Jordanian Professor Fired Over Sexual Harassment Video

Sexual harassment is rampant in Middle Eastern culture. In Egypt women deal with it on a daily basis, in spite of the fact most women there now wear the Islamic veil. Perhaps much of that has to do with women being considered objects in those male-dominated, chauvinistic societies. Yes, it exists in the West but nowhere to the extent it does over there. In the U.S. it can occur in the workplace- I have worked on enough industrial films dealing with that subject to know it does happen- but you don't usually encounter harassment on the street.

So some female students at the University of Jordan Khleif al-Tawarneh, under the supervision of their Feminist Theory professor Rula Quawas produced a video dealing with the subject of sexual harassment on university campuses. The pretty innocuous video posted on Youtube, and the subsequent furor it created, led to the firing of Quawas, the much loved dean of  the School of Foreign Languages.

Critics accused the film makers of “promoting vice and stripping the society of its values.”

Not surprising that they would fry the messenger, since the males obviously don't consider their actions to be offensive.

President Ikhleif Tarawneh said she was fired because the video tarnished the reputation of the university, others believe it was "an act of vengeance."

Dismissal of the Feminist Theory’s professor angered activists, journalists, writers, and students. Several campaigns were launched to express solidarity with her and in which she was praised for making a film that raises awareness about sexual harassment. 

Tawarneh claims it had nothing to do with the video, but rather  an administrative prerogative. Others disagree:

But the Committee for Academic Freedoms at the University of Middle East Studies in Jordan rejected Tawarneh’s claims and said there were no documents proving Qawas’s negligence or weak performance, the decision could not have been administrative. The timing showed that the film was the reason for her dismissal, the committee added. 

The Cairo-based Arab Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI) said Qawas’s dismissal constituted “a flagrant violation of freedom of expression and academic research,” and accused Tawarneh of persecuting her.

Rather than deal with what is evidently a chronic problem on his campus, Tawarneh fired the one person inspiring others to fight it. This will only encourage the bad boys to continue their harassment. Typical.

Afghan Girl Flogged While Boyfriend Fined For Alleged Affair

Muslims love to talk about the importance of gender equality in Islam, but that's far from the truth, at least in hell holes like Afghanistan. Women are not treated equally, and when it comes to punishment are the ones to bear the brunt of it. Take 16-year-old Sabera, who was publicly flogged while her 'boyfriend' was merely fined.  She is not doing well since the beating.

A 16-year-old Afghan girl has been flogged for allegedly having an affair and her purported boyfriend fined $1,600 in a rural district under government control, local officials said Saturday.

The girl, who has been named only as Sabera, is in poor health since the incident on Sept. 9 in Jaghuri district of Ghazni province, said the head of the provincial women’s affairs department, Shukuria Wali.

The Taliban have strongholds in Ghazni, but Jaghuri is under government control and is dominated by ethnic Hazaras, who are generally considered moderate by Afghan standards and do not have strict tribal codes observed by Pashtuns, who dominate the ranks of the Islamist militia.

“According to the information we have, Sabera was first wrapped in a white cloth and then flogged in front of village elders and family members. I have heard she is not in good health,” Wali told AFP.

The man who allegedly had the affair with Sabera was fined 80,000 Afghanis ($1,600), she said.

Jaghuri governor Zafar Sharif confirmed the incident and said a government and rights delegation had been sent to investigate.

And this from 'moderates'.

UK Dads Banned From Day Care Center So As Not To Offend Muslim Women

Fathers are in an uproar in Birmingham, England after a children's play center banned all males so as not to offend Muslim mums. Kids Go Wild is located in Sparkhill, a mainly Asian/Muslim area of Birmingham, and up until the recent decision was a co-ed play center.

But it's not just dads that are being turned away, they're not even allowing males over nine. No wonder they're all so screwed up. If kids can't learn to deal with the opposite sex in a safe, supervised environment, they'll grow up maladjusted.

And it's not just non-Muslims who are more than pissed off at the decision, it has also infuriated some in the Muslim community. As a result, a large group of dads took their complaint to the Equality and Human Rights commission which intends to investigate the situation.

One dad called it "sexist" and "disgusting". One mum, Ruksana Ayub, said:

“I understand why women would want a place like this where there are no men. They won’t feel they have to cover up so they might feel more able to relax and to socialise. But I’m quite modern in my outlook, so I also find it quite shocking that men aren’t allowed in. It’s a shame for kids who don’t have a mum.”

Local Muslims are equally concerned:

The move was branded a “worrying situation” by local councillor Habib Rehman, a Muslim and father-of-four. He said: “There’s something wrong here when a dad can’t take his kids to a play centre.”

Father-of-three Tariq Mahmood, of nearby Hall Green, said: “In the Muslim community men and women being separate is normal at religious events and social functions. But a play centre isn’t a religious or function thing. It’s somewhere for children to play. A ban on men gives the wrong impression about men.”

Tory MP Patrick Mercer said: “It is clear there are common sense voices as you would expect from the Muslim community. I would hope that the play group would listen to people of every faith and respect the role of fathers within the family.”

Kids Go Wild has defended its decision:

The manageress of the centre, who refused to give her name, said she was catering for the “predominantly Asian community”.

She said: “It’s a cultural thing. It’s not that men are an issue, ladies are more comfortable around women. They’ve been asking for it for a long time.”

And this is how it starts, folks. Gender segregation will eventually become the norm in those communities, and then they will start demanding it elsewhere. But I blame Muslim males, in general, for forcing women to withdraw under their abayas, burqas and veils by burdening them with keeping the man's lust in check.