Malay woman refused right to marry under Sharia
Sharia law claims that anyone who converts from Islam is to be considered an apostate, and in some countries this is punishable by death. In Malaysia, anyone born as an ethnic Malay is considered a Muslim from birth by default. Many believers in the Christian faith take on Christian names, shed their birth names, and meet in secret.
One woman, Lina Joy, is attempting to challenge the system by seeking a legal marriage with her Christian fiance. After five years, the proceedings are still going, and all involved in the case are under death threats. Finally, these stories are making their way into the mainstream news.
Bombing in Liberty Market
Last night as I was falling asleep, my friend Anita sent me an SMS warning me not to go out to the markets for the next few days as there had been a bombing in Liberty Market. Liberty is in the Gulberg area of Lahore, a short drive from where I live. Anita and I had been there a few weeks ago buying cloth for my wedding dress, and I had even gone there last week for an afternoon of shopping. It’s the closest market to me so it’s one I always end up going to. Sometimes I even do my grocery shopping in that area.
So turns out that there was a small homemade device that went off in a shoe store. Nobody was killed, only four people were injured and a lot of property damage incurred. Even cars parked outside the store were wrecked. It’s a miracle nobody was killed!I had planned on doing some shopping today but maybe it’s time to think of another plan….
See more here:
http://www.dawn.com/2006/08/30/top10.htm
Nobody is sure the motives of the bombing. A prominent leader of the Baloch resistance movement was recently killed, and some think that it may be connected to that incident. Others see it as a cry from the youth against the current military government and General Musharraf. More and more of the radicals and the MMA (religious alliance) are speaking out against the current government and asking the General to step down.
I don’t know what I’d do if there was any change in government. I’ve seen other countries where the army is so corrupt that it oppresses and takes advantage of the people, but here I’ve grown to trust the army. The officers I’ve met are very respectable and have the best interest of the people in mind. Even one of my close friends, a Major from Sialkot, was wounded while trying to keep down Balochi separatists outside Quetta. In my opinion, the only thing keeping any order in this country is the military and it’s good to have someone in charge who’s not an extremist.
When Musharraf came to power he restored all the schools which were formerly Christian schools back to the missionaries. Under Zia they had all been Islamized. Even the buildings’ names were changed from the name of the missionaries to “Allama-Iqbal Hall” and “Quaid-al-Azam Auditorium.” A friend of mine told me that when Musharraf spoke at the Foreman Christian College commencement ceremony for the first time after coming to power, he urged them to change the names back to their original names. “Did Allama Iqbal do anything to create this university? Was it his work that founded this place? No, it was the missionaries. You are all praising the fanatics and the relgious leaders, what do they teach the children? How to roll up their shalwar (pants) and use a lotta (for cleansing before prayer)? On the other hand, the missionaries are the same ones who took a boy from the street and could make him president?”
(paraphrase of Gen Musharaf through several people…not original quote)
Bahria Town
Today I went to visit Bahria Town, a new suburb of Lahore. Well the Lahoris seem to know just how to do suburban life. Walking through the streets and parks I thought I was in a wealthy housing colony in South Carlonia. Complete with it’s own school, gym, shopping malls, a mini Trafalgar Square, wooden playgrounds, security men on horseback, fountains, street lights, newly paved road, villas, mansions, kids riding bicyles in the street…..and people who don’t stare!
The goal of the developers was to make a place where people could live in a “western style” environment at low cost. I’m guessing the rent for a 3 bedroom luxury villa is less than $300/month, but I’ll have to go meet with the property developers to find out. There is a trend now that people who can afford it are moving outside the city along the canal where there are many new housing schemes going up. We passed about 15 different ones on the way to Bahria Town, which was about a 40 minute drive from my current flat.
The 8 Marla Villas overlooking Trafalgar Square
Women’s Meeting – Sialkot
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He even makes his own tea…
Once I was out to eat with a woman named Nadia. She and her husband have two small children. One boy age 4 and one age 2. The 2-year old is quite naughty when they go out in public. He had already broken a glass, ran around the restaurant, and provoked his older brother to tears. Husband just sat there in the restaurant while Mom was taking care of the kids. When the food came, as the guest I was invited to serve myself first. Then Nadia served both the kids AND her husband before serving herself. She was barely able to eat while trying to get the naughty child to swallow some of his food, and Husband held out his empty plate, looked at her, and said, “Mix karte” (mix-do it). There’s no direct translation, but basically he wanted all the different kinds of food mixed for him on his plate. I wanted to ask him if he had some handicap that prevented him from lifting a serving spoon.
Memoona told me last night that was lucky to have a husband who helped around the house. “Most men in Pakistan would never make tea for themselves. They don’t even know how to do it. In our house we don’t have any servants and we both work. My friends can’t believe that we do all the housework on our own, but it gets done. It’s hard to keep servants in Lahore becasue you can’t trust them. Sometimes they steal from you and then run away. You’ll never find them again. In the mornings most men sit and wait for their breakfast to be prepared and their shirt pressed. They expect their briefcase packed, their shoes by the door, and their wife smiling as she waves goodbye to him. When he comes home, we wants dinner prepared and served to him. At our house my husband will help make the kids’ lunches in the morning. Other men might not respect him because he does these things, but I know I’m very lucky to have such a husband. It is so rare here in Pakistan.”
Punjab’s Lost Girls
Coming of Age in Pakistan: The Proposals
Insane Train
Apparently in Karachi an insane man stole a train and drove it madly through two stations. How did this happen? Well the crew of the train were on their tea break….how else? And they wonder why they are unable to prevent bombings and other things when people can easily drive off with the trains…..
See the story on BBC News:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/5279428.stm
Dr. Michelle
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