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1 Na me Mi c h a e lWa s s e r I n t e gr a t i v eSe mi na rs e c t . 25 Ma r c h3 ,2 01 7 Vi ol e n c ea g a i ns tWo me ni nSo ut hAs i a Vi ol e n c ea g a i ns twome ni se x t r e me l ywi d e s pr e a di nt h eSo ut hAs i ar e gi o n.De s pi t ei t s o b v i ousd a n g e r ,i ts t i l lc ont i nu e st ooc c u ri nt hehome so fpr o ba bl ymi l l i o nsofwome n .Fo rt h i s r e s e a r c hp a pe r ,Ipos et h ef ol l o wi n gq ue s t i on :wh a ta r ef a c t or st ha tc o nt r i but et ovi ol e nc ea g a i n s t wome ni nSout hAs i a ?I ng e ne r a l , vi ol e n c ea g a i ns two me nc a nbede fin e da svi ol e nta nda bu s i v e a c t sc o mmi t t e da g a i ns two me ne x c l u s i v e l y .Th i sc oul dr e f e rt ov i ol e n ta c t sc o mmi t t e db ywo me n a g a i n s two me no ra c t sb yme na g a i ns two me n ,b utt h i sr e s e a r c hp a pe rwi l lf oc u sont h os e c o mmi t t e db yme na g a i ns two me n,a n ds pe c i fic a l l y ,f oc u smos t l yo ns po us a lv i ol e nc e . The r ei sa wi dev a r i e t yoft he s ev i ol e nta c t s , ho we v e r ,s p e c i fict y pe st h a ta r er a mp a n ti nSo ut hAs i aa r e : d o wr y i n duc e dvi o l e n c e ,f e ma l ei n f a nt i c i dea ndf e t i c i de ,v i ol e nc ec a us e db yc hi l dma r r i a g e s , a nd r a p e . Th es o c i a ls c i e n c ed i s c i pl i n e st h i spa pe rwi l lu s et oe xa mi net h et opi ca r ep ol i t i c a l s c i e nc e ,e c o no mi c s ,a n dr e l i g i on.Th epol i t i c a ls c i e n c ed i s c i p l i nei n v ol v e st hes t ud yo fl a ws , g o v e r nme n t s ,p ol i t i c a li ns t i t ut i on s ,e t c . Pe o pl ewhos t ud yp ol i t i c a ls c i e nc ede s c r i b et h et h e or y a n dp r a c t i c eofpol i t i c sa s“ d e t e r mi ni n goft h ed i s t r i b u t i onofp o we ra n dr e s o ur c e s ”( “ Po l i t i c a l s c i e nc e ” ) .Spe c i fic a l l y ,f ort h i sr e s e a r c hp a pe r ,l a wsa n de nf or c e me n to fs a i dl a wsi nSout hAs i a wi l lbes t u di e d. Ar et he r ea pp r op r i a t el a wsi npl a c et ot r ya ndpr e v e n tvi ol e nc ea g a i n s twome n?I f s ui t a b l el a wsdoe x i s t ,wh yi si ts t i l lha pp e ni n g ?I st he r ea de q ua t ee n f o r c e me n t ?Al a wi sar ul e t ha tc a nbee nf or c e di nc our t .Co unt r i e s ,c i t i e s ,a n dc ommuni t i e sr e c o gni z ea n dr e s pe c tl a ws ;t he y

2 p r e v e n tc h a osb yr e g ul a t i n gt h ea c t i o nso ft h e i rp e op l e .I fal a wi sbr o k e n,t hepe r s onwho c o mmi t t e dt h ec r i mewi l lr e c e i v epuni s hme ntf ort h e i rc r i mi na lo ffe n c e s .Ho we v e r ,e n f o r c e me n t o fl a wi sn o ta l wa y sa sc ommona si ts ho ul dbe ,a n dt hi sde pe n dsons o c i a lf a c t o r sa nd e xp e c t a t i o ns , s uc ha st heg e nde ra n dt hes o c i a ls t a t uso ft h ev i c t i m,t h eg e nde ra n dt h es o c i a l s t a t u soft h ec r i mi na l , t hel oc a t i o noft h ec r i me ,e t c . Ac c or d i n gt ot heWo r l dHe a l t hOr g a n i z a t i on,wome ni nSo ut hAs i aa r emo r el i k e l yt o e xp e r i e n c ev i ol e n c et h a nmo s to t h e rr e gi on s( J e j e e bho ye ta l . 