Egypt: women should have right to polygamy article causes stir
Dec 18th, 2009 | By Joseph Mayton | Category: Egypt, Featured, News
CAIRO: Controversy has erupted in Egypt after an article published by Egyptian independent daily newspaper Al-Masry Al-Youm asked why men have the right to marry more than one woman but women don’t. A member of Parliament has filed a lawsuit against Nadine al-Bedair, the writer, calling for a trial and lawyers to lobby the Egyptian government to ban a television series planned on a similar topic.
Bedair, a Saudi journalist, called for women in “My four husbands and I,” published on December 11, to be given the right to marry more than one man as part of gender equality.
She asks why men have the right to more than one woman, while women do not, saying women can also get bored with just person.
“A man would say, ‘I am bored. She has become like a sister to me. I am no longer sexually attracted to her.’… Here’s what I call cheating begins since traditions and the clerics provide men with the remedy to the ailment of boredom,†the article reads.
She then goes on to question a scenario of when a woman gets bored or tired with her husband and marital life.
“But a woman does not cheat, not because she is not bored. In fact, she might have not felt one ounce of pleasure since the very first night of this arranged marriage. But traditions and the clerics force her to stay at home and shut up.â€
At the end of the article she proposes that polygamy should be sanctioned for both men and women or a new construct of marriage must be drawn to end the so-called “lame” excuses often handed down by husbands.
“Until then, the question remains: What happens when I am bored of him or if I feel he is like a brother to me?â€
Scholars and local leaders in Egypt have derided the article, calling it inflammatory and “an excuse women give,” as one sheikh in Cairo told Bikya Masr on Thursday.
Sheikh Mohamed Gama’i argued that in the Qur’an, there is a reason for polygamy, “and no woman has the right to attack our traditions in this manner. She should be stopped.”
However, others, including Sheikh Amr Zaki, who runs a mosque in downtown Cairo, said the article should not be taken as an actual call for polygamy across the board. Instead, he says, “people should wake up and look at how women can be treated by their husbands and the fact that in our world today polygamy should be unacceptable. There is no need for it and besides, no man can truly love more than one woman and vice versa.”
Rights groups have yet to get invovled in the case, but would likely enter any legal battle that could ensue from the lawsuit.
Egypt is in the midst of what many are calling a resurgence of conservativism and articles such as Bedair’s have continued to ignite the battle between the progressives and the more conservative.
Hani Qandeel, a local artist, who defined himself as a moderate Muslim, said he hopes people will understand that debate is important.
“We have people writing these kind of articles because they have to get attention or the conversation will not be had. We are stuck in our traditions where a woman cannot speak out and have her voice heard in many instances, so this is the only recourse,” he said.
For women, the issue of polygamy in the country and across the region, is an issue many would like to see disappear.
“We have long struggled to have our voices heard and the idea that women are subjected to this kind of behavior is appalling. We demand more people like Bedair speak out,” said 22-year-old Cairo University student Heba Allam.
BM
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No, polygamy should not be allowed for both men and women. It should be banned for both
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One thing to say: she has the right to think and express her thoughts. If anyone doesn’t like it, they can counter that thought using articles and campaigns. The constitution and the law shouldn’t take one side or the other. Those are the ABC’s of democracy.
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yes, if it is banned for both it is better.. but if it is allowed for men , then women too have the right to polygamy!
this is just stupid.. the whole thing from the beginning is based on misogyny !
First, the possibility of having more than one wife isn´t there for men to have more fun after they are bored by their wife. It is there for women to have the right to marry (there are more women then men in this world), it is there for more chances in her choice of husband. It is there also because some stupid men could leave their wives after falling in love with another women. So: polygamy is there to help women, not men!
Second, women are different than men. Even in the case of adultery they prefer to end one relationship befor begining the other one. It would be also complicated with the sexual intercourse: a man just washes himself and makes woodoo and he is clean but a woman would have to wash her inside which could be dangerous for her and not very effective. And what about the children? How could we know which man is the father? And when each man wants to have for example two children and a woman has four husbands, she would have to be pregnant 8 times and give birth to 8 children which is not healthy for her. Even no animals do this.
I am not writing to say it is ok when one man just needs a change; I only want to explain there is a need for polygamy in some cases.
To Joseph Mayton ,
How about your mama polygamy with me.
or I think your Sister with your Wife in addations your daughter Polygamy with me eather knowing or unknowing, is that your idea, and any kids unknowing, your wife she can Drop it in the street.
If you do not having real issue, stop to be Junky and Filthy!!!!!!!!!!!!
aske your self before you write any thing (( are this your Value, are that your Family Value)).
are this your Level of thinking? You having Planty of filthy issues, you do not need more!!!!!!!, I ccept what ever whom paying you to do that?
