Propaganda against Hijab: Continuation of Islamophobia by western and Indian media
Dr.Syed Mehboob
Islam gives the best right to women which are far better than any other sociey or religion. As a mother she enjoys more rights than man. It is said by Prophet Muhammad ( Peace be upon him) , “ Paradise is under the feet of your mothers”. She has been given the best rights as a daughter, wife and sister. Islam respects women’s modesity and gives order to all Muslims women to wear hijab.
“O Prophet, tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to bring down over themselves [part] of their outer garments. That is more suitable that they will be recognized and not be abused. And ever is Allah Forgiving and Merciful.” (Quran 33:59).
It is unfortunate that those countries which are so called champions of human and women rights, and religious freedom have double standards when matter comes to Islam and Muslims. There is huge hue and cry over the custodial death of 22 years old Kurdish woman Mahsa Amini on September 16,2022. She was allegedly killed in custody of morality police in Tehran. This death gave a chance to the western and Indian Media to spread hatred against hijab.
The propaganda campaign is so vast that Face Book, Twitter, Instagram, WhatsApp, YouTube, Tv Channels; Newspapers were full with the stories of Mahsa Amini. Millions of dollars are spent on propaganda against Hijab which is actually a continuation of campaign against Islam and a series of islamophobia. More than 15,000 articles were written in America alone, in UK just in eight days 720 articles have been written, in Germany in eight days 500 articles against Iran and Hijab had been published. In Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK) thousands of Kashmiri women were raped and killed, Pallet guns are used to make Kashmiri Children blind but European and American champions were remained silent rather western countries and America encouraged Narender Modi government to continue its genocide campaign against Muslims. In may part of India scarf has been banned but no voice or sanctions against India as it is west’s favourite country similar is the position of Israel.
Iranian President took the notice of Mahsia’s custodial death and an enquiry committee had been formed. A medical team consisting 19 doctors, specialists mostly from private sectors was formed to thoroughly investigate. CC TV footage and medical report had confirmed that it was merely an accidental death and the girl was not died by torture.
Now let us see the actual face of west, America and India which are using Mahsa’s death against Iran and Hijab. Marwa Ali El-Sherbini was an Egyptian woman and German resident who was killed in 2009 during an appeal hearing at a court of law in Dresden, Germany when she was three months pregnant. Marwa sued her attacker after he insulted her for wearing the Islamic headscarf. She is now called in Islamic world as” Hijab Martyred “ . World Hijab Day is an annual event founded by Nazma Khan in 2013, taking place on 1st, February each year in 140 countries worldwide. Its stated purpose is to encourage women of all religions and backgrounds to wear and experience the hijab for a day and to educate and spread awareness on why hijab is worn. Marwa is remembered by Muslim world but ignored by west. Even German government issued the statement of condolence after nine days of her death. Why this double standard by so called human and women rights champions?. German media was so biased that it reported this heinous crime at back page and did not give any importance. Now look at the thousands of articles, news, analysis had been produced in favour of Mahsa.
Now look at another heinous crime by American soldiers in Iraq. It was gang rape and murder of 14 years old girl Abeer Qasim Hamza. She was gang raped by American soldiers and later she, her mother, father and sisters were burnt alive. It happened on 12 March, 2006. This was the heinous crime have ever committed in modern history and it was committed by US soldiers but no noble prize for Abeer and her family even she was very little mentioned by western media. Should not Americans and western so called human and women rights champions head bow down with shame?
It is pity that drumbeaters of human and women rights have banned wearing scarf in their countries including France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland and other countries. Even European Union court allowed companies to ban face covering by Muslim women.
Dutch politician Greet Wilders proposed a ban on hijab, Islamic Schools, building new mosques. Despite these discrimination and hatred by so called human rights champions ,Islam is the fastest spreading religion because it teaches tolerance and Prophet Muhammad ( Peace be upon him) was sent as the blessings for all human beings.
Regarding condition of women in Iran, there is a huge difference between propaganda and reality. 84% of Iranian women are literate while 97% of Iranian girls have access to education system. More than 20,000 Iranian women are University professors. In Iran 60% academicians are women while in USA it is 56%. Iran provides maternity leaves of six months to women with full pay while in USA women can not avail maternity leaves with pay. Suicide rate among women in Iran is only 3.6% while it is 6% in USA twice than in Iran. Women prisoners in Iranian jail are 3% while in American jails female prisoners are 6.9% more than double in Iran. Life expectancy among women in America is 81 years while in Iran it is 78 very close to USA. It is despite the fact that Iran is facing inhumane sanctions since the last 40 years and faced war for eight years. Share of women in government employment in Iran is 25% . More than 1,000 women in Iran are serving as judges. 900 film makers are women. About 700 Managing Directors (MDs) and Entrepreneurs in knowledge based companies are women. 40% specialists in hospitals and medical centers are women and 80% Gynecological specialists are women. Literacy rate among women is 99.3 %.
It is a need of the time to realize the realities and to stop false, fabricated and twisted propaganda and Islam and Muslim countries and to start reconciliation, tolerance, interfaith dialogue and cooperation among civilizations and not to follow the path of clashes among civilizations.