Azam Kamguian - April 24, 2017
Azam Kamguian expresses, “It is an undeniable fact that education is one of the most important cornerstones of all human societies. The way a society regards raising the next generation is reflected first and foremost in its educational system.”
This article posted on National Secular Society emphasises on how the Islam as a religion has hindered a child’s development, specifically Muslim girls who are born into this lifestyle. The findings are based on a research done in the Islamic Republic of Iran and express the injustice and child abuse that the Islamic faith has on girls in Iran and by extension the Middle East. The research places emphasis on the school curricula, sexual apartheid, secular education and the cultural dressing of Muslim girls and how these hinder them from developing.
School Curricula:
In various Middle Eastern countries religion (Islam) has a big impact on education and the school system. As a Middle Eastern country, Iran is a extreme case. In Iran the impact of religion on education is far from trivial. In Iran Islam rules in every aspect of education and school system. Belief in Islam and living according to Islamic values and norms and thoughts are pre- conditions for survival. Teaching the Quran and learning it is compulsory from the first year in primary schools. Teachers must pass a religious exam to be permitted to teach.
This has deprived and continues to deprive children from learning and experiencing scientific advancements. It kills their creativity and replaces curiosity and desire for learning with the dark rules and values of 1400 years ago at the time of Mohammed. Religious teaching regarding women is one of the most devastating aspects of the Islamic educational system in Iran. This teaches children that women are inferior to and equal to only half of a man, that women belong to men, that men have the right to punish their wives if they do not obey them and that women are the potential source of corruption in society so hijab should be imposed on them. This, without a doubt hinders children’s development.
Sexual Apartheid
In Iran sexual apartheid rules in every area of people’s lives. Girls and boys are separated right from beginning in schools. According to Islamic values, which are the basis of laws in Iran, women are accused of being the source of corrupting the community and the agent of leading men astray. For this “crime” they are controlled and punished from early childhood to the moment of death.
Girl pupils are under enormous pressure in school as well as in the society. The veil (hijab) is imposed on them by force. This deprives them of free movement, the ability to play and happiness and enjoyment in social activities. School authorities spy on girls to see if they wear make up, if they talk about boys or if they have the pictures of artists and so on.
Friendship among girls and boys is forbidden, considered as a sin and punishable. Girls are under strict scrutiny. Their talking, walking, laughing, dress and movement is controlled and monitored carefully. Teachers and principals punish girls physically and psychologically if their veil is not worn properly even while they play. Azam expresses that, “It is an offence to prevent children from enjoying their social and civil rights such as a secular education, amusement and participation in social activities specific to children. Islamic education in Iran as well as other countries under Islamic rule is systematic child abuse.”
Why is this considered child abuse? There are set laws for children that declares the rights that children are entitled to; however, children (especially girls) in Islamic countries are not granted their basic rights simply because of primitive religious beliefs. For instance, Muslim girls are not allowed to have a social life with children of the opposite sex, they are not allowed to choose what they want to do with their lives simply because they are programmed to believe that they must submit to men and simply be used in society. As a result of this type of socialization, these children eventually accept this, for obvious reasons because it is taught at all school in Iran (an institution used to control girls, rather than to empower them). This definitely hinders the development of children because they are not given the chance to grow, to play, to be curios, to explore…simply because of a religion that they not even chose to be a part of. The fact that they are not allowed to choose their own religion says a lot.
How can we as an international community amend this? Society’s duty is to defend the rights of children. We should demand that there must be a reform in Islamic countries like Iran where girls are being abused and taken advantage of just because they are girls, it is a clear injustice that many have failed to see…why? simply because of RELIGION! The struggle against child abuse in particular, has to be confronted with the state of Islam to separate religion from the state, this is the only way religious child abuse can be eradicated.
About the Author of the Article
Azam Kamguian is an Iranian writer and women’s rights activist. She was born in 1958 and started her political activities as a socialist in 1976. She was a medical student at Pahlavi University in Shiraz until arrested and imprisoned for a year for organizing student protests. Azam Kamguian has been writing since 1979. She has written several books including “Islam, Women, Challenges and Perspectives”, “Feminism, Socialism and Human Nature”, “Women’s Liberation and Political Processes in the Middle East and “On Religion”. Currently she is working on two new books: on Iranian women’s movement for equality, and on religion and atheism.
Throughout her activities, Azam has organised several campaigns in the defence of women’s rights in the Middle East and have advocated Middle Eastern women’s rights in various international and national conferences and seminars.
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