The Committee to Defend Women Rights in the Middle East

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1. How do the beliefs about women rights in the Middle East differ from the beliefs in the United States?

All American citizens are protected under the Constitution, both women and men. The belief is that women and men have the same human rights (Civil Rights Movement, 1965).

Conversely, in Iran (Middle East), women have no rights (or they are ignored). Instead, as reported in the article below: "women are legally the inferior sex and, according to Islam doctrine, this inferiority is rooted in the nature of women " (see article below). A "woman is politically suspect simply because of her sex. Unless she is controlled, she can turn into a social criminal". In fact, the "law and the government of the Islamic Republic accuses the women of being the source of corruption and the agent of leading men astray". (http://www.middleastwomen.org/).

2. What institutions and stereotypes about women support the current situation in the Middle East with regard to women's rights?

The religion of Islam and the political structure (government) based on Islamic principles supports the above views. Stereotypes are that women are inferior to men by nature, women are corrupted, and women are the agent of leading men astray (justifies the need to cover her body and face with the veil so as not to provoke men into sinning sexually, as reported in the following article: "Sexual apartheid and compulsory veiling (Hejab) are brutally imposed by the state on women and girls." (http://www.middleastwomen.org/)

3. Should the United States (or other countries) intervene?

This is controversial, and depends on the theory one holds. For example, the article reports that "after two decades of terror and brutality, still in the west world, cultural relativists say that it is their religion and must be respected" (http://www.middleastwomen.org/). Conversely, the author argues that this should be consider as a big shame, and that the theory of cultural relativism serves these crimes - it legitimizes and maintains savagery of women. I agree. United States and others should intervene. The world is concerned with how China treats the people in Tibet in terms of violating human rightS; likewise, women and children should get equal concern and intervention for the violation of their human rights.

Do you agree?

I HOPE THIS HELPS AND TAKE CARE.

ARTICLE:
"Women pushing the boundaries"

The following is Soraya Shahabi's speech on women's right at IWP Rally. Rally was held in Ottawa, Canada on March 10th. The theme of IWD this year is "Women ...