Exploring the various changes going on in the African American women's world & varous other tid bits info, news, etc. through the lense of Judaism
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Fatima Rifka Bary
. I know that most are not so interested in MiddleEastern news or even this particular story (though its not middle eastern). But for some reason it captures my attention.
My question is why is her face being splashed all over the news?
10 comments:
Anonymous
said...
Miriam, I am the person who has the article you tied to from your site. If I am explain why this is all over the news about this young lady now in Florida. You see she comes from a strict Islamic family and according to the Islamic belief if any person leaves Islam for another religion then they are considered an Apostate, which is punishable by death with what they call "honor killings". In other words the individual who left Islam as dishonored their family and therefore to rectify the "sin" death is the punishment.
A pretty good site to see the various countries including North America you can go to a friend of mine internet site it can be found here: http://www.realcourage.org/?s=honor+killings
I hope this will clarify any of your questions you may have concerning this travesty happening all around the world and even here at home in America.
All that you have written, I understand. What I do not understand is why should the world know her face? It will help other Muslims to recognize her. Is that not an issue? Should she not be as anonymous as possible? Even the story should have a fake name.
Miriam, I did not think you were implying any blame on me about this. I just thought you wondered why she was being in the National Spotlight. I agree with you where she should not be shown on every newspaper, magazine and Television. It will only give the Muslim's who hate Christianity especially if the Muslim converted over to Christianity.
The Mainstream media never thinks about what consequences their actions could bring about, they are all so hungry for the almighty dollar and publicity they just do not think nor care about what could happen to this poor child by doing what they are doing.
I know she is over 16 so legally she is not a minor where she is afforded anonymity but the moral issue should outweigh the legal issue when it comes to matters such as these.
btw I like your information on your site. Have a great week. W.
erm, i agree with Miriam. this young girl's face really should not be exposed in the way it has been. she is very young and upon seeing her picture my first thought was that her security was obviously not the priority of whoever took the picture and decided to publish it. was there no way in which the picture could not have been taken? it is almost as if 'they' want everyone including crazy people with intent to kill to recognise her.
that been said, i must make some corrections as anon's first comment is partly right and partly wrong. firstly, not all Muslims believe that someone who leaves Islam should be killed as it is not in the Quran. the validity of this 'Islamic belief' is highly debatable. secondly, 'honour killings' is not an Islamic term but rather a term generated by Western sources to label violence against women in the name of honour that happens in certain communities.
as the name 'honour killing' implies, these women (and sometimes men) are killed because their culture places a high value on 'honour' and family reputation. a woman who does something her family or culture does not approve of brings 'shame' onto her family and faces murder from her own family members seeking to 'correct the dishonour'. really, you can read more on honour killings on wiki...
this has nothing to do with Islam and everything to do with culture. i do encourage you to check out this link, http://azizaizmargari.wordpress.com/2009/08/15/link-between-honor-in-islam/ to find out more about the connection between 'honour killings' and Islam. again it is purely cultural, i have family members and friends who have converted to Christianity from Islam or were raised Christian and i am yet to hear anyone calling for them to be killed.
finally, i do hope this girl is safe now and remains safe.
These are facts that might be hidden to a normal blogger while refering or reading about The Rifqa Bary Scandal, which I wanted to highlight here since everyone conveniently and stupidly seem to jump onto one side. They cry falsely under the pretexts of "SAVING RIFKA BARY". Is it logic to save a child from his/her own parents? And whom do you think would love a child more than his or her own parents? So the actual lines SHOULD read: "SAVING RIFKA BARY FROM THE BRAIN WASHING AND DECEPTION."
Let The Truth Be Known visit here : http://letthetruthbeknownnow.blogspot.com/
I am not a believer of Jesus, but I suspect that even if Rifka was "brainwashed" (isn't brainwashed just a negative way of saying "persuaded" "won over"?)and was a victim in all this, she is still not safe and should be protected for fear of honor killings or however is the appropriate way to call these type of killings.
Miriam, i do not think there is an appropriate term for any killing really, murder is murder. regarding being killed for 'apostasy'; i personally believe that Fatima is safe. she is America isn't she? i don't think any Muslims in America are looking for a teenager who has left Islam in order to murder her.
however concerning her family and the possibility of an 'honour killing' i really can't say much as i do not know her family. some people believe she is not under the threat of an 'honour killing' and has been brainwashed into believing that she is. apparently she got baptised months before while still living with her parents and nothing happened then. she ran away from home after communicating with members of a certain church online. and apparently Sri Lankans don't practice 'honour killings' and don't take kindly to it. Fatima's parents are from Sri Lanka. i don't know what to believe as long as she is alive, safe and well now.
Miriam, i would think the Sri Lankan way matters because the family has only been in the US for a few years. i don't think Fatima was born there. either way i'm like you as i don't know too. we can only hope for the best. and i personally do not think there is any Islamophobia on your part. you raised a genuine point regarding her picture been published online.
