Surrender of the society to madness

Misogynist tendencies in a patriarchal system like Pakistan are not an anomaly. They are a norm. For a country that ranks lowest in terms

From Muhammad Sharif Otho

Misogynist tendencies in a patriarchal system like Pakistan are not an anomaly. They are a norm. For a country that ranks lowest in terms of gender parity, the repeated assaults on women come as no surprise. But for the most part, the misogynistic fervor was attributed to ignorance, tribalism and conservatism. Only those who are uneducated, backward and distant from the mainstream of society were said to act viciously towards women. However, the recent case of Asghar Ali who murdered his wife showcases a complete surrender of Society to misogyny and madness.

Asghar Ali killed his wife with a rod. A woman who had given him four children and decades of her life was butchered because she refused to sleep with him once. Behind such a barbarism lies nothing but sheer oppression. A husband considers his wife as his property. A tool which he can use and dispose of at his will. The sad part is that all this is justified in the name of religion. The culprit stated that he had acted in exercise of his right over his wife. Such a claim is not only ignorant but also derogatory to the religious teachings of Islam. Islam confers mutual rights and obligations on both husband and wife. The Holy Prophet peace be upon him stated the best amongst the believers is one who is best to his wife. Oppression and tyranny, let alone killing innocent souls, are alien to Islam. However, most people, instead of considering him as a lunatic and deserving of severe punishment, considered him a champion of manhood and religion. People justified his behavior based on the same erroneous reasons.

Moreover, the law-enforcing agencies considered him as a guest. The police met him with velvet hands. Whereas, the lawyers vowed to defend him. Such lawyers and law-enforcing agencies are a blot on the profession that promises to safeguard rights of the aggrieved. Such professionals are disloyal to their profession, religion and constitution. What matters for them is the pseudo sense of manhood. This also reveals the sickening mentality of people who are supposedly the guardians of law. Additionally, the opinion on social media was also divided. People even made jokes and memes on the matter. Some reiterated the very reasons that the old heretic repeated.

In short, misogyny has become imbibed in the very bones of the country and it requires urgent treatment. It is a complete psychological surrender to ignorance. In reality, there is a lack of fear in men who think they can do anything with the vulnerable, especially women and get away in the name of religion or honor. They are the culprit for assaulting women and tarnishing the name of Islam and Pakistan. They should be dealt with iron hands. Additionally, the law-enforcing agencies and bar councils must also take severe action against those who assisted him. Religious scholars have the duty to address the misrepresentation and misuse of Islam for commission of crimes. The state must treat the culprit with iron first. This mass madness must be dealt with urgent attention focusing the spheres of society, law and politics. For a society that fails its women is a failed society.