678 ) .Fu r t he r mo r e , whe nt h e s e wome ne xpe r i e nc ev i ol e nc e , i ti sr e q ui r e db yl a wt h a th e a l t hc a r epr o vi de r se x a mi nea n dt r e a t t he m( J e j e e bh o ye ta l .6 84 ) .Wh i l et hi si snotapr o bl e mc o nc e r ni n gpr e v e n t i on,h a vi n ga v a i l a bl e t r e a t me nti si mpo r t a ntf ora n ywoma nb e i n ga b us e d,a n dt h i sl a wi snotr e s p e c t e dore nf or c e d . Th ea u t hor sa r guet h a tt h i sma ybebe c a u s ehe a l t hc a r epr o vi de r sf e e lt ha twh a tha pp e nsi nt h e p r i v a c yoft he s eme n ’ sa n dwome n ’ sh ome si sno tt h e i rb us i n e s s ,a n dt h e r e f or et h e ys ho ul dno t i n t e r v e n e( J e j e e bho ye ta l .6 84 ) .Addi t i ona l l y ,t he s epr o vi de r sa r el i k e l yun a wa r eoft hel a ws r e q u i r i n gt h e mt oha ndl et he s ei n j u r i e s( J e j e e bh o ye ta l .6 84) .Onec a na r g uet h a twome nma yf e e l a st h ou ghs i nc et he s el a wst ha tr e q ui r et r e a t me nta r en o tbe i n ge n f or c e d ,s e e ki n ghe l pf r oml a w e n f or c e me nti nr e g a r dst ot hevi ol e nc et h e ya r ee x pe r i e nc i n gwoul dbepoi nt l e s s .Wh ywoul d t ho s ep r e v e n t i onl a wsbee nf or c e dwhe nt h et r e a t me n tl a wsa r eno te v e ne n f o r c e d? Ba n gl a d e s h ,ac ou nt r yi nSout hAs i a , pr o mi s e dwome nf un da me nt a lr i g ht si n1 97 2, f o l l o wi n gt h ewa rf o rt he i ri n de pe n de nc ei n1 9 71.Ho we v e r ,p r i v a t el i f ewoul dbeg o v e r ne db y “ r e l i g i on ba s e dpe r s o na ll a ws ”( Huq13 ) .Th e s ewome nha v enoc u s t o d y ,i n he r i t a nc e ,o rd i v o r c e r i g ht s( Hu q13) .Th i swa so v e r40y e a r sa g oa n dwome ns t i l lh a v ep r a c t i c a l l yn or i g h t s ;no f r e e d omofs pe e c h ,f r e e d omf r omvi ol e n c e ,f r e e d om t oh a v ec o nt r olo v e rt h e i ro wnbo di e s , e t c . ( Hu q14) . Fur t h e r mo r e ,t heBa n g l a de s his o c i e t yi sbui l tont her e pr e s s i o nofwo me n ’ ss e xua l i t y ;

3 t hec on fine me ntofwome nt ot h e i rhome s ;a ndvi e wi n gma r r i a g ea sawoma n ’ sul t i ma t ede s t i n y ( Hu q16) . Thef a c tt h a tBa n g l a de s hh a sh a dt h i svi e wofwome nf orde c a d e sr e nd e r si td i ffic ul tf or t hec oun t r yt ou nde r g oc h a n g e s .Th a tb e i n gs a i d,i ti sno ts ur p r i s i n gt h a twome nwhoc hoos e( o r wh oa r ep o s s i bl yf or c e d )t ob es e xwo r k e r sh a v eh a dt ofig htf o rt he i rr i ght si nt hemo de r ne r a .I f t hi sba t t l ee nde dwi t hj us t i c ef ors e xwor k e r s ,t henor msa n dc o n v e n t i on sf o rwome ni n Ba n gl a d e s hwo ul dbec ompl e t e l ya l t e r e d ;t hevi e wwo ul dbeb r o a de ne da ndb oun da r i e swo ul dbe r e d e fine d( Huq18) . Wome nh a v eb e e nfig ht i n gf ort he i rr i g h t sf o rd e c a de swi t hv e r yl i t t l e a c kn o wl e dg e me n ta swe l la sv e r yl i t t l eh e l pf r om t h os ewh oonc epr o mi s e dt h e mt he s er i ght s . Re g a r di n gI nd i a ,a n ot he rSout hAs i a nc o un t r y ,e q u a l i t yf orwo me ni se nt r e n c h e di nI ndi a n l a wa ndt h e r ea r emu l t i pl epr o vi s i o nsr e g a r di n gp a r i t y . I na dd i t i ont ot h e s el a ws ,t h e r ea r e mu l t i pl eor g a n i z a t i on st h a tfigh tt opr e v e n tdi s c r i mi n a t i ona n dv i ol e nc e( Be h l1 ) .De s pi t et h e s e e ffo r t s ,wome ns t i l le x p e r i e n c es u ffe r i n g . I n f a n t i c i d e ,wh i c hi st h eki l l i n go fne wbor nb a bi e s ,a n d f e t i c i de ,whi c hi ss e xs e l e c t i v ea b or t i on,a r eb ot hi l l e g a li nI ndi a .Ho we v e r ,t hes e xr a t i oi nI ndi ai s c o mpl e t e l ys k e we d ;t h e r ea r e8 95gi r l sbor nf ore v e r y1000b o y sbo r n( Be h l2) .Th i sr a t i o i n di c a t e st h a ts e xi s mi ss t i l lpr e s e nta ndf e ma l ef e t i c i dea ndi n f a nt i c i dea r eo c c u r r i n gi l l e g a l l y . Th ea u t hors t a t e st h a