial way, shutup. You’re a phony and a misogynist. You go away.
And for the record, I’m not the one who started with the personal attacks and profanity.
| 14 February 2009, 5:48 pm |
Well, I think we can safely lay this to bed then. The guy murdered his wife not because he’s a twat, not because too many men still feel that violence is acceptable towards their wives, but because he’s a muslim. Apparently the only fact you need to know about someone before judging their actions is their religion, and their religion can explain all their actions.
| 14 February 2009, 5:56 pm |
And for the record, I’m not the one who started with the personal attacks and profanity.
I make no apologies for the profanity, but unfortunately for you the comments are here for everyone who cares (I suspect not many) to see, and quite clearly you were the one who started with the personal attacks, when you said:
What an ignorant and callous comment and not unexpected from your ilk.
| 14 February 2009, 6:09 pm |
I make no apologies for the profanity,
Of course, not. You’re a pig.
but unfortunately for you the comments are here for everyone who cares (I suspect not many) to see,
No, unfortunately for you.
and quite clearly you were the one who started with the personal attacks, when you said:
In response to this, you dishonest hypocrite: You’re right – now we’ve solved our problem with domestic violence it’s definitely time to focus on the muslims.
And then you spewed: “fucking” this, “fucking” that, “racist” “prick” “twat” etc., etc.
| 14 February 2009, 6:10 pm |
what Shortie said, too many threads turn out this way.
David T, you know this subject will encourage the nutbars, so why not prune a bit more? or at least have the clippers ready for when that happens?
| 14 February 2009, 6:17 pm |
It is important to note that Islamic law and religion do not support the practice.
Yes it is supported by islamic rulings.
Honour killings are committed in other cultures, but it is only in Islam that such backward and barbaric practices are actually condoned by quasi pagan jurisprudence
THAT is what’s important to note.
| 14 February 2009, 6:17 pm |
How is that a personal attack? Unbelievable. It would be best for you if you just shut up and stopped embarrassing yourself.
And for the record, swearing is part of my language, I will use it as I wish, and it’s perfectly appropriate for a snake like you.
| 14 February 2009, 6:19 pm |
This crime is one of the most ironic stories I have ever seen. I thought I had finally became jaded to beheadings after the killing of that Polish engineer in Pakistan. I fell so sorry for that woman.
Here at this location is an image of this murderer receiving an award from CAIR (The Council on American-Islamic Relations)
http://pa.cair.com/content/image.php?Side=gallery&folder=19&img=45
Check it out before they take down. I know I would if I were in their shoes…
| 14 February 2009, 6:21 pm |
Or, do you just want to vent your racist views about Muslims and. in so doing, show us all that you know little about Islam,
And by continuing to kill women and to treat them like cattle, Islam show us how little it knows about civilisation, modernity and rational thought!
The religion’s motto, at times, seems to be ‘ignorance-is-bliss’.
| 14 February 2009, 6:22 pm |
I know a Moslem man, who is very devout and who wants Sharia law and who I have lively disagreements with.
He has said clearly to me that so called ‘honour’ killings are against Sharia law and he sees them as cultural artefacts.
He is clearly in favour of cruel and unusual punishments, but within the framework of Islamic jurisprudence.
I suppose we can have a discussion about ‘actually existing Islam’ versus theoretical Islam, but it is important to understand the wide range of debate that exists amongst Moslems and those who wish a tolerant, mult-racial but secular society should educate ourselves about this so that we can combat it with reason. Otherwise we just serve to fan the flames.
I think that the problem here, not simply one of a jealous and impotent patriarchy, is that secular society does not promote itself strongly enough. In the U.K we don’t speak clearly about the advantages of a secular legal framework above religious law because it evolved by historical accident and has only been made conscious and manifest in the constitutions of other countries such as the U.S.
I have reluctantly come to the conclusion that we too must have a written constitution, and have the kind of public debate that shows why it is necessary.
| 14 February 2009, 6:24 pm |
Well, I think we can safely lay this to bed then.
Still trying to tell people what they can and cannot discuss…
The guy murdered his wife not because he’s a twat, not because too many men still feel that violence is acceptable towards their wives, but because he’s a muslim.
You’re dumb as dirt. Too many muslims feel justified in murdering their wives, daughters, and sisters. Not only is this encouraged by their culture and religion and the lack of punishment they receive, it is also enabled by people like you who want to sweep it under the rug for p.c. reasons and your utter lack of regard for the victims.
