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Sun Nov 22
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    Somali Insurgents Impose A Version Of Islamic Law Called "Anti-Woman"

    Iranians Question Women's Ability To Manage

    Hillary Clinton, Women's Rights, & Colluding With Global Misogyny

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    Image of sydbarrettsaves, emissary of hell sydbarrettsaves, emissary of hell
    11/03/09

    In reply to Somali Insurgents Impose A Version Of Islamic Law Called "Anti-Woman"
    Cultural relativism, give me strength. #somalia
     Reply
    sydbarrettsaves, emissary of hell was starred sydbarrettsaves, emissary of hell was unstarred
    Image of aureliajones aureliajones
    11/03/09

    @sydbarrettsaves, emissary of hell: You're not serious, are you? #somalia
     Reply
    sydbarrettsaves, emissary of hell promoted this comment aureliajones was starred aureliajones was unstarred
    Image of sydbarrettsaves, emissary of hell sydbarrettsaves, emissary of hell
    11/03/09

    @aureliajones: /sarcasm. #somalia
     Reply
    sydbarrettsaves, emissary of hell was starred sydbarrettsaves, emissary of hell was unstarred
    Image of aureliajones aureliajones
    11/03/09

    @sydbarrettsaves, emissary of hell: hahahahaha. I was so scared that it was genuine. You rule. I'm dumb. And again, you rule. #somalia
     Reply
    aureliajones was starred aureliajones was unstarred
    Image of MerryLilly MerryLilly
    11/03/09

    In reply to Somali Insurgents Impose A Version Of Islamic Law Called "Anti-Woman"
    Playing soccer is banned? What does it have to do with anything?

    I don't agree with the other restrictions either, but I can somewhat see where they are coming from.
     Reply
    Edited by MerryLilly at 11/03/09 11:37 AM MerryLilly was starred MerryLilly was unstarred
    Image of yvanehtnioj yvanehtnioj
    11/03/09

    @MerryLilly: Enlighten me, then. #somalia
     Reply
    yvanehtnioj was starred yvanehtnioj was unstarred
    Image of MerryLilly MerryLilly
    11/03/09

    @yvanehtnioj: Obviously I don't agree with the restrictions at all. But I can imagine that dancing and movies are banned due to "moral" issues, etc. However what "harm" could they see in playing soccer? The whole thing is becoming kinda pointless. #somalia
     Reply
    MerryLilly was starred MerryLilly was unstarred
    Image of sydbarrettsaves, emissary of hell sydbarrettsaves, emissary of hell
    11/03/09

    @MerryLilly: Typically women are allowed to play soccer if they are part of women only teams with female spectators. Apparently it is inappropriate for men to watch them in compromising positions, probably due to their athletic clothing etc. It seems these laws have just gotten more restrictive. #somalia
     Reply
    sydbarrettsaves, emissary of hell was starred sydbarrettsaves, emissary of hell was unstarred
    Image of MerryLilly MerryLilly
    11/03/09

    @sydbarrettsaves, emissary of hell: Thanks for the reply! Wow, that's sad. Couldn't they just prevent men from watching these games? I mean, this was one of the few fun and empowering things these women could do :( #somalia
     Reply
    MerryLilly was starred MerryLilly was unstarred
    Image of JerseyGrrrl JerseyGrrrl
    11/03/09

    In reply to Somali Insurgents Impose A Version Of Islamic Law Called "Anti-Woman"
    "We have taken this step after we recognized that women need to stay in their homes and take care of their children," Maalim Daaud Mohmed, the chairman of Balad Hawa, told reporters.

    Revolutionary thinking, huh? I guess it sounds better than that the wimmins wer gettin' too equal. #somalia
     Reply
    JerseyGrrrl was starred JerseyGrrrl was unstarred
    Image of CherriSpryte CherriSpryte
    11/03/09

    In reply to Somali Insurgents Impose A Version Of Islamic Law Called "Anti-Woman"
    Anyone know the names of the three organizations? #somalia
     Reply
    CherriSpryte was starred CherriSpryte was unstarred
    Image of snobographer snobographer
    11/03/09

    @CherriSpryte:
    [www.reuters.com]
    "The organisations closed by al Shabaab are the Halgan Businesswomen's Organisation, the Sed Huro Human Rights Organisation and Farhan Woman for Peace, he said."