*
BLASPHEMY!!
Polygamy cannot be banned, as Allah and Muhammed granted it – and sex slaves – as a right to all Muslim men (NOT WOMEN!):
Koran (4:3) – “Marry of the women, who seem good to you, two or three or four; and if ye fear that ye cannot do justice (to so many) then one (only) or (the captive sex slaves) that your right hands possess.”
It is also well known that women don’t have equal rights because they are dumb, inferior to men and are chattel property owned by men explicitly for sexual servitude:
Koran (2:228) – “and the men are a degree above them [women]”
Bukhari (6:301) – “[Muhammad] said, ‘Is not the evidence of two women equal to the witness of one man?’ They replied in the affirmative. He said, ‘This is the deficiency in her intelligence.’”
Koran (2:223) – “Your wives (NOTE: “WIVES” not “WIFE”) are as a tilth unto you; so approach your tilth when or how ye will…”
Ishaq 969 – “Men were to lay injunctions on women lightly, for THEY WERE PRISONERS OF MEN AND HAD NO CONTROL OVER THEIR PERSONS.”
It seems as if Ms. Nadine al-Bedair is demanding that Muslims reject the commands of Allah, the teachings and examples of Muhammed, and rip a few disagreeable passages out of the Koran and the Ahadith.
As a PRISONER OF MEN, shouldn’t she should just shut up, put on her niqab and submit like a good Muslima to Allah, Muhammed and her owner-husband? ,
Maybe she needs a beating to correct her way of thinking (but just a light beating as recommended in Ibn Ishaq 969).
Remember: “A woman’s heaven is beneath her husband’s feet.”
Best regards,
~ The Infidel Alliance
This is a report of what the woman wrote and the response. Let’s think before we write comments, Mr. Ganzala.
Joseph, you are very gracious to leave Mr Ganzala’s very rude comment. If I were you, I would have definitely deleted it.
this is for infidel alliance:
you are right about one thing, those “quotes” are in the Quran, HOWEVER:
this would be a man-made religion which the rest of the population of the world has since EVOLVED from and by doing such, has found respect and intelligence among and between the sexes rather than by dividing them and keeping half the world in fear, women now are top educators, professors, engineers, doctors and lawyers. i would be safe to assume you hold none of those degrees? except the one for being a man of little mind? because anyone who cannot think for themselves, or have the common decency to see that changes and progress has been made by people from all walks of life around this world over the past 2,000 years, including all the contributions made by women of high rank and fields, deserves to be burdened a poor mans life! and as you have nothing more to go on except thinking you are owed a sex-slave servitude because you are a man, that makes you even more of an inconsequential gnat on the butt of bad society.
now, i do not agree that women should marry more than one man, but i ALSO do not believe man should marry more than one woman. the reasons are plain and simple: no one can truly love and respect more than one human at any given time with all their heart. i also believe that to make a strong marriage, you need to be able to focus on that someone special you have chosen to marry in the first place. there is no room for a “third person” as it will always and only cause interference. and do the words AIDS/HIV, herpes, hepatitis, chlamidia, venereal diseases and others mean anything to you?
as for the only real reason men would want this is because they do get bored with their wife. so instead of looking to “dip your stick” elsewhere, why not work on strengthening your marriage? if it doesn’t work out, you can divorce if necessary. but i think the efforts of trying to work out any marriage difficulties is worth everything, especially when it proves best for eveyone.
one more note: if a man wants to make sure who his children belong to, then keep it in your pants and share with your one wife only! if you neglect her, she too will become bored at home. and women don’t have to put up with the lousy way some men treat their wife!
the old adage still rings true….while the cats’ away, the mice will play! satisfy your wife better and you will not get bored! a woman will give only as good as she receives! if sex is bad in the bedroom, she too will look elsewhere! and if you men are out dallying around, she will not sit by and be complacent!
Hey Infidel!
Told u be4 and tell u again:
Face it that u r a mono-thematic troll, a poor fellow of human race who simply hates Islam and Muslims. That’s ok with me as it’s u’re problem.
But have the guts to face it, admit it and stop the bulls**t decoration!
Your mantra: Islam is evil.
Your credo: coz of 1 guy all Muslim are rapists, murderers, etc. like in Nazi Germany the Jews.
Your final line: all the evil of the world comes from Islam
Incitement in its purest form and non-stop.
Surprise to me that this is allowed.
You speak for oppressed people or something like that?
Friend why then don’t u speak for our women who are harassed by the Modesty Patrol in Jerusalem and beaten up coz of them wearing half-sleeves?
The women folks having to sit in the back of the bus?
The women folks having to shave their hair after marriage and wear the “sheitl�
Or the pot hat?