Apparently the only fact you need to know about someone before judging their actions is their religion, and their religion can explain all their actions.
I’m sure he’ll be using his religion and culture to explain his actions and to mitigate his guilt and sentence, so, take it up with him.
| 14 February 2009, 6:31 pm |
“Obviously, this is the worst form of domestic violence possible”.
That has to be the understatement of 2009 so far.
But why second-degree murder? If this sorry excuse for a human being planned and executed it, was there not premeditation? You don’t routinely visit your soon-to-be-ex wife armed with a machete.
Or this yet another, “But she drove me to it, Your Honour, because she besmirched my honour, Your Honour?”
If that is the case, then it is similar to cases of Muslim men being able to murder their wives during a hamsin and to get away scot free because they couldn’t be expected to contain themselves. Except that it happened in the US where beheading your wife counts as murder.
S, murder is murder and this particularly gruesome method of killing goes far beyond domestic violence issues. It’s also peculiarly Muslim, particularly where there is loss of face:
She had filed for divorce
She had filed a court order to get him out of their home.
Coincidence? I think not. Go figure
| 14 February 2009, 6:32 pm |
How is that a personal attack? Unbelievable. It would be best for you if you just shut up and stopped embarrassing yourself.
Jerks like you always think your shit don’t stink. And, you better shut up and stop embarassing yourself.
Short order cook oinked: And for the record, swearing is part of my language, I will use it as I wish, and it’s perfectly appropriate for a snake like you.
No, it’s your Plan B against those you can’t intimidate.
Plan A: Shut up!
Plan B: Barrage of grade school profanities.
Plan C: DavidT make them stttooooppp!
| 14 February 2009, 6:35 pm |
I can’t be sure why this CEO and founder of an Islamic TV station may have de-capitated his wife, if indeed he did. Which is why I’ve been careful to qualify my comments and not to attribute this murder to this fellow’s Muslim religion.
Given the backdrop of Islamic violence that we hear about regularly, it’s hardly unreasonable that such a horrific murder would prompt discussions and comments about the propensity of all too many Muslims for egregious violence, informed by their religion.
Indeed, one thing that has struck me thus far, is the double standard. You can be damn sure, that if some evangelical US Christian TV station’s founder and CEO had been charged with hacking his wife’s head off, that the BBC would be leading on it and it would be getting alot more coverage than this in the MSM.
Incidentally, I wonder how the financing of this Islamic TV channel venture came together, I suspect that the chances are middling to excellent that there is Saudi money involved.
| 14 February 2009, 6:41 pm |
But why second-degree murder?
In New York State, second degree murder is premeditated murder. It becomes first degree when they allege special circumstances making it death eligible, which they can still do at a later date.
| 14 February 2009, 6:51 pm |
I can’t be sure why this CEO and founder of an Islamic TV station may have de-capitated his wife, if indeed he did.
I’ve read quite a number of reports on this and mast say he did.
The mere fact he so violently mutilated her body after killing her could, PERHAPS be due to islamic influences, but a direct link is difficult to establish.
What’s important to retain about this guy is the fact he was paraded about as a shining example of a moderate.
And speaking of killers and fake moderates and such, Lord Ahmed’s CIF piece about the good of banning Wilders is being absolutely trashed by commenters.
As is the Labour Party.
| 14 February 2009, 6:52 pm |
Ignorance is Bliss, an appropriate name if I ever saw one:
Phew, good to know that it is only Muslim men who are wife-killers.
After all, prior to the visibility of Muslims in Britain, I don’t believe there was one case of domestic violence or abuse.
We were talking about so-called ‘honour killings’.
Do remind us how many non-Muslim British families murdered their daughters in the last two years, let’s say, for ‘bringing shame on the family’.
| 14 February 2009, 6:54 pm |
More from the same disgusting source:
you prefer the Sabras? Long blonde hair, legs as long as your ignorance?
You talking about ignorance – one couldn’t make it up! Sabras all have BLONDE hair? What a loser.
| 14 February 2009, 6:56 pm |
And, yes I too will say no more – I will leave that to the racist bigots who are appreaing in all their stark relief on this thread.
You certainly appeared.
