The Dating Game: American Law Trumps Sharia Law

Ladies: Looking for love? You don’t have to be lonely … or assaulted or murdered.

Throughout world history, women have been second-class citizens including, but not limited to:

1. Some women have been described as property, but often not eligible to own property;
2.  
3. Some women have been forced into marriage, often “arranged” including polygamy; but a voluntary marriage often required a contract and dowry; and
4.  
5. Some women have been denied freedoms of self-determination, such as: a vote, association, choice of career, selection of attire, and decision whether to travel.

Patriarchy has governed most societies and religions. Yet, as illustrated by the Judeo–Christian heritage, there has been dramatic improvement of women’s rights and privileges. Consider women’s status in United States or Israel, in contrast to an Islamic country based on Sharia law.

We will examine women’s rights against violence committed by a husband; boyfriend; or, generally, men. Skepticism is appropriate for data supplied by politically correct organizations including those whose membership are primarily Muslim. The international organizations acknowledge abuse in almost every country, and the health concerns, but surprisingly describe remedies in general terms.

The United Nations’ reports of attacks against women

“[V]iolence against women is a manifestation of historically unequal power relations between men and women,” argues the United Nations’ Human Rights in its report, Women’s Rights are Human Rights: “Vulnerability to violence is understood as a condition created by the absence or denial of rights … Harmful and degrading practices, such as dowry-related violence or so-called honour crimes, also continue, without systematic monitoring, punishment or redress, despite advances in legislation prohibiting them.” [WRHR; pp. 75-76]

In the report: “Other examples of violence in the family are domestic assault (physical, psychological, emotional, financial or sexual violence), marital rape, femicide or gender-motivated killings (domestic murder, ritual killings or killings of women accused of witchcraft, lynching, as well as gender identity and sexual orientation-related or ethnic or indigenous identity-related killings), child marriage, female genital mutilation and sex-selective abortion.” [WRHR; pp. 75-76]

For details, read the UN 15-Year Report (1994-2009); UN Update of USA (2011); and UN Report (2014); Also, see the WomenStats Project’s research and maps.

U.S. Dept. of Justice’s reports of attacks against women

The U.S. Department of Justice lists legislation and regulations, such as the Violence against Women Reauthorization Act (2013).

“Immigrant and refugee victims of domestic/sexual violence face many barriers to safety including lack of English proficiency, limited knowledge of the systems in place to help them in their new countries, and cultural barriers, such as pressure to keep these crimes secret for fear of bringing shame upon their families or communities,” reports the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office on Violence against Women in its STOP Program. [p. 58]

In the report: “In addition to cultural and linguistic barriers, structural barriers to serving immigrant and refugee victims, such as social inequality, isolation, exclusion, financial instability, unemployment, and lack of available social services, can make it difficult for women to exit abusive relationships, and become and remain safe from violence.” [STOP; p. 58]

Contrast: Migrants claim Sharia law as a defense to assault, gang rapes, child brides, female genital mutilation, and honor killings.

Women as War Booty

To further the cause of Islam, Muhammad established an Islamic military, and used bribery of “war booty.”

Muhammad instructed to loot and steal wealth and land; murder the conquered men but take their women as Muslim wives; and take the conquered men’s daughters as sex slaves. Under Sharia law, the Kafir (unbelievers) were given three options: Convert to Islam; or live as second class citizens and pay jizya, a tax; or die.

Dating, Islamic style

The Church in Need provides this report from Pakistan:

Taheer Abbas, a Muslim, tried to convert Binish Paul, a Christian woman. She refused to convert, and she refused his romantic advances. Her punishment? Being thrown off the roof of a second story building on August 22, 2018. The 18-year-old woman suffered severe fractures to her legs and spine.

The police refused to file charges, and the hospital refused to issue a medical report.

Then came the threats: “If the case was not closed, then [the woman and her family] would all be accused of blasphemy,” said Tabassum Yousef, an attorney for Binish Paul.

The court received charges directly from the attorney. The hospital had to issue a medical report. Only then did the police arrest Taheer Abbas two days after the crime.

“In Pakistan, it is difficult to receive justice if you are a member of a religious minority,” said Yousef, because judges are pressured by political parties.

Marriage, Islamic style

Muslims describe Muhammad as being the perfect human messenger of Allah’s law. Like most totalitarians, Muhammad carved exceptions for himself. For example, Allah permitted Muhammad to have many wives to satisfy his desires. Muhammad, a pedophile, contracted to marry Aisha, age 6, and consummated the marriage at age 9.

Sorry, Muslim men, you are limited to four wives. However, Muslim men can have unlimited concubines, and have sex with all “women their right hands possess.”

Muslim men must exercise dominion over their wives and family. Submission is required by Muslim wives and daughters, under penalties of a beating or death by honor killing.

Divorce, Islamic style

Muslim wives must seek permission to divorce. Yet, the final decision, historically with three words, has been by Muslim men, who may try the final solution, murder. The Geller Report provides an example:

Abdul Rahman Sweidan and his wife emigrated from Syria to Jordan, then to the United States in 2015. They were legal refugees through World Relief. The couple have been living in Kenniwick, WA.

Sweidan’s power, control, and threats resulted in his stabbing, 23 times, his wife on August 30, 2017. This act was done in front of their toddler. Sweidan left his wife for dead. Yet, Sweidan traveled to a hospital for treatment of injuries on his hand.

The Tri-City Herald reported: Dania Z. Alhafeth “filed for divorce in late October [2017]. Her petition states the couple married May 23, 1996, in Homs, Syria, but the marriage was “irretrievably broken” on Aug. 30 [2017] when Sweidan ‘attempted to murder’ her. Their four children range in age from 2 to 18, the petition states.”

Abdul Rahman Sweidan was convicted of second degree murder and first degree assault. Sweidan was sentenced on May 9, 2018, and is now imprisoned.

Conclusion

“[T]here is one universal truth, applicable to all countries, cultures and communities: violence against women is never acceptable, never excusable, never tolerable,” summarized the United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-Moon, in a press release (02-25-08).

If only that sentiment was practiced in Muslim-majority countries. As reported by Fox News (06-19-18), the Trump administration withdrew from the UN’s Human Rights Council: “U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley calling the 47-member council ‘a protector of human rights abusers, and a cesspool of political bias.’”

British courts have been described as parallel courts: Traditional courts may incorporate Sharia law. However, Islamic communities have exclusive Sharia courts, often without oversight by police, or recourse (an appeal) to traditional courts.

American courts increasingly are using Sharia law, for example, in cases of domestic abuse or divorce; hate crimes: bacon left on a mosque’s doorstep; and halal meals in prisons.

“Islam isn’t in America to be equal to any other faith, but to become dominant. The Quran should be the highest authority in America.” – CAIR founding chairman Omar Ahmad, quoted in the Muslim Mafia, by P. David Gaubatz [Ch. 17, p. 265; See Ahmad’s denial: fn ¹, p. 400]. CAIR was named a terrorist organization by the United Arab Emirates in 2014. (Fox News) Read more about the Muslim Brotherhood (HAMAS-CAIR).

The U.S. Constitution, and its Bill of Rights, cannot coexist with Sharia law. When we elevate women’s rights, we elevate everyone’s rights. Wake up, America.

Enjoy these “firsts” in women’s history.

Gerald Lostutter is a Florida licensed attorney, college professor, and journalist. This article does not create an attorney-client relationship. You should consult a licensed attorney for advice.