The ummah responds to beheading, not CAIR

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In a late day whine-o-gram, CAIR included a response to the violent beheading of Aasiya Hassan. However, the “open letter to the leaders of the muslim community” was written by Imam Mohamed Hagmagid Ali and published by ISNA (islamic society of north America), not CAIR.

The “letter” has all the usual noise we’ve come to expect from the ummah. Expressing a collective sadness and shock at the loss of one of their sisters. Prayers and sympathies are with Aasiya’s family and the muslim community of Buffalo.

The imam goes on to decry domestic violence (in general) and says this incident should be “a wake-up call to all of us”. It’s a duty to protect victims and shame the perpetrators; “Women who seek divorce from their spouses because of physical abuse should get full support from the community and should not be viewed as someone who has brought shame to herself or her family. The shame is on the person who committed the act of violence or abuse. Our community needs to take a strong stand against abusive spouses. We should not make it easy for people who are known to abuse to remarry if they have already victimized someone.”

Is violence the ONLY acceptable, shameless reason for divorce?

After more double-speak, the imam suggests a priority be placed on teaching young men how to be husbands and women how to be wives. “We must make it a priority to teach our young men in the community what it means to be a good husband and what the role the husband has as a protector of his family. The husband is not one who terrorizes or does harm and jeopardizes the safety of his family. At the same time, we must teach our young women not to accept abuse in any way, and to come forward if abuse occurs in the marriage.”

It’s my opinion, this statement still places a semblance of responsibility on the woman for the violent ills plaguing the ummah. Throughout the proclamation emphasis is placed on social status, family wealth and the husbands standing in the community, that these issues shouldn’t be a deterrent to seeking assistance; "Community and family members should support a woman in her decision to leave a home where her life is threatened and provide shelter and safety for her. No imam, mosque leader or social worker should suggest that she return to such a relationship and to be patient if she feels the relationship is abusive. Rather they should help and empower her to stand up for her rights and to be able to make the decision of protecting herself against her abuser without feeling she has done something wrong, regardless of the status of the abuser in the community."

"A man’s position in the community should not affect the imam’s decision to help a woman in need. Many disasters that take place in our community could have been prevented if those being abused were heard. Domestic violence is not a private matter. Any one who abuses their spouse should know that their business becomes the business of the community and it is our responsibility to do something about it. She needs to tell someone and seek advice and protection."

If all the aforementioned applications were put into practice and imams suddenly transformed themselves into the spiritual leaders they should be, I believe nothing would change. We’d still see news blips of honor killings and domestic abuse. This sick culture of honor is much stronger than the American rule of law.

On Thursday February 12th, Muzzammil Hassan calmly entered the Oak Park police station and confessed to murdering his wife. He did not run or try and hide the crime. The culture this death cult teaches is higher than any manmade law, his honor was at stake, and Aasiya must die….