And then you posted again. You couldn’t keep your promises if your life depended on it/
Oh, and look up ‘ilk’ in your Ladybird dictionary before accusing others of not speaking English.
| 14 February 2009, 7:05 pm |
Honor killings are perhaps best explained by those in our mental hospitals who worship not God but have elevated themselves as some kind of God.
| 14 February 2009, 7:05 pm |
And, John P. – those Jewesses are a bit tasty too, what with their black eyes and long black hair -Ignorance is Bliss
She is a convert to Christianity, as are the other members of her family.
You should see her younger sister. The beauty of Persian women is legendary, you know
What would have been the point of her remaining in a ‘religion’ that denigrates beauty, detests music and glorifies mindless violence?
Hope you’re not too bitter and jaded
Happy Valentines Day!
| 14 February 2009, 7:15 pm |
I note also that for all the invective, no-one who has commented has any knowledge of the issue at hand.
Screaming insults like street thugs is, of course, the racists substitute.
| 14 February 2009, 7:20 pm |
http://www.tagesanzeiger.ch/schweiz/standard/SVP-moechte-lieber-Maria-statt-Scharia/story/10749271
Are you all party members or just freelance?
| 14 February 2009, 7:25 pm |
Ignorance is bliss, it is not by chance that you chose that name to go by. LMAO
| 14 February 2009, 7:36 pm |
“Screaming insults like street thugs”, You can fucking talk commie prick.
| 14 February 2009, 7:38 pm |
Here’s another one. This time in the UK. Now remember a certain religion has nothing to do with this.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7888443.stm
what a wasted thread :(
Instead of pouting, say what you want to say.
| 14 February 2009, 7:50 pm |
This site gives some quite sobering statistics on domestic violence in the US:
-1,232 women are killed each year by an intimate partner.
-Domestic violence is the leading cause of injury to women.
-Homicide is the leading cause of death for women in the workplace.
-Of the approximately 1.7 million incidents of workplace violence that occur in the US every year, 18,700 are committed by an intimate partner: a current or former spouse, lover, partner, or boyfriend/girlfriend.
Clearly domestic violence is still a big problem in the US, and in Britain, on average, two women a week are killed by a current or former male partner.
| 14 February 2009, 7:52 pm |
The lastest on this.
| 14 February 2009, 8:01 pm |
This fat scumbag is not the first person to kill his wife because he fears losing money in a divorce settlement, no that is true. Husbands kill their wives all the time in other cultures. It’s the head-chopping that is so awful. I’d also like to point out that other Indian/Eastern religions go in for (dis)honour killings, it is not exclusively Muslim, but, it still seems all wrong to me. Surely, the great political/intellectual advance in the Western world was to say that all people are free, and men and women are equal? Does this scumbag feel any remorse? Interesting that when he turned himself into the police he said ‘My wife is dead’, as if he could not admit that he had murdered her, perhaps he thought he could slide out of it somehow.
| 14 February 2009, 8:04 pm |
Word association game. Beheading = ——?
| 14 February 2009, 8:18 pm |
There was a non-Muslim wife killing on Friday in Mitchem (a suburb of London in the South West), judging from teh names they were Sri Lankan so either Bhuddists or Hindus. I would roundly condem (dis)honour killings among these groups as well, not just Muslims. (Short Order Cook- You are usually sensible, why are you being so petulant and swearing like an arse?)
| 14 February 2009, 8:20 pm |
“Ignorance is bliss, it is not by chance that you chose that name to go by. LMAO”
Yawn
| 14 February 2009, 8:30 pm |
Phil,
“Ignorance is Bliss l am sure your muslim master’s will be pleased with your work here, Just for the record is their anything, anything at all that a muslim could do that you wouldnt justify or play down because someone at some point in human history had done something similar?.
Please do ask your islamic controller for advice.
You utter twat.”
““Screaming insults like street thugs”, You can fucking talk commie prick.”"
Like all racist bigots, you are nothing but your venom. You are evidently in good company.
| 14 February 2009, 8:31 pm |
Ignorance is bliss, I see that your a magician – she opens her mouth and her whole body disappears.
| 14 February 2009, 8:31 pm |
N.O.
Sabras all have BLONDE hair? What a loser.
Clearly the basis for the generalization is Bar Rafaeli.
| 14 February 2009, 8:33 pm |
Phil,
Sorry, I’ll translate my last comment into the only language you appear to be versed in.