    There's also a story from Oct in which Somali insurgents* have been publicly whipping women for wearing bras. Depressingly, but not surprisingly, a couple outlets made that story into a joke and then never mentioned it again.

    *How are these dickheads "insurgents" if they have the authority to impose laws and close down organizations? They're sounding a lot like the Taliban in the 1990s.

    I want to do something, but I don't know what would help. Anybody have any ideas? #somalia
     Reply
    Dodai promoted this comment snobographer was starred snobographer was unstarred
    Image of CherriSpryte CherriSpryte
    11/03/09

    @snobographer: They're insurgents because hypothetically, the Transitional Federal Government is governing Somalia. When in fact, they're doing jack shit - they have no control or power. In the absence of an actual government, "insurgents" or "rebels" or "who's claiming this land as their own this week" have been imposing laws - such as no bra-wearing. They can do this because nobody is bothering to tell them not to.
    As far as what you can do, there's VERY little aid getting to Somalia these days. [www.foreignpolicy.com]
    It looks like World Food Programme's still there, so donate to them if you can.
    The organization I work for supports several independent media houses in Somalia, so if you happen to want information on that, (and your heart broken on a semi-annual basis), you can get direct information here: [www.nusoj.org]
    But I don't think there's any way to donate directly to that group. #somalia
     Reply
    CherriSpryte was starred CherriSpryte was unstarred
    Image of CherriSpryte CherriSpryte
    11/03/09

    @snobographer: Oh also, thank you greatly for finding out the organization names. #somalia
     Reply
    CherriSpryte was starred CherriSpryte was unstarred
    Image of snobographer snobographer
    11/03/09

    @CherriSpryte: Thanks for the info. I'll bookmark your org and make a donation to the WFP.
    If there's anything there like RAWA, or an org that can get aid directly to the women there, somebody please let me know. #somalia
     Reply
    snobographer was starred snobographer was unstarred
    Image of snobographer snobographer
    11/03/09

    @CherriSpryte: The FMF website says the insurgents are planning to close down 5 more organizations, but they won't say the names of those orgs. #somalia
     Reply
    snobographer was starred snobographer was unstarred
    Image of CherriSpryte CherriSpryte
    11/03/09

    @snobographer: Note about NUSOJ - I don't work there, I work for one of their funders.

    In terms of women's groups, there's a well-respected organization called "Save Somali Women and Children" - www.sswcsom.org - that is doing amazing work, but I don't know about ways to donate to them. #somalia
     Reply
    CherriSpryte was starred CherriSpryte was unstarred
    Image of Trulymadlyme Trulymadlyme
    11/03/09

    In reply to Somali Insurgents Impose A Version Of Islamic Law Called "Anti-Woman"
    Uh, I guess these guys don't know who the Mad Mullah was and history. Islamic fundamentalism is basically a massive fail in Somali society because of its distinct culture. It just doesn't translate.

    [en.wikipedia.org]

    It's a fucked up place, mainly due to being run by various violent factions, but I actually seem to recall someone trying this recently and people being like, "uh, I can't watch soccer? Pass." Also, dancing, music, and poetry are part & parcel of this culture.