tf e ma l ef e t i c i de“ a c c o u nt sf or500 , 0 00mi s s i n gf e ma l ebi r t hsy e a r l y ”( Be h l 3 ) .Evi de n t l y ,d e s pi t et hee nt r e nc h me ntofe q u a l i t yf o rwome ni nI n di a nl a w,wome na r e c o ns i d e r e di nf e r i ort ome na n da r ee x p e r i e nc i n gdi s c r i mi n a t i o na swe l la svi o l e nc e . Addi t i ona l l y , t he r ei snoi n t e r v e nt i onf r oml a we nf or c e me n t . Ac c or d i n gt oKi r t iSi n g h,t h el a wa n dt h ec r i mi na lj u s t i c es y s t e mh a v ef a i l e dt op r o t e c tt h e wome nofI ndi a( 77) .Th e r eha sb e e nl i t t l ee ffo r tma d eb yt h eSt a t ei nma n da t i n ga n de nf or c i n g l a wsp r o t e c t i n gwome n.Cons e q ue nt l y ,i ti sr e po r t e dt h a twhe nbr o u g htt oc ou r t ,t h er a t eo f c o n v i c t i onf orc r i me sa g a i n s twome ni sc u r r e n t l yl e s st ha n4pe rc e nt( Si n g h7 7) . Thema i nr e a s o n

4 f o rt h i si n j us t i c ei st ha t“ s u bs t a nt i v el a wsr e l a t i n gt ovi ol e n c ea g a i ns two me na r ei n a de q ua t ea nd d onotr e fle c tt hev a r i ouski ndso fvi ol e n c ewo me ne x pe r i e nc e ”( Si n gh7 7) .Fore x a mp l e , d ome s t i cv i ol e n c ei sa ddr e s s e d,h o we v e r ,f or c e da n a lo ror a li n t e r c o ur s ewi t hi nma r r i a g ea r en o t c o ns i d e r e dr a peb yl a w( Si n g h78) .Thi si sob v i o us l yp r o bl e ma t i cb e c a us et h os ea c t sa r e u nde n i a bl yf or mso fdome s t i cv i ol e nc e , buti ti sn o tp uni s ha bl eb yl a w. I nt h e1 98 0s ,l a wsc o nc e r ni n gdo wr i e swe r ei nt r o duc e d ;h o we v e r ,e v e r yy e a ri nt h ec r i me c h a r t s , t he r ei sa“ s t e a d yr i s eofdo wr yc a s e s ”( Si n g h7 8) .Si n gha r gue st h a tb e c a u s ewome na r e s e e na si n f e r i or ,t he yha v eap o or e re c ono mi cs t a t ust h a nme nd o ,a n dt hi sc a us e swome nt oha v e n oc h oi c eb utt oa c c e ptdo wr i e s( 7 9) .Ev e nwhe nc a s e sofdo me s t i cvi ol e nc ea r er e por t e dun de r t hedo wr ya ndr a pel e g i s l a t i on, wo me na r es ub j e c t e dt oap a t r i a r c h a lc r i mi na lj u s t i c es y s t e m ( Si n g h7 9) .Ac c o r di n gt oSi n g h,t he r ei sc or r up t i ona ndi ne ffic i e n c yi nl a we nf or c e me n ta ndt hi s i swh yc a s e sa r e“ notbe i n gi n v e s t i g a t e do rpr os e c u t e dp r o pe r l y ”( 79) . Th ee c o n omi c sdi s c i pl i nei s“ as oc i a ls c i e nc ec onc e r n e dc hi e flywi t hd e s c r i p t i ona n d a n a l y s i soft hep r o duc t i o n,d i s t r i bu t i o n,a n dc ons u mp t i ono fg o odsa n ds e r vi c e s ”( “ Ec on omi c s ” ) . Th emo s ts i gni fic a nta s pe c tofe c ono mi c sr e l a t e dt ot h i st op i ci spo v e r t y . Ac c o r d i n gt ot h eWo r l d Ba nk ’ spo v e r t yda t a ,po v e r t yha sbe e nde c r e a s i n gs t e a di l yi nSout hAs i as i n c e2 002 ,b uti n2 01 3, t he r ewa ss t i l lo v e r2 56mi l l i o np e op l el i vi n gon$1. 90e a c hda y .Oneoft h ema i nr e a s on spa r e n t s u s edo wr i e si nt h ema r r i a g e st he ya r r a n g ef ort he i rc hi l dr e ni ss i mp l ybe c a us et h ef a mi l i e s d e s pe r a t e l yne e dmo ne y . Sp e c i fic a l l y ,f ort hi sr e s e a r c hp a pe r t , hefina n c i a ls i t ua t i o nsoft he f a mi l i e spa r t a ki n gi ndo wr i e sa n da r r a n g e dma r r i a g e swi l lbee xa mi ne d .Wh ya r epe opl es opo or t ha tt he ya r er e s or t i n gt os e l l i n gt h e i rc h i l dr e n?Ha st h i sno wb e c o mea ne s s e nt i a lpa r toft h e So ut hAs i a ne c o no my ?