You are a “wankshitcuntfuckerbastardturdassholepricktwat”.
not to mention mildly, but only mildly amusing.
| 14 February 2009, 8:35 pm |
Eyes Wide Open,
I have absolutely no idea what you are talking about; though I detect that this puts me at a grave advantage.
luvya
| 14 February 2009, 8:45 pm |
Your advantage – is in your Refusal to turn your camera around and to look at what your hiding.
| 14 February 2009, 8:46 pm |
I might add Ignorance, that if they cut your head off you wouldn’t know what hit you. lol
| 14 February 2009, 8:47 pm |
Nope, still sounds gobbledeegook to me.
Is the capital “R” important? Give me a hint.
| 14 February 2009, 8:49 pm |
Sorry, are you eight years old – blond or simply stupid. lol
| 14 February 2009, 8:52 pm |
Screaming insults like street thugs is, of course, the racists substitute
Indeed. Hence your screaming.
| 14 February 2009, 8:56 pm |
You write a comment, it is incomprehensible.Why are you sorry? It is not me who has the problem articulating themselves.
Maybe it would be easier for you to use txt? That seems to be your preferred mode of communication – “lol” “LMAO”. (The teenagers of today,sigh.)
| 14 February 2009, 8:59 pm |
Nearly Oxfordian.
Listen carefully, for this is the only time I will acknowledge your existence.
I have read your posts for a while now. You have yet to say anything of value about anything. You are evidently a complete and utter idiot.
Why anyone engages with you is a question I have asked many times. But, even that impulse has gone.
Goodbye.
| 14 February 2009, 9:01 pm |
Oh, I get it. You think all Muslims cut people’s heads off.
How very, very, ignorant of you.
| 14 February 2009, 9:12 pm |
Does no one see the hysterical black irony between a “moderate” Mohammedan trying to paint a shiny picture of Islam and Muslims on TV and then butchering his wife over a divorce in the famous Muslim style?
Whats with shutting down all talk of Islam coming from foul mouthed commenters almost fouling their panties in an effort to shut down discussion (hate speech to them)?
Well, you Eloi wont be talking freely about anything much longer now that you have surrendered free speech in hopes of mercy from the Mohammedans.
Enjoy what you have ushered in.
| 14 February 2009, 9:12 pm |
I didn’t choose the name Ignorance is bliss, you did, whats a projection of what?
| 14 February 2009, 9:18 pm |
Ignorance is bliss, there is an old Arabic saying that say, When a theif meets a saint all he sees our pockets and not the saint, your illusion is that what you perceive is your own inordinate affections. Study to show yourself approved little one!
| 14 February 2009, 9:20 pm |
Ignorance is bliss, there is an old Arabic saying that say, When a thief meets a saint all he sees are pockets and not the saint, your illusion is that what you perceive is your own inordinate affections. Study to show yourself approved little one!
| 14 February 2009, 9:20 pm |
I am not sure of the answer to that question.
I do think it odd, though, that I use that name, and you are the one providing its content.
| 14 February 2009, 9:20 pm |
I am not sure of the answer to that question.
I do think it odd, though, that I use that name, and you are the one providing its content.
| 14 February 2009, 9:22 pm |
Ignorance is bliss, there is an old Arabic saying that says, When a thief meets a saint – all he sees – are pockets and not the saint, your illusion is that what you perceive is your own desires. Study to show yourself approved little one!
| 14 February 2009, 9:26 pm |
I am sorry you appear to be speaking gobbledeegook again.
Are you stoned?
| 14 February 2009, 9:33 pm |
Oh, by the way, please do not think for one moment I care what you think. I’ve merely been waiting for a taxi to pick me up. You were a fun way to pass the time.
You do know you are an obsessive compulsive. Any normal person would have stopped this nonsense ages ago. But, I guess it’s hard to leave a room what with having to touch all the corners and switch on and off the lights a given number of times.
Bye
| 14 February 2009, 9:36 pm |
In other words, you are simply touching yourself. Thats all you ever do. Nobody home! Get it? Good bye
| 14 February 2009, 10:09 pm |
Listen carefully, for this is the only time I will acknowledge your existence
Thank goodness for small mercies, little boy.
