Thousands demonstrate in Maldives over Islamic law

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

http://news.yahoo.com/thousands-demonstrate-maldives-over-islamic-law-190905263.html

AP – 2 hrs 43 mins ago

MALE, Maldives (AP) — Thousands in the Maldives protested Friday, calling on the government to halt what they called "anti-Islamic" activities, including a plan to allow direct flights to Israel. More moderate supporters of the president rallied as well as debate swells over the future of the state's religion.

The Indian Ocean archipelago of 300,000 Muslims prohibits practicing any other faith.

The protesters want authorities to stop the sale of alcohol in the islands, shut down brothels operating in the guise of massage parlors and demolish monuments gifted by other countries marking a South Asian summit last month because they see them as idols.

More than 3,000 people heeded a protest call by the opposition Adhaalat, or Justice, Party and several other groups that accuse President Mohammed Nasheed's government of compromising principles of Islam and call for strict Islamic law.

"Islamic Shariah is equal to peace," read some placards carried by protesters.

Though the country is known more for its exquisite island resorts and does not allow stoning or executions, it is under scrutiny for its absence of religious freedom and for punishments such as public flogging.

Debates on religious issues have emerged since a group vandalized a monument gifted by Pakistan marking a South Asian summit last month with the image of Buddha. Buddhism was part of the present Islamic republic's history. An angry protest last month followed a call by United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay for the Maldives to end the punishment by flogging of women who are found to have had sex outside marriage.

Other residents also rallied Friday in support of the president, who said he stands for a brand of moderate Islam traditionally practiced in the country and that it is vital to preserve the country's economic lifeline, tourism.

"To build our economy we need foreign investments and we need to create an environment in which foreigners can invest," Nasheed said.

"We can't achieve development by going backwards to the stone age or being ignorant," he added.

"Should we ban music? Should we mutilate girls' genitals? Should we allow 9 year-olds to be married? Should we forbid art and drawing? Should we be allowed to take concubines? Is this nation building?" he asked.

One blogger who has called for religious tolerance has been detained for more than a week by authorities who accuse him of blasphemy and of promoting anti-Islamic concepts such as gay rights.

Khilath Rasheed, whose website was blocked last month, has said he was being victimized because he belonged to the Sufi sect of Islam and not the majority Sunni branch recognized by the authorities.

London-based human rights group Amnesty International has called for his immediate release.

[Winning23 25]

I guess i am not going to Maldives. If they keep up their antics to move towards Shariah Law, Good-Bye tourism. They will see how powerful sediment against such laws is by foreign tourists, and they will be pretty sorry.

[웃 910]

"We can't achieve development by going backwards to the stone age or being ignorant," he added.

"Should we ban music? Should we mutilate girls' genitals? Should we allow 9 year-olds to be married? Should we forbid art and drawing? Should we be allowed to take concubines? Is this nation building?" he asked.

Can somebody describe the process of (female) genital mutilation in Islam? How often is this done and what do they do specifically?

Edited December 23, 2011 by Lord Infamous

[Meriem_DZ 37]

Can somebody describe the process of (female) genital mutilation in Islam? How often is this done and what do they do specifically?

Female genital mutilation is a cultural practice. Has nothing to do with Islam.

Meriem

[웃 910]

Female genital mutilation is a cultural practice. Has nothing to do with Islam.

Meriem

And in which cultures is it most prevalent? Which countries do this?

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

And in which cultures is it most prevalent? Which countries do this?

It's been practiced in majority Christian Ethiopia for centuries - by Muslims and Christians alike. In fact, it's been practiced there much more when Christianity was by far the majority religion. It has nothing to do with religion. Otherwise, we'd have to stipulate that based on the frequency of the occurrence of this practice in the past vs. now, the proportional increase of Muslims in that country has reduced the cases where this cruel ritual is practiced. If it was a faith based practice and Islam was the religion practicing it, then there should have been an increase in cases as the Muslim faith drew a larger portion of the population not a decrease. It's a backward cultural practice, plain and simple. Fortunately, is practiced much less these days than it was the case in the past.

Watch "Desert Flower" if you're interested in how this ####### goes down.

