wordsgood
1st September 2008, 20:56
Warning - Post Contains Some Graphic Material.
Also, this is also a controversial subject and the opinions expressed here are purely MY OWN. If you wish to reply, I would ask again that you not make it personal.
Infidel, by Ayaan Hirsh-Ali - an autobiography
I knew of the Taliban, their oppression and terror, from articles and news clips I’d seen a decade, before 9/11 happened. While shocked that we in the free world were still allowing this kind of thing to happen, I have to say that this book really brought the horror of it all slamming home for me!
Born of my (X) generation, Hirsh Ali’s life seems to me, to have been something from a history book - a cross between medieval ignorant savagery, political strife and new-age warfare.
Though I knew of female circumcision, as it is practiced in such places and religions, I didn’t realize how truly brutal the horrific process is. Generally performed by a male stranger with scissors or knife and zero medical training - little children are held down in unsanitary public areas - from the kitchen table to large rock outside - and it is more often than not the child’s own FEMALE family members initiating the process and holding them down. Can you imagine, even a little being a small, terrified little girl being held down by loved ones as she screams in agony and terror? Scarred maimed, forever deprived of a normal sex life. (And yes, they even do it to their little boys, though they are not usually left nearly as scarred or sexually dysfunctional.)
These girls, after their clitoris and labia are literally hacked off, are sewn shut, with only a tiny hole left to urinate, then have their legs tied together for several days to ensure a thick layer of scar tissue grows. No painkillers or sedatives of any kind are used and the occasion is often treated as a celebration with many witnesses gathered to behold the joyous event. Years later, a huge amount of force, sometimes even being cut again, is required to pierce the tissue for intercourse. The theory behind all this being that the scar tissue will act as flesh chastity belt, keeping girls “pure” as ordered by Allah according the the Quran - thus ensuring virginity for their future husbands to enjoy. This procedure, done under such conditions as it usually is, can, and frequently does, result in death.
Yet, despite the horror of her circumcision and a lifetime of beatings and verbal abuse, Hirsh Ali never loses her sense of humanity, love or compassion. After fleeing a forced marriage to a complete stranger, she fled to Holland. Despite her somewhat sketchy education, she earned a college degree in political science, and went on to became an MP in Holland’s parliamentary legislature. Using this forum, Hirsh Ali became a vocal advocate for the rights of Muslim and the reform of Islam. This made her the target of reactionary Islamists and other politicians, even to point of threatening her life - and succeeding in the killing of her partner & friend in the making of her film Submission - they were still unable to silence this remarkable women.
Effectively bullied out of Holland - once again the victim becomes the target - Ali now lives in the United States and works hard at her message of reform and equality in the Muslim world, and also for the rest of humanity.
Has this changed my view of Islam? YES! And sadly, not for the better.
Below are two links you might find of interest if Hirsh Ali’s story has caught your ear:
American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy in Washington, D.C. - a think tank she joined after leaving Holland - www.aei.org (http://www.aei.org/)
A version Theo van Gogh (deceased) and Hirsh Ali’s film, Submission, Part One - www.youtube.com (http://www.youtube.com/)
Also, this is also a controversial subject and the opinions expressed here are purely MY OWN. If you wish to reply, I would ask again that you not make it personal.
Infidel, by Ayaan Hirsh-Ali - an autobiography
I knew of the Taliban, their oppression and terror, from articles and news clips I’d seen a decade, before 9/11 happened. While shocked that we in the free world were still allowing this kind of thing to happen, I have to say that this book really brought the horror of it all slamming home for me!
Born of my (X) generation, Hirsh Ali’s life seems to me, to have been something from a history book - a cross between medieval ignorant savagery, political strife and new-age warfare.
Though I knew of female circumcision, as it is practiced in such places and religions, I didn’t realize how truly brutal the horrific process is. Generally performed by a male stranger with scissors or knife and zero medical training - little children are held down in unsanitary public areas - from the kitchen table to large rock outside - and it is more often than not the child’s own FEMALE family members initiating the process and holding them down. Can you imagine, even a little being a small, terrified little girl being held down by loved ones as she screams in agony and terror? Scarred maimed, forever deprived of a normal sex life. (And yes, they even do it to their little boys, though they are not usually left nearly as scarred or sexually dysfunctional.)
These girls, after their clitoris and labia are literally hacked off, are sewn shut, with only a tiny hole left to urinate, then have their legs tied together for several days to ensure a thick layer of scar tissue grows. No painkillers or sedatives of any kind are used and the occasion is often treated as a celebration with many witnesses gathered to behold the joyous event. Years later, a huge amount of force, sometimes even being cut again, is required to pierce the tissue for intercourse. The theory behind all this being that the scar tissue will act as flesh chastity belt, keeping girls “pure” as ordered by Allah according the the Quran - thus ensuring virginity for their future husbands to enjoy. This procedure, done under such conditions as it usually is, can, and frequently does, result in death.
Yet, despite the horror of her circumcision and a lifetime of beatings and verbal abuse, Hirsh Ali never loses her sense of humanity, love or compassion. After fleeing a forced marriage to a complete stranger, she fled to Holland. Despite her somewhat sketchy education, she earned a college degree in political science, and went on to became an MP in Holland’s parliamentary legislature. Using this forum, Hirsh Ali became a vocal advocate for the rights of Muslim and the reform of Islam. This made her the target of reactionary Islamists and other politicians, even to point of threatening her life - and succeeding in the killing of her partner & friend in the making of her film Submission - they were still unable to silence this remarkable women.
Effectively bullied out of Holland - once again the victim becomes the target - Ali now lives in the United States and works hard at her message of reform and equality in the Muslim world, and also for the rest of humanity.
Has this changed my view of Islam? YES! And sadly, not for the better.
Below are two links you might find of interest if Hirsh Ali’s story has caught your ear:
American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy in Washington, D.C. - a think tank she joined after leaving Holland - www.aei.org (http://www.aei.org/)
A version Theo van Gogh (deceased) and Hirsh Ali’s film, Submission, Part One - www.youtube.com (http://www.youtube.com/)