You have yet to say anything of value about anything. You are evidently a complete and utter idiot
Projecting your own valuesless existence on the world again, ignorant little boy who thinks that all sabra girls are blonde?
| 14 February 2009, 10:10 pm |
Even for the sewer that is Harrys Place using this poor womans tragic death as an excuse for demonising Muslims and scoring points is truly low
| 14 February 2009, 10:17 pm |
To be honest, I think a lot of the bile and infantile comments have come from people defending this scumbag’s homicidal action. I have noticed that a lot of people who defend these type of actions, rely on just insulting people and screaming abuse. I don’t know why. I would like to hear a reasoned defence of homicide as a method of discipling errant females, I am sure there must be one, but no-one seems to have the balls to put one up.
| 14 February 2009, 11:23 pm |
alan – “He has said clearly to me that so called ‘honour’ killings are against Sharia law and he sees them as cultural artefacts.”
Ask him who decides if the murderer can get away with paying the blood price – and to whom does the murder pay it.
In Islamic law the next of kin decide if the murderer is executed or pays blood money. So if the murderer is the next of kin?
| 14 February 2009, 11:33 pm |
Short Order Cook- You are usually sensible, why are you being so petulant and swearing like an arse
Sorry. In my defence, if you read my comments I’ve been civil to people who are worth being civil to. It’s no secret that I think that there are some people who this site would be better off without, and I unloaded a bit on one of them. Plus I do like swearing sometimes. Cathartic.
| 15 February 2009, 4:04 am |
It’s no secret that I think that there are some people who this site would be better off without, and I unloaded a bit on one of them.
It’s no secret that you don’t think at all, putz. You had a tantrum because you couldn’t control the discussion. Get use to it.
| 15 February 2009, 4:18 am |
Lets not make Aasiya’s murder political and religious issues. Why not just pray for Aasiya, mother of two of her own and two of Muzzamil’s ex wife’s children. She loved all these four children and they loved her equally. Why not pray that May her soul rest in peace and find the best of places in Heaven, may her parents have the strength to survive all this brutality and may all her four children live a peaceful, loving and caring life. May they follow their religion in true spirits and not take these brutalities as sign of religious extremism because no religion teaches this type terrorism.
| 15 February 2009, 6:49 am |
Salma – “Lets not make Aasiya’s murder political and religious issues. Why not just pray for Aasiya, mother of two of her own and two of Muzzamil’s ex wife’s children.”
Because if nothing is done other women will follow her down the path of wife beating, abuse and eventual murder. That is why we need to make Aasiya’s murder a real issue – we need to raise awareness, to change hearts and minds, to prevent (or at least reduce) this sort of thing in the future.
“May they follow their religion in true spirits and not take these brutalities as sign of religious extremism because no religion teaches this type terrorism.”
Who, in Islamic law, would decide whether her husband pays the diya and to whom is it paid? The fact is while Islamic law may condemn this sort of murder, it also excuses and allows it.
| 15 February 2009, 7:43 am |
Yoho,
It is second degree murder because in the United States murder is a state crime, not a federal one, and in New York first degree murder is reserved for the murders of police officers, corrections officers, judges, witnesses, murders by inmates of prisons, and for murders which occur during the commission of a felony, torture, and terrorism. Second degree murder in NY is essentially the same as first degree murder in other states.
| 15 February 2009, 7:45 am |
I am related to the two older children and I know for a fact that the Muslim religion had nothing to do with this incident. Mr Hassan had actually practiced other religions at times as well. So call him a good or bad Muslim if you want to but the fact is that he is a BAD PERSON!!! That’s the only way that he can be described. He is not the first or last person to kill his wife or family, check out the guy in Los Angeles who killed his whole family and himself on Tuesday because he got laid off. Or the guy that dressed up as Santa and went to the family Christmas party and killed a bunch of his ex’s family. Or even Scott Peterson, the list goes on, these are sick people. My prayers are with the families and yours should be too.
| 15 February 2009, 9:18 am |
no religion teaches this type terrorism
If you say so. Whatever.
| 15 February 2009, 9:36 am |
Never Enough – “I am related to the two older children and I know for a fact that the Muslim religion had nothing to do with this incident.”
You keep telling yourself that dear.
“Mr Hassan had actually practiced other religions at times as well.”
You mean he was a …… Jew?
| 15 February 2009, 9:45 am |
Mr Hassan had actually practiced other religions at times as well.