    I'm more curious as to whether the "Islamic" fundamentalist factions are trying to assert their power because there is currently a massive power struggle over who exactly gets to hold that white British couple hostage.
     Reply
    Edited by Trulymadlyme at 11/03/09 11:14 AM Trulymadlyme was starred Trulymadlyme was unstarred
    Image of CherriSpryte CherriSpryte
    11/03/09

    @Trulymadlyme: Except its not a total fail. The Union of Islamic Courts had control of most of the south of the country for awhile in 2006, and, while repressive, there was peace for the first time in 15 years. Until US-backed Ethiopia invaded, but that's a different story. Al-Shabab is an offshoot of the remnanats of UIC, and they're the ones imposing these laws. #somalia
     Reply
    CherriSpryte was starred CherriSpryte was unstarred
    Image of Trulymadlyme Trulymadlyme
    11/03/09

    @CherriSpryte: My understanding of the Union of Islamic Courts was that while they did have control over certain parts of the Southern portion of the country for a brief period, they lost it and other factions took over. Plus, I seemed to recall that there was a lot of flux among the various groups that had control over the various portions of the Southern Somalia over the past 20 years. They were all violent and horrible and corrupt but some just use the tag of "Islamic" to throw down an additional helping of horrible.

    Then again, I could be wrong since my family was from the northern part of the country which was somewhat more quiet and they all seemed to have gotten this info third hand.
     Reply
    Edited by Trulymadlyme at 11/03/09 11:31 AM Trulymadlyme was starred Trulymadlyme was unstarred
    Image of sydbarrettsaves, emissary of hell sydbarrettsaves, emissary of hell
    11/03/09

    @Trulymadlyme: Ever heard of Sharia law? Somalia has it. #somalia
     Reply
    sydbarrettsaves, emissary of hell was starred sydbarrettsaves, emissary of hell was unstarred
    Image of Trulymadlyme Trulymadlyme
    11/03/09

    @sydbarrettsaves, emissary of hell: Parts of it may currently or have in the past had Sharia but Sharia in and of itself is not Wahabism and the manner in which it is implemented across the board varies dramatically.

    Also, this point cannot be stated enough: Somalia is a clan oriented society in which governs the manner in which the vast majority of people conduct their dealings, and the various, changing groups that wield power are violent, driven by resources/greed, and lack even a passing relationship with Islam, Sharia or Wahabism (which truthfully is what this article is referring to). Could there be Wabaism oppressing people there? Of course. In terms of the myriad of fucked up things in that society, it's just another janked piece of the puzzle. #somalia
     Reply
    Trulymadlyme was starred Trulymadlyme was unstarred
    Image of sydbarrettsaves, emissary of hell sydbarrettsaves, emissary of hell
    11/03/09

    @Trulymadlyme: I do not mean to suggest that Islamic fundamentalism is the only destructive factor in Somalia. However, I did want to point out that it is successful to an extent as it was only recently introduced in 2009 and the parliament now votes in accordance with its principles.

    EDIT [edition.cnn.com]
     Reply
    Edited by sydbarrettsaves, emissary of hell at 11/03/09 12:46 PM sydbarrettsaves, emissary of hell was starred sydbarrettsaves, emissary of hell was unstarred
    Image of CherriSpryte CherriSpryte
    11/03/09

    @sydbarrettsaves, emissary of hell: Islamic fundamentalism was in Somalia way before 2009. And the parliament is ineffective at best, so it doesn't so much matter how they're voting. #somalia
     Reply
    CherriSpryte was starred CherriSpryte was unstarred
    Image of CherriSpryte CherriSpryte
    11/03/09

    @Trulymadlyme: UIC lost control of the south, particularly Mogadishu, because the TFG invited Ethiopia in to kick them (the UIC) out. It wasn't internal fighting, or anything clan-related, in that particular moment. Agreed, since Barre was ousted, lots of different groups have controlled, or tried to control, the south. And no one's succeeded for long. But UIC was the most stable system they'd had in a little while, and the fact that they were attacked because of the "growing fundamentalist threat in the Horn of Africa" is fucked up. #somalia
     Reply
    CherriSpryte was starred CherriSpryte was unstarred
    Image of sydbarrettsaves, emissary of hell sydbarrettsaves, emissary of hell
    11/03/09

