Women’s rights… and annoying Trots
Associated Press is reporting that:
A gang-rape victim who was sentenced to six months in prison and 200 lashes for being alone with a man not related to her was pardoned by the Saudi king after the case sparked rare criticism from the United States, the kingdom’s top ally.
…
Justice Minister Abdullah bin Mohammed al-Sheik said the pardon reported Monday by Saudi media does not mean the king doubted the country’s judges, but that he was acting in the “interests of the people.”
What he means is that western media outrage, which led to the issue being raised with President Bush, forced the Saudi king to back down. For the victim this is undoubtedly good news and I would hope this incident would make the Saudi legislative think again next time when they convict rape victims. Though, I doubt it. Governments are understandably reluctant to tell other countries how they should treat their own citizens, lest it comes back to haunt them.
For lefties there are (possibly) added dimensions to such stories.
On the one hand there is the “anti-imperialist left”, where activists are convinced that these stories are only highlighted in the western media to indicate how superior the west is, and any attempts by “imperialists” to dictate to the down-trodden East should be resisted. You know who they are – the kind that would happily condemn Iraqi “traitors” to death for helping British armed forces.
Then there is the “anti-totalitarian left” who jump on every such news story as example of how superior “western values” are. After all, we are in a clash of values remember? There’s no space for moral relativism here people; you’re either for freedom or a supporter of “Islamo-fascism”!
They develop an interest in women’s rights across the Muslim world but are curiously silent about the attack on abortion rights in the UK or in other parts of the world. As Pankaj Mishra recently pointed out:
Almost every day newspaper columnists berate Islam, often couching their prejudice in the highly moral language of women’s rights: it is not due to oversight that Indian women murdered for failing to bring sufficient dowry – a staggering 6,787 in 2005 – occupy a fraction of the print acreage devoted to the tiny minority of veiled Muslim women.
You know who they are – they worship the ground that Christopher Hitchens and Martin Amis walk on, for offering them “moral clarity”.
Despite the unhealthy obsessions that lie on either sides, I believe the broader liberal-left should make a big stink about such issues (including forced marriages / honour killings) otherwise we betray the women who are subjugated. I believe liberal-lefties are guilty of not saying enough on such issues, leaving it to feminists to make noise and try to get support for their causes. The Trots on either side are annoying but they shouldn’t shackle us from speaking out more.
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Sunny Hundal is editor of LC. Also: on Twitter, at Pickled Politics and Guardian CIF.
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Reader comments
But there *isn’t* space for moral relativism, is there??
You are rather (and correctly) highlighting inconsistency/hypocrisy.
As fringe as they are, I believe that the AWL have been playing the “No moral relativism” card, as well as being pretty good on abortion rights in this country and others.
Although I may be wrong, as I’m not a big follower of their (or any other trots) specific areas of policy.
Well, it’s nice of you boys to join in on stuff like this, so we don’t all look like ranting hormonal harpies…
Better late than never, eh Sunny?
What exactly is your web empire going to do about it, beyond talk?
While I agree with what you are saying here, there is nothing wrong with noting that in our own country we still get this:
What exactly is your web empire going to do about it, beyond talk?
Um, what would you suggest I / we do about it?
I’d suggest that Liberal Conspiracy takes up the themes we have seen on PP. That women are equal, that women have an equal voice. That they are entitled to equal treatment. You are no shrinking violet when it comes to womens issues. You have stood up and been counted. I respect you for that.
You could, perhaps, encourage Desi Italiana to write here, or Sonia Ali to comment. It would make a hell of a difference. It might break LC out of appearing to be a somewhat backbiting, old mens club. You need the women, I think.
I think you need to consider that.
- promote MixTogether
- promote Jasvinder Sanghera and Karma Nirvana
- investigate why the Foreign Office is the only government department taking real action against ‘honour’-based violence (HBV)
- encourage other bloggers to fill the masive gap in coverage of honour-related news stories (try finding some- there are hardly any)
- cast the web occasionally for HBV topics
- promote the fact that it is not just a womens issue, not just a Muslim issue and not just an issue for non-whites
…as a few ideas.
Take it from me, the pieces are in motion right now and 2008 is going to be a massive year for change in the UK. If Liberal Conspiracy really adopts HBV as a cause, it will play a part in something truly significant and cement its liberal credentials.
No comment?
I’m with Douglas: more women contributors on this site would be a start. Alix Mortimer? Charlotte Gore?
Jasvinder Sanghera?
(I don’t think anyone’s listening…)
Hello,
This isn’t a forum just to promote HBV but when it happens we will highlight it. As you may know, I do a lot of highlighting on my own blog PP and have frequently written about it for the Guardian’s Comment is Free. Jasvinder Sanghera is one person among many others who do good work in the area and I like to promote all of them. I’m in regular vontact with Southall Black Sisters amongst others. Plus we have other feminists like Czth Elliot, Jess McCabe, Zoha Moosa and Natalie Bennett writing for us (when they get time that is).
Jennie – I did invite Charlotte to submit an article, which she said she would work on… but everyone has time committments I guess.
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