Baloney.
| 15 February 2009, 11:34 am |
I remember reading about a case in Cheshire a few years ago where a man murdered his second wife (that is the woman he had married after divorcing his original wife) because he had had to pay out a lot of money to his original wife in the divorce settlement and he could not face the thought of doing it again to his second wife. So, although it is true that it is not only Muslim men kill their wives, and as I said there was a ‘domestic’ murder committed in Mitcham on Friday by a Hindu man, it is bloody funny that he was running a properganda campaign to convince people that Muslims are not violet thugs. Incidentally, his TV station was in financial trouble and he had been trying to raise money from the Saudis. And, if it’s true that he had tried other religions it shows that he was a bad Muslim, but still a Muslim. As Chaucer said, all those years ago, ‘Murder will Out.’.
| 15 February 2009, 2:42 pm |
Lets not make Aasiya’s murder political and religious issues. Why not just pray for Aasiya, mother of two of her own and two of Muzzamil’s ex wife’s children.
If you do not denounce this, Salma, then you become a kind of accomplice in the murder of this women.
You also will be responsable, in some small sense, if other similar murders are committed by Muslim males in the future.
To simply pray and not take any concrete measures in you community to prevent further murders of this type isn’t appreciated by Allah.
Why?
Because such prayer is merely lazy inaction, and such lazy inaction is a grave sin.
You must DO something
| 15 February 2009, 2:47 pm |
Listen carefully, for this is the only time I will acknowledge your existence.
Who gives a shit who you acknowledge. You’re a desperate, islamist, dirtbag, a loser whose entire belief systeme AND identity are collapsing.
| 15 February 2009, 3:03 pm |
More bad news for Hasbara Buster, and it’s from a muslim womens group. They don’t agree with you HB; they say there is a probleme in Islam with regards to the rights and mistreatment of women. They claim their oppression is enforced by various islamic groups.
Surely they must be wrong?
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,25057454-5005961,00.html
| 15 February 2009, 4:43 pm |
John P.
Did you read the article you linked to?
“Women are not being bad Muslims when they demand equality, demand justice, demand their husbands stop beating them,” said Musawah project director Zainah Anwar.
“We want to say you can be a Muslim, you can be a feminist, you can demand human rights and women’s rights, equality and justice and still be a good Muslim. We don’t see any contradictions in those demands.”
Interesting article though, thank you for highlighting it.
| 15 February 2009, 5:11 pm |
John P.
Did you read the article you linked to?
“Women are not being bad Muslims when they demand equality, demand justice, demand their husban
| 15 February 2009, 6:22 pm |
“Women are not being bad Muslims when they demand equality, demand justice, demand their husbands stop beating them,” said Musawah project director Zainah Anwar.
May I assume she only said that because Muslimas who DO demand equality on par with that enjoyed by western women are rountinely characterised as ‘bad’ Muslims?
The BBC has announced that the population of the Gaza strip, despite all the talk of a Gaza ‘holocaust’ has increased 40% in only ten years.
Women with no rights are always condemned to have a lot of children.
| 15 February 2009, 6:24 pm |
An excellent article. This guy was feted by the mainstream press when he launched his T.V. network, but yet one can hardly find mention of this murder…even in the local press.
http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=YWVlZDFkN2RmOGE1YWMzMmY5YjBiZThkYTIxN2Q5ZDU=
| 15 February 2009, 11:27 pm |
John P.
You said:
More bad news for Hasbara Buster, and it’s from a muslim womens group [...] they say there is a probleme in Islam with regards to the rights and mistreatment of women.
The women’s group in question actually said:
We want to say you can be a Muslim, you can be a feminist, you can demand human rights and women’s rights, equality and justice and still be a good Muslim. We don’t see any contradictions in those demands.
There would seem to be more than a slight divergence there, would there not? And please don’t try to change the topic again, it’s very boring when people do that.
| 15 February 2009, 11:33 pm |
Hi. I’m a Muslim-American who came across this article just surfing the web for news on this story cause I just heard about it.
I’m disheartened by your comments on here and by your article.
I’m a regular Muslim. I don’t know if you believe in such a thing. I was born and raised in Miami, Florida, in one of the leading families of the Muslim community here. There was never any domestic violence in my own household growing up. I do have an aunt that had a failed marriage. And back home in Pakistan, where my parents are originally from, I’d hear tell of certain couples in our family dealing with domestic violence issues here or there. The extreme minority of cases, I should say.