    @CherriSpryte: I am aware that Islamic fundamentalism has existed prior to 2009 in Somalia. But the fact that the parliament disregarded more progressive law for tribal alternatives demonstrates its increasing significance in the region. #somalia
     Reply
    sydbarrettsaves, emissary of hell was starred sydbarrettsaves, emissary of hell was unstarred
    Image of Trulymadlyme Trulymadlyme
    11/04/09

    @sydbarrettsaves, emissary of hell: Again: tribal law =/= Wahabism law. #somalia
     Reply
    Trulymadlyme was starred Trulymadlyme was unstarred
    Image of morninggloria morninggloria
    11/03/09

    In reply to Somali Insurgents Impose A Version Of Islamic Law Called "Anti-Woman"
    Oh, Somalia. What a libertarian paradise! #somalia
     Reply
    morninggloria was starred morninggloria was unstarred
    Image of AlmostDream AlmostDream
    11/03/09

    @morninggloria: Ha, that's basically my response anytime someone claims to be a libertarian. "You know where you can be free from all this terrible 'government control of everything'? Somalia. Have fun!"

    Being that the only people who ever say this to me are white males, that tends to shut them up pretty quickly. #somalia
     Reply
    AlmostDream was starred AlmostDream was unstarred
    Image of nyc-caribbean-ragazza nyc-caribbean-ragazza
    11/03/09

    @morninggloria:

    I love when people say they don't want ANY government. Usually these are middle-class to well-off Americans. I can understand less government, but no government?

    I suggest someone drop their butts in a country where there is no working/central government and see how they like it. #somalia
     Reply
    nyc-caribbean-ragazza was starred nyc-caribbean-ragazza was unstarred
    Image of nothanks nothanks
    11/03/09

    @AlmostDream: I'm confused, how can somalia be libertarian if women are being forced to do things against their will? i dont know a lot about the politics of the country #somalia
     Reply
    yvanehtnioj promoted this comment nothanks was starred nothanks was unstarred
    Image of yvanehtnioj yvanehtnioj
    11/03/09

    @nothanks: Libertarian != Liberal

    Libertarians claim they don't want any government interference at all. (What most of the jackasses that claim to be libertarian in the US mean is that they do want all of the benefits, like schools and roads and fire departments, but they don't want to pay taxes.) #somalia
     Reply
    yvanehtnioj was starred yvanehtnioj was unstarred
    Image of sydbarrettsaves, emissary of hell sydbarrettsaves, emissary of hell
    11/03/09

    @yvanehtnioj: My boss is a libertarian. Yesterday he tried to make me read an argument made by Ron Paul about our economy, and how its collapse was not related to capitalism in any way. I tried to explain to him why this assertion was fictitious, as it disregarded the multiple mechanisms which allow our society to function, but to no avail. #somalia
     Reply
    sydbarrettsaves, emissary of hell was starred sydbarrettsaves, emissary of hell was unstarred
    Image of marciax3 marciax3
    11/03/09

    In reply to Somali Insurgents Impose A Version Of Islamic Law Called "Anti-Woman"
    This effort will fail. Have y'all met Somali women? They don't play this shit. #somalia
     Reply
    Trulymadlyme promoted this comment marciax3 was starred marciax3 was unstarred
    Image of RubyPenelope RubyPenelope
    11/03/09

    In reply to Somali Insurgents Impose A Version Of Islamic Law Called "Anti-Woman"
    Groups will do anything to gain power and terrorizing people and imposing insane regulations is a by product of their quest for power not religious purity or anything else. #somalia
     Reply
    stacyinbean promoted this comment RubyPenelope was starred RubyPenelope was unstarred
    Image of linnyt is a walking cliché linnyt is a walking cliché
    11/03/09

    In reply to Somali Insurgents Impose A Version Of Islamic Law Called "Anti-Woman"
    That is just too disgusting. Where is the humanity in some people? #somalia
     Reply
    linnyt is a walking cliché was starred linnyt is a walking cliché was unstarred
    Image of PetiteGal PetiteGal
    11/03/09

