Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Egyptian Police Threatening Activists with Rape

Why is it always rape? We open up the Muslim sources to see how Muhammad and his companions treated war captives and we find . . . rape. We ask young British girls how they are being treated by Pakistani immigrants and we find . . . rape. We inspect the prison system in Iran and we find . . . rape. We ask how the new Muslim Brotherhood government in Egypt is handling criticism and we find . . . rape. What's with all the rape coming from Islam? Why is it that the Religion of Peace promotes rape and violence as the solution for all of life's problems?

EGYPT—Activists in Alexandria have claimed they were "terrorised" and threatened with rape after they were arrested during clashes in the city on 21-22 January.

Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, Mohamed Ezzeddin, a young activist, said police at Borg El-Arab prison threatened to rape him and other detainees.

"We were ordered by police officers to take off our clothes and stay in the cold. We were also threatened with being attacked by Central Security Forces," Ezzeddin added.

Ezzeddin was one of dozens of activists, including minors, arrested in Alexandria during clashes with police on 21-22 January. The clashes began when judges stepped down one day before a verdict was due on police officers accused of killing protesters during Egypt's revolution.

He said he was arrested a few miles away from the clashes, which were taking place outside the Alexandria criminal court. A policeman pointed a gun at his head and he was dragged to a police vehicle along with a friend who "was beaten on the head until he lost consciousness."

Nour El-Zorba, another activist, who was released after being detained for 14 days, said the prison was "run by police officers who terrorise weak prisoners and treat them in an inhumane way."

"Despite what happened to us inside the prison we will not change our ideas and we will not stop struggling against the oppressive regime of Mohamed Morsi," added El-Zorba.

Relatives of the detained were also present at the press conference. The mother of Mohamed Kassab, who is still being detained, said her son was not involved in the clashes and was arrested randomly.

"My son is a respectful young man, a law student not a thug," she said. (Source)

6 comments:

Traeh said...

David's opening paragraph to this posting is killer. Going to have to quote him at Jihad Watch, I think, and maybe elsewhere, in the future.

Deleting said...

Why, why why can't they threaten with fluffy kittens or nasty looks? It could even be 'Fluffy kittens dipped in blood....' just for some variety's sake but no..
The koran says not to....

The religion of piece....

Lark Abroad said...

Rape has been a mechanism of social control, just like murder, since the beginning. It has nothing to do with religion, and everything to do with tribalism. Hurting innocent people is forbidden in all monotheistic organized faiths. Because rape is an effective tool for gaining political advantage, it will continue to be employed in nations where there is extreme competition for control between historically warring factions, tribes, and territories.

David Wood said...

Isn't it funny (yet sad) how people who've never read the Muslim sources keep telling us that Islam has nothing to do with rape? Tell us, Lark Abroad, what do you think about the historical background of Qur'an 4:24? The entire point of the verse was to tell Muslims that they're allowed to rape their female captives--even married captives. So how does Islam have nothing to do with rape?

Lark Abroad said...

My Arabic is a little lacking yet, but relying on this English translation:

Sahih International
And [also prohibited to you are all] married women except those your right hands possess. [This is] the decree of Allah upon you. And lawful to you are [all others] beyond these, [provided] that you seek them [in marriage] with [gifts from] your property, desiring chastity, not unlawful sexual intercourse. So for whatever you enjoy [of marriage] from them, give them their due compensation as an obligation. And there is no blame upon you for what you mutually agree to beyond the obligation. Indeed, Allah is ever Knowing and Wise.

The argument here, appears to me to be the establishment of the contract of marriage prior to intercourse. I've read English translations by two different Arab scholars and one Persian and it seems, primarily to be not much more than Mosaic law. Hadiths are more like rumors of tribal tradition, cultural expectations. Still, I am not a religious leader. Where is your Ph.D. in Islamic studies from?

David Wood said...

Lark,

Do you have any clue what you're talking about? Qur'an-only Muslims are considered heretics by both Sunnis and Shias. And yet you've just thrown out the Hadith. Try saying that to a Muslim!

So how do you think your interpretation of 4:24 lines up with the historical background:

Abu Said al-Khudri said: "The apostle of Allah sent a military expedition to Awtas on the occasion of the battle of Hunain. They met their enemy and fought with them. They defeated them and took them captives. Some of the Companions of the apostle of Allah were reluctant to have intercourse with the female captives in the presence of their husbands who were unbelievers. So Allah, the Exalted, sent down the Quranic verse, "And all married women (are forbidden) unto you save those (captives) whom your right hands possess". That is to say, they are lawful for them when they complete their waiting period." [The Quran verse is 4:24].