Anyway, we’re not all murderers, we’re not all wife-beaters, and we don’t all take that from our faith. If you’re suggesting we all do, all I can say is that I don’t. It’s not what I was raised in and it hasn’t been in my experience.
Mind you, I hear and have heard about just as much if not more domestic violence stuff from my non-Muslim friends and co-workers growing up here as I have from family in Pakistan. I have tons of friends from broken homes, and domestic violence situations. And that’s right here in the US of A. I’m not happy about it. It doesn’t prove any great big point I have about American society. I’m not trying to win an argument with it. It just sucks.
How bout some, I dunno, humanity? Anyway, I don’t mean to break up what seems to be a big hate-party ya’ll have going on here. I just felt compelled to chime in. I mean you no ill-will. Have a nice day.
–Fawad Siddiqui
| 15 February 2009, 11:35 pm |
Oh, and this guy killing his wife? That’s just disgusting and horrible. If he’s guilty of it, I hope he gets the worst possible punishment. (Remember “innocent until proven guilty.”) Islam doesn’t condone murder. No faith group does, I think.
| 15 February 2009, 11:38 pm |
also, sorry, last one. my mom is a strong muslim woman, a leader of our community here, and a matriarch of my family, as was her mother before her. we have a lot of women leaders in our communities here and abroad. though of course it depends on which muslim community you’re talking about where and when. we’re not all the same.
| 16 February 2009, 1:11 am |
Fawad – “The extreme minority of cases, I should say.”
Half the women of Gaza and the West Bank were beaten by their husbands in the past year. Highest rate in the world.
“Anyway, we’re not all murderers, we’re not all wife-beaters, and we don’t all take that from our faith. If you’re suggesting we all do, all I can say is that I don’t.”
No one is saying that all Muslims are murderers of wife beaters. Although the fact that the Quran says men ought to beat their wives might suggest that some are taking that from their faith. The fact that Islamic law cannot punish honour killings either (while also not punishing rapes) makes them just a little more likely.
“Mind you, I hear and have heard about just as much if not more domestic violence stuff from my non-Muslim friends and co-workers growing up here as I have from family in Pakistan.”
Given Americans habit of talking about everything, no matter how personal, all the time, I would suggest that this means there is more domestic violence in Pakistan – and the UN’s statistics seem to show this. As big a percent of Pakistani women are beaten every year as American women are in their lifetimes.
“How bout some, I dunno, humanity?”
Sure. I can think of one American Muslima who would have loved some.
“Islam doesn’t condone murder. No faith group does, I think.”
Of course Islam and several other Abrahamic religions condone murder. The problem here is that Islamic law makes it next to impossible to punish honour crimes – they are quasi-torts which involves the next of kin deciding whether to accept blood money or the death penalty. If they next of kin decide to treat it as a tort, they are paid the diya. Simple question – in cases of honour killings, who decides if it is a tort or not and to whom is the diya paid and by whom?
| 16 February 2009, 3:41 am |
Yes I do condemn the murder that happened because the person murdered is very close to my heart and soul. What you need to do is condemn this act because any person of any religion can be this cruel it is not just Muslims. You open up a website and type domestic violence and you will get tons of cases of all the religions. So what you should do is make things easier for this family which is going through bitter ordeals of this brutality, the repercussions are as difficult. And this in turn will help those ladies who are frightened to death of their husbands and what they can do. Make things happen their. Open up some safest homes for these women so they can muster up guts to hide there. Why do you think this woman couldn’t run away. She had no where to go, no relatives, no security, its said that there is alot of security in USA but when time comes it isn’t there. The locks of the house suddenly stop working and what not. So try to help these ladies by doing something concrete. And what do you all think would happen to her children. They are still the right of that brutal man. His word would be taken as last word. If he wants his children to live with his family then they will have to and if the family refuses then foster but not to maternal grandparents. Why this brutal action. Why not let the children now be away from all this mess now, why should a woman live such a dreadful life and then such a horrible death and then even her children whom she protected with her life have to live that life and not a peaceful happy life. Do something for them, this will help the other women who are going through this same ordeal. Make them trust you enough! Let them know that someone out there can keep them all safe. These comments will get you them no where. These violence are going on for so long what and how did it help them. If you are in USA help those women there. Make a network so strong that these women get compelled to run off if they are facing such problems.