[Golden Gate 530]

And in which cultures is it most prevalent? Which countries do this?

It dates from ancient Egypt.

History

Commonly, when we think of FGM, we think only of African countries. Certainly the highest number of victims are in African countries, but FGM historically occurs or has occurred in many countries, including the Arabian Peninsula, Asia, Australia, France, England and the United States.

In most countries, FGM is practiced out of local custom, for religious reasons, or as a traditional rite of passage. Ages at which FGM is done vary from age three through adulthood. In Tanzania, the Kurya ethnic group organizes an annual FGM ceremony, which encompass a very large number of young girls (up to 2500 on December 8, 1998). It is their belief that it brings respect to women, who enter adulthood at the time of circumcision. Uncircumcised women in the Kuryan tribe are not respected and cannot marry.

From approximately 1900 - 1939, FGM was practiced in Australia kindergartens as a method of 'curing the precocious masturbator'. This practice was not confined to Islamic groups, as some may suspect, but included Australians of European heritage.

In Britain, the greatest period of clitoridectomies was from 1858 - 1866. Clitoridectomies were continued in the United States through 1925, replaced by circumcision through as late as 1937, and possibly 1948. It was believed that these procedures would stop masturbation, reduce women's mental disorders, cure female complaints and prevent or stop nymphomania.

Even as late as 1979, Dr. James E. Burt was performing sunna circumcision on women in the United States. While Dr. Burt was stopped, the practice continues in the United States, having been reintroduced (or maintained) by immigrants. One report commissioned by Rep. Louise M. Slaughter estimates that more than 160,000 girls and/or women have been or are at risk of FGM in the U.S.

During international efforts to eradicate FGM, arguments have been made that females have a choice in the matter. Even if a true choice is allowed, pressure, age-old belief systems, a desire to uphold family honor, fear, and threats of rejection frequently compel young women or parents to submit. Often, for those families who choose otherwise, others who strongly believe in FGM willingly disregard their decision.

This was true in the case of the twelve year old girl in Kenya who was abducted by three relatives and circumcised by a traditional surgeon when her parents refused to allow the ritual to be performed on her. She was taken to Kehancha District Hospital in critical condition, bleeding profusely. This case clearly reflects the lack of respect by some for any decision that contradicts or opposes the custom of FGM.

Religion has been a long-held argument for FGM. In fact, neither the Koran nor the Bible support or condone FGM. There are no Islamic or Christian justifications or origins for FGM, and interpretations claiming otherwise are incorrect.

My link

Edited December 23, 2011 by Golden Gate

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Seems like Maldives is not too worried about Global warming. If GW is true they will be one of the first countries to disappear under the rising ocean and all this will be moot.

I wonder why they are not worried about GW?

[웃 910]

Thanks.

Is there a map that shows countries by the time period they are living in? US/Canada 21st century....Mexico 20th....Guatemala 19th.....Haiti 12th...Yemen 8th....etc.

Seems like Maldives is not too worried about Global warming. If GW is true they will be one of the first countries to disappear under the rising ocean and all this will be moot.

I wonder why they are not worried about GW?

One day you'll wake up. But until then keep thinking you are even smarter than the guys in lab coats.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Thanks.

Is there a map that shows countries by the time period they are living in? US/Canada 21st century....Mexico 20th....Guatemala 19th.....Haiti 12th...Yemen 8th....etc.

One day you'll wake up. But until then keep thinking you are even smarter than the guys in lab coats.

Hopefully they have a colored map for you.

[Sofiyya 1,687]

Can somebody describe the process of (female) genital mutilation in Islam? How often is this done and what do they do specifically?

FGM is not allowed in Islam.

[ready4ONE 5,400]

FGM is not allowed in Islam.

Except where Muslim cultures practice it. (yes ditto for Christan FGM'ers)

[sandinista! 1,816]

I live in a city where it's forbidden to steal someone's car, yet car theft is a common occurrence here. I've in fact been a victim of it. I wouldn't say that "Portland culture practices car theft" though. Rather I'd say that this brand of a$$hattery is practiced outside the norms and ideals of Portlanders, and while car thieves are indeed Portlanders, their thievery is not associated with their status as Portlanders.