Miniskirts And Sexual Violence
Ziqad 19, 1432 A.H, Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Every 2nd October
is commemorated as the Day Against Violence. One of the interesting issues that
is discussed endlessly is the violence against women, including sexual violence.
Take the recent occurrence of rape in public transportation as an example.
From there, a debate emerged: “Is it the women or men who are wrong?” The men
generally say this: "Seeing the arousing awrah (nakedness), yes there has to be
lust obviously. We're normal men. Like the cats, you offer them fish, will they
refuse?" Then the women with a fierce defense would say: "You dirty brain! Can't
even see a sexy body, you got turned on right away. Fix your brain, don't tell
us how to dress."
Thus, it is no surprise when Fauzi Bowo's (the DKI's Governor) criticism on the
mini skirts harvested a controversy. As if challenging, with their mini skirts,
the pro-freedom women protested against Fauzi Bowo. "Do Not Blame Our Dress,
Punish The Rapist", "My Body Is Not Porno, What's Porno Is Your Brain", "Do Not
Blame Our Dress, Blame The Rapist" and "Rapist = Foke You". Such were their
protests.
The activist of Women Rejecting Rape, Tunggal Pawestri said, the rape is not due
to a mini skirts, but more because of the minimal security guarantees provided
by the government to the society. "Besides that, the sentence for the
perpetrators of rape does not pose a deterrent effect” she said.
The Commissioner of the National Anti-violence Commission against Women, Neng
Dara Affiah was no less argumentative, rape occurs because of the wrong viewing
aspect, not because the way the victim dresses. "The statement was a part of
verbal violence against women," said Neng, while assessing that the statement
should not have been uttered by a public official.
Dirty Brain Vs Awrah
Finding the source of rape, is like asking : “Which emerged first, the egg of
the chicken?” But it's very easy to answer. Remember, sexual relations —with or
without violence— happens between males and females. Therefore, they both have
the same contribution, be it directly or not.
If men are blamed for sexual violence, it is an undeniable fact. A rapist is a
perverted man, with weak iman, who doesn't fear The Creator, only wanting a
moment's pleasure, who does not value women and is not afraid of hell.
Therefore, if we do not want the men in this world to be rapists, let alone if
he is Muslim, fix their iman, their thought patterns.
Give them the understanding on the rulings of the actions and the halal-haram.
Insha Allah, when iman becomes the foundation of every action, even when a
lust-evoking view was offered in front of him, his private part will be guarded.
He will only fulfill his desire with the woman who is halal for him. Exactly
like the story of Prophet Yusuf, who was not tempted by the seduction of
Zulaikha.
On the other hand, if women are accused as the trigger of sexual lust, they
should be doing introspection. That is the natural fact. Women need to
understand that almost all parts of the body has the sex appeal for the opposite
sex.
There are men who drool by seeing the calf alone, let alone the upper leg. There
are men whose sexual lust are aroused just by looking at the neck alone, let
alone below the neck. It is no surprise when there is a saying, "How couldn't
the rape rate get higher, if the ladies skirts are also getting higher?"
Perhaps, the women would snap again, "There are those who already covered their
awrah, but they are still raped?" That happened, because lust does not appear at
a moment's notice by the arousal from seeing the victim. The rapist, may
previously have been aroused by another female's awrah, seeing pornographic
pictures, watching blue film, erotic dance, etc.
Meaning, the female who uncover their awrah, without them knowing, have "opened
up" the opportunities for rapists, to the point of becoming a threat to other
women who had protected themselves by covering their awrah.
So, once again, the beauty of the female body surely triggers the male sexual
lust. No need to be angry, because it's a fact. In fact, it is a qadha
(decision) from Allah SWT. Therefore, the proposal that women should guard their
awrah, not wearing clothes that could be arousing, is only reasonable.
In fact, it should even be an obligation, especially for the Muslimah. That's
the reason Allah SWT “have to” make the rules in matters of apparels, which in
the scale of secularism is considered as an intervention on human (women)
rights.
Those rules would be a guarantee of security for women and also men so that
their sexual lust do not arise illicitly — if applied in the scale of a system.
Meaning, the role of the State to “regulate” appearance is certainly needed.
Don't think of this as a trivial matter. This is one form of security guarantees
given by the government to the society.
Allah SWT says: “O Prophet, tell your wives and your
daughters and the women of the believers to bring down over themselves [part] of
their outer garments. That is more suitable that they will be known and not be
abused.” (QS Al Ahzab [33]:59).
So, why be angry when the miniskirts are criticized? Didn't you say you want
security, how come when regulated to be secure, you refuse?
Arab Vs Khilafah
The rampant sexual violence that causes the increase in female victims, is not
separated from the application of secular ideologies, which separates religion
from life. In this paradigm, individual freedom should take precedence. These
freedoms are even growing very wildly, especially in matters of how to dress.
In the secular philosophy, good clothes are the ones capable of beautifying or
making a person handsome. Due to that, the clothing must be able to highlight
the advantages of the wearer's body. Women (as well as men) are free to appear
to meet all their imaginations. Short skirts, tanks, leggings, hot pants,
transparent gowns, bikinis or anything worn in public places cannot be banned.
To the extent that there are even dresses made of leaves, paper, meat, in fact
even cow nipples. Na'udubillahi min zalik.
See, this freedom in the way to dress then gives rise to sexual lust everywhere.
If the lust needs fulfillment, they are then free to vent it to anyone. This is
the root cause of the emergence of rape. Women's freedom on the one hand, should
be paid costly with the falling of other women –including children — as rape
victims. Ironically, rapists are not punished severely, thus they are not
deterred.
Due to that, as long as the system is secular, it is difficult to eliminate or
even reduce the number of rapes. It is difficult to guard the female awrah. It
is difficult to prevent the venting of the wild sexual lust. It is difficult to
provide assurance to women in particular, and the society in general.
Due to that, there is no other way except to apply the ideology of Islam in all
aspects of life under the auspices of the Khilafah. There may be people who
snap: "In the Arab world itself, there are a lot of rapes." The answer: The Arab
world is not an Islamic State. The Arab world is not a Khilafah. The Arab world
is not the representation of the application of Islamic Shari'ah in kaffah.
Moreover, we should look at the data, how high is the rates of rape in there? Is
it any higher than America for example, or even Indonesia? It is clear, there is
no reason to not apply the Islamic Shari'ah. This is the only rule that is able
to protect the society. It has already been assured by Allah SWT in His verse:
"Is it the judgement of jahiliyyah [the time of
ignorance] they desire? But who is better than Allah in judgment for a people
who are certain [in faith]?" (QS al-Maidah [5]: 50).
Wallahu'alam bi sawab.
(Kholda Naajiyah/Islam Will Dominate)
Translated and submitted by a Mujahid