On Monday, FoxNews' website was running a story about a new surgical procedure sought by some Muslim brides: "hymenoplasties" or, that is, surgically restoring one's virginity by restoring a woman's hymen. [Source]The article relates the situation of one young Muslim woman, Aisha Salim. Being a modern English university graduate, she has experienced the temptations of the West -- she drank, smoke, had sex, and even lived with one of her former boyfriends.
Aisha is engaged to be married and now faces the fear that her devout Muslim family, or that of her groom's, will discover her secret. Therefore, she is willing to have the delicate and painful surgery so that on her wedding night, her groom can hand her blooded sheets to his family as proof of his bride's virginity. "If my husband cannot prove to his family that I am a virgin, I would be hounded, ostracised and sent home in disgrace,” said Salim.
“My father, who is a devout Muslim, would regard it as the ultimate shame. The entire family could be cast out from the friends and society they hold dear, and I honestly believe that one of my fanatically religious cousins or uncles might kill me in revenge, to purge them of my sins. Incredible as it may seem, honour killings are still accepted within our religion. "Ever since my family arranged this marriage for me, I've been terrified that, on my wedding night, my secret would come out. It has only been since my surgery last week that I've actually been able to sleep properly. Now, I can look forward to my marriage."
Salim gives an interesting account of her childhood in England:"I attended the local Catholic secondary school and although I wore a scarf on my head, I refused to wear a veil, telling my parents that it would make me stand out too much. I was one of the girls, totally accepted by my white, English friends whose lives revolved around shopping and fancying boys.
"But the moment I stepped over the doorstep, normal teenage life would cease and it was like entering an entirely different world. At home, we had to pray together five times a day. We weren't allowed to watch television. My parents were so worried that Western influences might take our minds off the most important things -- education and religion -- that we were never allowed to bring any school friends home. But it made all the things my friends did more attractive to me. I would sneak out on Saturday afternoons and join them in town, hanging around, shopping and chatting to boys," Salim added.
As a teacher in a public high school, we have a handful of covered Muslim girls. Reading this report makes me wonder about and worry for them. What fears do they face? How integrated are they in the school's climate, or must they, like Aisha, shut the door on their classmates when they return home? How much do their lives mirror those of my non-Muslim female students?[kmacginn via http://hummersandcigarettes.blogspot.com]
Source: News.com.au
Posts
