Bangladesh witnessed a series of rape incidents in the month of March, particularly the brutal rape and after-rape murder of a 16-year-old girl named Beauty at the end of March caused widespread public outcry in the country (banglanews24, 31 March 2018). The incident became the talk of the nation and drew media focus when a photograph of her body lying in a field went viral on Facebook.
Comment:
Rape and molestations are becoming terrifyingly high in Bangladesh. From January 2014 to December 2017, a total of 17,289 cases of women and child rapes were recorded throughout the country. The total number of victims in those cases was 17,389, of which 13,861 were women and 3,528 children; during the period, only 673 rapists were convicted and sentenced in 3,430 cases disposed of by the courts. Looking at these statistics one can sense how alarming the situation is!
Social activists and intellectuals are discussing and debating on TV and in print and social media as to the root causes of such degradation of our society. Filthy Western and Indian culture racing into our society through unrestricted internet and satellite channels are eroding our social values. Under the secular capitalist system, a woman is seen as a commodity and her beauty has commercial value. In the name of so called “woman emancipation”, we see erotic depictions of women from billboard to TV advert, movie, and magazine. Even our children are products of a secular coeducation system that teaches free mixing and making fun in life.
The current secular democratic regime of Bangladesh claims credit for empowering women and securing children’s rights. Now there are more woman and child’s right organizations than ever in Bangladesh but sadly women and children are still the most vulnerable in this society. Something is clearly wrong at the very basic level of this system. Rapists often get shelter and backing from the political parties and get away with their heinous crime under the current democratic political culture. The Judiciary of this system has also failed to deliver justice to the victims; many have lost confidence and turned away due to the complicated, troublesome and prolonged procedures.
The honor of our Muslim sisters cannot be protected under this man-made value-free secular-materialist system. In secular society there is no guidance for human beings except from their own desires. A fair and efficient Islamic judiciary will ensure justice for the victims and exemplary punishment for the perpetrators. Islam will not only protect the honor of our sisters but also ensure their due respect and will treat them well.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ, addressing the Muslims on the occasion of the Farewell Pilgrimage, warned them against the values which he feared would be neglected after him, and referred to woman as one of the important issues about whom he said: «اسْتَوْصُوا بِالنِّسَاءِ خَيْرًا، فَإِنَّهُنَّ عِنْدَكُمْ عَوَانٍ» “Observe your duty to Allah in respect to the women, and treat them well.”
Muhammad Kamal
Member of the Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir in Wilayah Bangladesh