Writes Shahzad Hussain Hamdani
Being a woman is a gift and every woman is unique. As a Mother, she teaches us to love and care for others more as we learn from everyday experiences. Every Man should respect her as a wife; as a mother; as a sister; as a daughter.
Every Religion projects Woman with the Highest Grade of Dignity but humans who couldn’t understand their religion, failed to understand the dignity and respect which Allah has set for a woman. The oppression of women in our society happens in very subtle as well as very overt ways. Women’s attractiveness is used as a commodity to sell everything from cigarettes to car parts.
Women are said to be welcome in the working world, but as they enter they find that they earn 60 percent of the wages that men receive; experience frequent sexual harassment and discrimination; and find few opportunities for creative and meaningful work.
As mothers, women find themselves in a society that gives lip service but little else in support of family life and children. As our society becomes increasingly more violent, women are rarely the perpetrators and frequently the victims of violent crime. Rape, assault, incest, wife battering and other kinds of mental and physical abuse leave many women injured and force the rest of them to live in fear.
Crime against Women is a Global issue and India holds a same position.
Violence against women is a critical human rights and public health issue in India. One in three women will experience violence in her lifetime. It is normalised, domesticated and prevalent. Among all crimes in which women are victimised, Physical assault and molestation has become a common the fastest-growing crime in India, with a 700 percent growth rate since 1971. The NCRB estimates that rape incidents have risen from 7 per day to 53. Of the 414 rape cases filed in Delhi, regarded as the rape capital of India, only 34.6 percent resulted in convictions.
Half of the total number of crimes against women reported in 1990 related to molestation and harassment at the workplace. Eve teasing is a euphemism used for sexual harassment or molestation of women by men. Many activists blame the rising incidents of sexual harassment against women on the influence of “Western culture”. In 1987, The Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act was passed to prohibit indecent representation of women through advertisements or in publications, writings, paintings, figures or in any other manner.
In 1997, in a landmark judgement, the Supreme Court of India took a strong stand against sexual harassment of women in the workplace. The Court also laid down detailed guidelines for prevention and redressal of grievances. The National Commission for Women subsequently elaborated these guidelines into a Code of Conduct for employers.
Unlike countries like Islamic Republic of Iran where Capital Punishment is both legal and used in fact. In Iran crimes punishable by death include murder, rape, adultery, paedophilia, sodomy, drug trafficking, armed robbery, kidnapping, terrorism, and treason. According to Amnesty International, there were 156 death sentences passed and 360 executions carried out in Iran in 2011. The Crime Rate against Woman in Iran is Low as compared to rest of the Asian Countries, India always failed to implement such deterrent laws to safeguard the dignity of women.
From Jessica lal to Priya Darshani Mattoo, Crime against woman never ended with Justice. The worst side of India can be seen in Delhi, which is now called as the Rape Capital of India. In Delhi’s six district courts, as many 963 cases of rape are pending as on 1 October. The national capital has registered a whopping 17 per cent rise in rape cases this year with 661 such incidents being reported till December 15 compared to 564 during same period last year.
The gang rape of a 23-year-old woman and the beating of her male friend on a moving bus in New Delhi Sunday night has produced debates about women’s rights in India and about whether the death penalty or castration are suitable remedies for the situation. Mass Rallies Across the streets of Delhi, chanting slogans of justice and showing that when it comes to dignity of a woman, India is one. But dear readers if Delhi is the Rape Capital of India, then Kashmir is a place where Rapists are not awarded with Punishments but rewarded with Promotions; where Woman is not a symbol of Dignity in the eyes of men in Uniform but a tool to please there lust. While watching the coverage; reading posts on Facebook, i found there was another outrage among every Kashmiri but this outrage was something else. A Post by my friend Rameez Makhdoomi stated, “Dear Indians it is great to see your outrage on Delhi Gang rape BUT why this conscience goes to sleep in case of North East ( Assam, Manipur ) and Kashmir. 53 women allegedly gang raped by Army in kunan poshpora Kupwara in early 90s .32 year old woman named Thangjam Manorama alias Henthoi was brutally tortured and allegedly executed by personnel of the paramilitary force of 17 Assam Rifles stationed in Manipur, after she was picked by them on the early hours of 11 July 2004.28 year old housewife Undibala Roy of Lubdungguri, Bijni in Bongaigaon was raped by Army men on 22nd October, 1991(Registered case at Bijni Police station – Case No. 89191- uls 376).13 Years old Putala Bora, from Digboi was raped by two Army Men of the Punjab Regiment in her house (Case No. 2/91). After Counting and witnessing the hue n cry over the brutality which happened in Delhi.
While watching the whole coverage all throughout the Night, one such thing which i learned was “Woman is woman…dignity is dignity…but Delhi is not Kashmir”. As a human and as a Muslim i stand against the brutality and exploitation of Woman; but as a Kashmiri my feet don’t allow me to stand….it doesn’t mean i am selfish; but Yes I am neglected.