Our bearded guys who go on rampage and destroy video shops coz they are “evil�
Ur Rabbis (I distance myself) calling for the killing of all gentiles?
All in the name of the religion?
The settlers driving in fancy Mercedes over wounded Palis back and forth and police stand by and do nothing? The world press not even allowed to report it only Israeli press and Jazeera did.
But this is too close to ur home right? I can smell a zionist a mile away.
They all have the same rotten odor.
Or would u like to start with Christians?
What counts is only todays action. Jews, Christians, Muslims. All.
Nohing else!
Ur action is evil. Shalom
Avi
Be4 I forget can’t u get anything right? Go check again who’s heaven is at who’s feet ad stop making up proverbs and sayings. Boy are u blinded by hate!
Dear “Avigdor”,
Monothematic? Quite the contrary. My commentaries address many varied topics. I find it remarkable, however, that so many of the pathologies that afflict Egypt and the Islamic world have their roots firmly planted in the Koran and the teachings, mandates and examples of Muhammed.
It is undeniable that Islamic cultures and societies arestructured and morally centered around Muhammed and his Koran. Thus, when we find articles about misogyny, intolerance, oppression, killing, torture, decapitation, amputation, stoning, honor killing, acid attacks, apartheid, hate, terror, brutality, rape, slavery, etc., I wonder if it is in spite of Islam or because of Islam.
When we find that the teachings of the Koran clearly sanction these atrocities, and that the ‘holy prophet’ of Islam, Muhammed, personally perpetrated each and every one of these vile and repugnant behaviors, is it unreasonable to think that the followers of Muhammed and his book would engage in the same vile and repugnant behavior, or that these behaviors would be institutionalized within Islamic societies?
I do think Islam is evil, but I don’t hate Muslims. I know that Muslims are the biggest victims of this oppressive, violent ideology, which denies them freedom of speech, freedom of though, freedom of conscience, freedom of assembly, and forces them to submit to an apartheid world of hate.
If there are similar evils in other religions, I stand against them too. But no other religion has unending universal holy war as its prime directive, and no other religion is actively engaged in this religious world war. Islam does and Islam is. That is why my focus is on Islam, not Buddhism, Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, Sikhism, etc.
You can attack me as a “troll” if you wish. I understand it’s easier to do that than to think critically about Islam and the man who set the moral standard for Islam? Yes, Muhammed. He’s the man directly responsible for the subjugation of infidels around the globe, and the oppression of Muslim people.
Best regards,
~ The Infidel Alliance
P.S. – Dear “lisamey”, I think you misunderstand my comments. I don’t stand for polygamy, but was simply showing how it is a moral foundation of Islam, explicitly expressed in the Koran and practiced as an example of higher human morality by Muhammed (who had 11 – 13 wives and numerous sex slaves).
“The constitution and the law shouldn’t take one side or the other. Those are the ABC’s of democracy.”
Well said.
TO: The Infidel Alliance, #11 Egyptian 19 December 2009 1:36 PM and Mr.Joseph Mayton.
Whay you guy’s having to much enemy and hatter to all Muslims & I slam, this are harassment .
Are your Christianity and the Gospel/ your Book tech you that??????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I was right when I say this Filthy Conversation, and as #10 “admin” 19 December 2009 10:34 AM said This is a report of what the woman wrote and the response. we can assume this happen, you can tell this HO** she can have many if that her life or her Value or she can open “Hoo* house” with out invalving of any Religion ((Christians or Islam)). you guy’s in Egypt having problem with your heads& Hearts.
* you guy’s go get off your Fat A**s and Clean your Street and your Country, Or Do Voluntary work for your comunity and country and there are hundreds of variety work you can do.
* Are you did solved all your real problem and you having time for this Junks.
* Are you guy’s can Feed your self yet, you are NOT self-sufficient because this one Example of how you are?????!!!! Forther more You can NOT grow your OWN Food, Lazy People and Hopless.
Think about it, and leave the religion alon and stay out off it.
[...] Bikya Masr brought both teams: Sheikh Mohamed Gama’i argued that in the Qur’an, there is a reason for polygamy, and said that, “…no woman has the right to attack our traditions in this manner. She should be stopped.†[...]
[...] Bikya Masr: Egypt: women should have right to polygamy article causes stir [...]
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No religion is evil. Let’s begin with that.
BUT, I personally feel that all Religious books and texts have been tampered with. So, yes I think the Holy Koran is not in it’s actual form but edited by sick, perverted men, in this case. Same thing with the Bible (why so many testaments?), the Gita (the supposedly ‘true form’ of the Gita is written by a man who wants to gather followers, just like the legions of ‘godmen’ out to cheat people in India’).