    In reply to Somali Insurgents Impose A Version Of Islamic Law Called "Anti-Woman"
    The same thing could happen here if too many right-wing extremists get their way. #somalia
     Reply
    HannahBethD promoted this comment PetiteGal was starred PetiteGal was unstarred
    Image of shoroko shoroko
    08/24/09

    In reply to Iranians Question Women's Ability To Manage
    Tell that to Khadija.
     Reply
    Cunning_Linguist promoted this comment shoroko was starred shoroko was unstarred
    Image of Bgirl_Hamster Bgirl_Hamster
    08/24/09

    In reply to Iranians Question Women's Ability To Manage
    Sounds like old objections in America over women managers.

    I will consider these objections "old" on the day that a female is voted into the White House.
     Reply
    Bgirl_Hamster was starred Bgirl_Hamster was unstarred
    Image of Pizza!Pizza!Pizza! Pizza!Pizza!Pizza!
    08/24/09

    @Bgirl_Hamster: And when I don't continue to hear them from business guys with a few drinks in them.
     Reply
    Pizza!Pizza!Pizza! was starred Pizza!Pizza!Pizza! was unstarred
    Image of keldo keldo
    08/24/09

    In reply to Iranians Question Women's Ability To Manage
    It's a good thing my husband, my ex and my son are not conservative clerics. Otherwise none of their lives would be managed. All kidding aside, without me no bills would be paid, no income taxes filed, no FAFSA forms filled out and certainly no toilet paper for weeks on end.

    Women can manage. Look around.
     Reply
    keldo was starred keldo was unstarred
    Image of lolababy lolababy
    08/18/09

    In reply to Hillary Clinton, Women's Rights, & Colluding With Global Misogyny
    1. Women are the choosier sex. It gives them greater biological power.
    2. Men are biologically determined to procreate. In order to do that, they need to limit that power.
    3. No country in the history of the world has ever been truly stable, in every way the US government cares about, while its women do not have at least the capacity to be autonomous.

    You don't have to give a fuck about poor, black/brown/yellow/chartreuse women, DOD/Powers That Be, but you need to recognize that these are unavoidable biological facts that you cannot continue to ignore.
     Reply
    Edited by lolababy at 08/18/09 5:07 PM lolababy was starred lolababy was unstarred
    Image of Scribblenerd Scribblenerd
    08/18/09

    In reply to Hillary Clinton, Women's Rights, & Colluding With Global Misogyny
    The plight of women around the world is ALWAYS dismissed as trivial. After all, people care more about the animals Michael Vick abused than the women that he (and other athletes) abuse.
     Reply
    Cunning_Linguist promoted this comment Scribblenerd was starred Scribblenerd was unstarred
    Image of Cunning_Linguist Cunning_Linguist
    08/18/09

    @Scribblenerd: Exactly. I just can not understand why women's rights are usually relegated below animal rights in terms of attention and importance to so many people.
     Reply
    Cunning_Linguist was starred Cunning_Linguist was unstarred
    Image of Jen82 Jen82
    08/18/09

    @Scribblenerd: SO true! I was debating about this with a co-worker -- he is a sports fan and is outraged that Michael Vick is getting a second shot and I was less surprised and I mentioned that athletes are accused/convicted of rape and sexual assault frequently and they always get to have their comeback. He then told me that what Michael Vick did was worse than rape and my head exploded.
     Reply
    Vivien Smith-Smythe-Smith promoted this comment Edited by Jen82 at 08/18/09 1:39 PM Jen82 was starred Jen82 was unstarred
    Image of Vivien Smith-Smythe-Smith Vivien Smith-Smythe-Smith
    08/18/09

    @Jen82: Guys, this issue has been discussed to the death before on Jez, and it's easiest probably to just state that both are of equal importance, and that supporting one should not have to be to the detriment of the other. Comparing oppressions is something that nobody ever wins.
     Reply
    Vivien Smith-Smythe-Smith was starred Vivien Smith-Smythe-Smith was unstarred
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