WaPo 'On Faith': More Muslim Nations Should Follow Bangladesh's Example

washingtonpost.com:

This ruling is a direct blow against religious authorities who issue fatwa based upon their understanding of Shari'ah law. Bangladeshi civil rights groups are, rightfully, hailing the verdict as a victory for rule of law, and for women's rights, as fatwa are disproportionately made against women.

Read the whole story: washingtonpost.com

Comments

[InTheSouth]

09:39 PM on 07/14/2010

Great move and wise step, more to go. Liberate women in a country and it will prosper. Liberate a country from religious oppression and it will soar.

[TYRANNASAURUS]

06:22 PM on 07/14/2010

NOW WHAT THEY NEED TO PASS IS........A sterilization law so as to be able to work their way out of being a basket case dirt (or should I say swamp, wet lands? poor ignorant country.

[FrAntonyH]

08:52 AM on 07/14/2010

Good news! Separate of church/mosque/synagogue/temple and state is necessary for the common good.

[holyheretic]

01:17 PM on 07/14/2010

Marked as favorite.

[Usama]

03:37 AM on 07/14/2010

Childlike knowledge of the world, many folks have.
Hindistan/India was split into 3 nations wherein the Muslims of all three would be dominated by the Hindus of India: Pakistan, East Bengal, and India. East Bengal became East Pakistan and was legally part of Pakistan, but the absurdity was always obvious- 1600 kms apart separated by India, the enemy?
How could a Islamabad rule East Pakistan when it was literally surrounded and under India? India was always going to have greater influence over Bangladesh than Pakistan because of geography. And such absurdity is rightly attributed to the treachery of Jinnah and his gang and the British.
Its quite noteworthy that many Muslim scholars, such as those from Deoband, were AGAINST the formation of Pakistan and the Partition. Many recognized it to be a conspiracy and Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan, was a secular lawyer from Britain.

Im quite aware of Bangladesh, but you childlike spoiled imperialists are reaching for anything you can to keep hold as your empire washes down the hole.

[julian101]

02:13 PM on 07/14/2010

This really upsets you Usama. You salafist imperialist.

[jjdrma]

11:07 PM on 07/13/2010

a step in the right direction, Bravo. Bangladesh must remain free of Pakistans shadow. The later remains worlds nucleus of terrorism and extremism a blot in south asia.

[holyheretic]

07:42 PM on 07/13/2010

Hallelujah!

MY BLASPHEMOUS BLOG
In the East God Won - The high cost of organized ignorance.
Michael Pieracci, Ph.D., Religion Instructor: “Holy heretic’s insight is indeed profound.”
http://whengodwins.blogspot.com/

[Usama]

08:50 AM on 07/13/2010

BTW, most Muslim nations WERE secular under colonial rule and right after it. Most Muslim nations were CREATED by the colonial empires who selected and propped up elites and the militaries to defend them against the people. It was called DIVIDE AND CONQUER and KEEP THEM DIVIDED AND WEAK. The new secular nationalist regimes tried to keep the people under control by instituting a few laws that would satisfy them, little by little. But partial implementation is antithetical to Islam and results in oppression. And most of the Muslim people who are Sunni are moving in an Islamic resurgence forward to reimplement Islam entirely. Bangladesh is home of the largest Muslim organization and movement, Jamaatul Tabligh. It is nonviolent. However, the people will not tolerate a return to colonial occupation. They see how the West destroys Muslim societies and betray their trusts. So if the Bengali court ruling stands, it will cause greater unrest and further weaken the corrupt central government.

Why is HP dictating to the Muslim world how to live when America can't even solve its own problems or bring justice to their own people?

[julian101]

01:34 PM on 07/13/2010

Why are YOU dictating to Bangladesh people, when you obviously know little or nothing about its people or its history?

[Usama]

03:39 AM on 07/14/2010

Keep dreaming Julian. You need help finding it on the map? Can i get you a map?

[bbriani3842]

10:12 PM on 07/13/2010

Awwww, is your god offended?

[Usama]

08:18 AM on 07/13/2010

One of the poorest, most contrived, most despicable countries in the world carved out of British imperialism followed by Indian inspired secession. 158 million people living in a nation smaller than Iowa. The secular regime in Bangledesh has allowed for 10s of 1000s of its people die each year in flooding and obscenely and criminally poor infrastructure and governance.

The central government is corrupted, poor, and has indebted the nation by following the World Banks plans over the past 20 years. People instituted "religious authority" because of the absolute failure of the central government to do more than cater to corrupt elites who pilfer what little wealth there is. For elitist secular judges to then declare the 'religious authority' of whomever illegal is like Cartman saying "respect my authorita". Thinking this is a victory for secularism when its really an admittance of the failure of the corrupt government to gain the confidence of the people. This issue just draws a line in the sand and will likely lead to greater unrest.

Im not saying any yahoo can give fatwa and institute whipping, but Bangladesh as yet another British contrived secular nation is a disaster.

[julian101]

01:38 PM on 07/13/2010

The British didnt create Bangladesh. It became an independent country after a bloody civil war with Pakistan in 1971.

I'm sorry this hurts your narrative that all muslims are really salafists like you.

[Usama]

03:41 AM on 07/14/2010

Your redneck drunken vision of the world keeps you blinded from reality. Take a look at a map. And compare Bangladesh to America- how do the geographies differ?
Time for recess so you can down another redneck beer.

[Deep77]

04:29 PM on 07/13/2010

You do know what happened in 1971 do you? East Pakistan became Bangladesh. It was the Pakistanis who persecuted the Bengali speaking East. They were denied their right to speak their own language. Truth be known, Muslim Bangladeshis have more in common with Bengali Hindus living in West Bengal state than they do with Pakistanis. They share the same music, literature, food, customs, etc.

Bangladesh has made strides since 1971 and has even surpassed Pakistan in terms of standard of living. It had free and fair elections in 2008, where a woman won the election. It is home to the Nobel Laureate who enabled women to lift themselves out of poverty. Had Mohammed Yunus been born in Pakistan or some sort of Islamic State, then we would never have micro credit lending.

The "Cartman" you're talking about are the beards who run around waving the Koran telling people how to live.

[FreedomOnionSoup]

09:40 PM on 07/13/2010

You can't use facts to debate someone who has so obviously removed themselves from reality.

[Ghost803]

05:08 AM on 07/13/2010

Woot! woot! *Randomly swings arms around and runs.*