Questioning honour

There are often numerous elaborated discussions in British newspapers in relation to the experiences of women in society, in particular when it comes to such topics as identity and sexuality. In recent periods there has also been a preoccupation with issues of Muslim masculinity and the question of violence, towards society in general, and towards Muslim women in particular.

It appears one view is in complete opposition to the other. There is a diametric relationship between identity, sexuality, violence and gender. Muslim women are represented as pro-integration if only the Muslim women would free themselves from the chains of suppression that bind them to a repressive male-dominated Muslim culture. But, these Muslim women are seen as positive to society, particularly when once liberated sexually.

Muslim men are regarded as anti-integration and restrictive of Muslim women or anti-women per se. They are also seen as negative to society, as their actions can lead not just to internal angst within their respective communities but also in relation to wider society, in which Muslim men are an implacable threat. This danger is presented at one level as one of culture but another as one of the political when it comes to questions of violence, extremism and terrorism.
 
In trying to counter these negative representations and in being able to say something meaningful about the question of honour, violence, women and Islam in societies today, my colleague Maz Idriss and I have jointly edited a book on this very subject.

We look at case studies in India, Sweden, Turkey, Canada, the UK and others. All the contributions, apart from Maz Idriss and I as editors and writers of two of the chapters, are from women. Writers explore questions of sociology, law, Qur'anic hermeneutics and policy. We conclude that honour-related violence affects all societies, but it is certainly an issue in Muslim communities, east and west.

We also take the brave step of interpreting the Qur'an and question the often-misunderstood verses in relation to what is regarded as legitimation of violence towards women. And that, as Muslim men, we need to re-look at our own actions, and we need to remain aware of their implications in relation to Muslim women at all times.

Muslim men have a major role fighting the fight against violence (symbolic, physical, etc.) against Muslim women. It is important to understand these issues in a socio-legal context. Our book is just one attempt to continue to engage with an ever-evolving debate.
 
 

'Honour, Violence, Women and Islam' (edited by MM Idriss and T Abbas) was published in paperback by Routledge on 30 September 2011.