| 16 February 2009, 12:34 pm |
Why the fuck do WE have to do something? It’s up to Muslims to get their act together. Us, non-Muslim women, have been fighting for generations for laws to protect us and support structures to hide us against violence, we weren’t born yesterday. If Muslim women want to defend themselves then let them learn like we had to learn instead of seeing themselves as victims. And, this woman was not poor, they were a wealthy family so she had somewhat more resources than many other people. Stop making excuses, you will never get out of the Dark Ages until you look the problem squarely in the face.
| 16 February 2009, 12:35 pm |
If you knowd anything about American Labour History (which I somehow doubt), you may be familiar with the phrases, ‘Bread and Roses’ and ‘We don’t want cake, we want the Bakery’. Perhaps you need to start thinking in those terms.
| 16 February 2009, 2:22 pm |
Yes, we have domestic violence in the United States. What we don’t have, unless they are muslim, are instances where mothers/brothers restrain a daughter so the father can murder them and where the punishment is almost nonexistent.
Unfortunately, I can’t link to the tape recording of Tina Isa’s mother holding her down while her father stabs her repeatedly because she was dating and got an after school job. There’s nothing like hearing a 16 year old dying.
Still looking for the Yasser Abdul Said who last year murdered his daughters, Sarah and Amina Said
German-Afghan gets life for ‘honour killing’
In typical fashion, the family blamed the 16 year old victim.
| 16 February 2009, 2:57 pm |
Salma, yes pray for the woman by all means but as John P says above, you must do something.
Don’t be a bystander. While people bystand murders like this get committed.
“Open up some safest homes for these women so they can muster up guts to hide there.” Good idea, but it’s often the inability to “muster up guts” which prevents such women accessing help (and its not their fault).
Are you Muslima, Salma? You say, “..And what do you all think would happen to her children. They are still the right of that brutal man. His word would be taken as last word. If he wants his children to live with his family then they will have to and if the family refuses then foster but not to maternal grandparents…”
If you are Muslima what are you yourself doing about this? Massive change could begin with you if you advocated publicly for these children and against violence towards Muslim women wherever they are in the world. So far as I understand it, America does not yet have to bow down to sharia law and the family court could decide what is in the best interests of the children.
So, Salma. Many of us have been loud in our criticism of the treatment of women in Islam, but – and here I agree with Sue R – ultimately it must be Muslim women themselves who summon up their courage and stand up for themselves. Your asking us rather than them to do something is perpetuating the same lack of control and lack of any sense of efficacy that pervades Muslim women’s lives.
| 16 February 2009, 6:19 pm |
you will never get out of the Dark Ages until you look the problem squarely in the face
But the thing is, Sue R, none of the experts on these horrible matters agree with you. You are looking at the problem anything but squarely in the face.
Read the article John P linked to above, and have a look at the Centre for Social Cohesion’s report “Crimes of the Community” – they’re an organisation hardly famed for treating Muslims with kid gloves yet they don’t agree with you.
You want this to be a problem with Islam – regardless of the evidence which shows this matter to be much more complicated.
| 16 February 2009, 6:59 pm |
So are you saying that the problem is with non-Muslims for ‘not understanding’ Islam’s peaceful agenda? (peaceful until you disagree with it, of course – but it IS all our fault for not capitulating to it).
| 16 February 2009, 8:41 pm |
What are you talking about Gsirrah? I f anything that article supports what I said. Islamic women have to deal with it, and it won’t be nice, it won’t be pretty, but at the end of the day they are the ones who have to emancipate themselves. Of-course non-Muslim (ie infidel) woemn will be supportative but the oppressed have to throw off their own shackles. I don’t want this to be a problem with Islam, I don’t want this to be a problem for anyone. i would much rather we could get on with bringing clean water to everyone on the planet, stopping global warming etc etc than messing around with democratic demands that were won in the West a long time ago.
| 17 February 2009, 9:28 pm |
I went through many of these commets. The victim of Aasiya Z. Hassan really shoking. But, what about the continuation of Bridges TV. Since the thinker “Aasiya is killed” and her husband in jail!!?? Any ideas about that!! I think will be shut down!!
Christ on a bike.
But this did raise a sort of a smile:
“Obviously, this is the worst form of domestic violence possible”.