10 comments:
Miriam, I am the person who has the article you tied to from your site. If I am explain why this is all over the news about this young lady now in Florida. You see she comes from a strict Islamic family and according to the Islamic belief if any person leaves Islam for another religion then they are considered an Apostate, which is punishable by death with what they call "honor killings". In other words the individual who left Islam as dishonored their family and therefore to rectify the "sin" death is the punishment.
A pretty good site to see the various countries including North America you can go to a friend of mine internet site it can be found here:
http://www.realcourage.org/?s=honor+killings
I hope this will clarify any of your questions you may have concerning this travesty happening all around the world and even here at home in America.
Anonymous,
All that you have written, I understand. What I do not understand is why should the world know her face? It will help other Muslims to recognize her. Is that not an issue? Should she not be as anonymous as possible? Even the story should have a fake name.
I am not blaming you, all the media.
Miriam, I did not think you were implying any blame on me about this. I just thought you wondered why she was being in the National Spotlight. I agree with you where she should not be shown on every newspaper, magazine and Television. It will only give the Muslim's who hate Christianity especially if the Muslim converted over to Christianity.
The Mainstream media never thinks about what consequences their actions could bring about, they are all so hungry for the almighty dollar and publicity they just do not think nor care about what could happen to this poor child by doing what they are doing.
I know she is over 16 so legally she is not a minor where she is afforded anonymity but the moral issue should outweigh the legal issue when it comes to matters such as these.
btw I like your information on your site. Have a great week. W.
erm, i agree with Miriam. this young girl's face really should not be exposed in the way it has been. she is very young and upon seeing her picture my first thought was that her security was obviously not the priority of whoever took the picture and decided to publish it. was there no way in which the picture could not have been taken? it is almost as if 'they' want everyone including crazy people with intent to kill to recognise her.
that been said, i must make some corrections as anon's first comment is partly right and partly wrong. firstly, not all Muslims believe that someone who leaves Islam should be killed as it is not in the Quran. the validity of this 'Islamic belief' is highly debatable. secondly, 'honour killings' is not an Islamic term but rather a term generated by Western sources to label violence against women in the name of honour that happens in certain communities.
as the name 'honour killing' implies, these women (and sometimes men) are killed because their culture places a high value on 'honour' and family reputation. a woman who does something her family or culture does not approve of brings 'shame' onto her family and faces murder from her own family members seeking to 'correct the dishonour'. really, you can read more on honour killings on wiki...
this has nothing to do with Islam and everything to do with culture. i do encourage you to check out this link, http://azizaizmargari.wordpress.com/2009/08/15/link-between-honor-in-islam/ to find out more about the connection between 'honour killings' and Islam. again it is purely cultural, i have family members and friends who have converted to Christianity from Islam or were raised Christian and i am yet to hear anyone calling for them to be killed.
finally, i do hope this girl is safe now and remains safe.
Anonymous and Eccentric,
Thanks for those links. I have my homework cut out for me. Very informative.
Dear Readers,
These are facts that might be hidden to a normal blogger while refering or reading about The Rifqa Bary Scandal, which I wanted to highlight here since everyone conveniently and stupidly seem to jump onto one side. They cry falsely under the pretexts of "SAVING RIFKA BARY".
Is it logic to save a child from his/her own parents? And whom do you think would love a child more than his or her own parents? So the actual lines SHOULD read:
"SAVING RIFKA BARY FROM THE BRAIN WASHING AND DECEPTION."
Let The Truth Be Known visit here :
http://letthetruthbeknownnow.blogspot.com/
rbary
I am not a believer of Jesus, but I suspect that even if Rifka was "brainwashed" (isn't brainwashed just a negative way of saying "persuaded" "won over"?)and was a victim in all this, she is still not safe and should be protected for fear of honor killings or however is the appropriate way to call these type of killings.
Miriam, i do not think there is an appropriate term for any killing really, murder is murder. regarding being killed for 'apostasy'; i personally believe that Fatima is safe. she is America isn't she? i don't think any Muslims in America are looking for a teenager who has left Islam in order to murder her.
however concerning her family and the possibility of an 'honour killing' i really can't say much as i do not know her family. some people believe she is not under the threat of an 'honour killing' and has been brainwashed into believing that she is. apparently she got baptised months before while still living with her parents and nothing happened then. she ran away from home after communicating with members of a certain church online. and apparently Sri Lankans don't practice 'honour killings' and don't take kindly to it. Fatima's parents are from Sri Lanka. i don't know what to believe as long as she is alive, safe and well now.
Eccentric,
You are right. Murder is murder.
As far as her safety goes, I don't know. Does the Sri Lanka way matter when she's in a more global Muslim community in the US?
Perhaps its Islamophobia on my part.
Miriam,
i would think the Sri Lankan way matters because the family has only been in the US for a few years. i don't think Fatima was born there. either way i'm like you as i don't know too. we can only hope for the best. and i personally do not think there is any Islamophobia on your part. you raised a genuine point regarding her picture been published online.
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