5 Chi l dma r r i a g eo c c u r sf r e q ue nt l yi nSo u t hAs i a , b uti nPa ki s t a npa r t i c u l a r l y( Bu t t1 61) . Chi l dma r r i a g ec a nb ede fin e da s“ af or ma lma r r i a g eori nf or ma lun i one n t e r e di nt ob ya n i n di vi dua lbe f or er e a c h i n gt h ea g eo f18”( “ Ch i l dma r r i a g e ” ) . You n ggi r l sa r er e mo v e df r om p r i ma r yo rs e c o nda r ye d uc a t i o na n df or c e di nt oama r r i a g ewi t hama ns i gn i fic a nt l yol de rt h a n t he m;i ti sv e r yl i k e l yt ha tt h e ye x p e r i e nc ep h y s i c a l , e mot i ona l , a nds e xua lvi o l e nc ef r o mt he i r h us b a nds( Bu t t1 61) . Ac c o r di n gt oBu t t ’ sr e s e a r c h , c h i l dma r r i a g e sa r e“ g e ne r a l l yp r a c t i c e di n e c o nomi c a l l yma r gi na l i z e df a mi l i e s ”( 1 62) . Thea u t hore xpl a i nst h a tt h i si sbe c a u s et h os e f a mi l i e sne e dmone y ,a r el e s se duc a t e d ,a n da l s oma yh a v eb e e na ffe c t e db yn a t ur a lc a t a s t r o phe s ( But t162 ) .I na d di t i ont ot h ep h y s i c a l , e mot i ona l ,a n ds e xu a lv i ol e nc ey o un gb r i d e se x p e r i e nc e , b e i n gpr e g na n ta n dgi vi n gb i r t hh a v ed e t r i me n t a le ffe c t st oy o un gg i r l s ’h e a l t ha ndc a ne v e nr e s ul t i nd e a t h.I n2 011 ,UNI CEFr e p or t e dt h a t :“ c o mpl i c a t i o nsr e l a t e dt op r e gna n c ya n dc h i l dbi r t ha r e a mo n gt hel e a di n gc a u s e sofde a t hwo r l d wi d ef o ra dol e s c e ntgi r l sbe t we e nt hea g e sof15a nd1 9” ( But t162 ) . Th ec hi l dma r r i a g er a t e si nSout hAs i aa r et hes e c o ndhi ghe s ti nt hewo r l d ;i n2010 ,4 6 p e rc e ntofgi r l sa g e d202 4we r ema r r i e dbe f or et h e yt u r ne d18( Bu t t1 62 ) .I nPa ki s t a n,t hema i n c a u s ef ort he s eh i g hr a t e si spo v e r t y .Byma r r yi n go fft he i rd a u gh t e r s ,f a mi l i e sr e l i e v et h e ms e l v e s o ft h ee c o no mi cb ur d e nt h a ti sr a i s i n gac h i l d .Addi t i ona l l y ,gi r l sa ndwome na r ea s s oc i a t e dwi t h “ l o we c on omi cv a l ue ” ;wome na r ep e r c e i v e dt obeuna bl et oe a r nmone ya nduna b l et oc o n t r i bu t e t ot h e i rf a mi l y ’ si n c ome( Bu t t169) . Ma r r yi n gt he i rd a u ght e r sa tay o u n ga g es e e msfina nc i a l l y b e ne fic i a li nt h el o n gr un, ho we v e r ,But ts u g g e s t st h a tc hi l dma r r i a g ei nf a c two r s e nst h ep o v e r t y c y c l ei nde v e l o pi n gc ount r i e s( 1 62 ) . An o t h e rf or mofvi ol e nc ea g a i ns twome nt ha to c c u r sf r e q ue nt l yi nI ndi aduet opo v e r t yi s d o wr y mu r de r .Do wr y mur d e ri st heki l l i n go fab r i dewh os ef a mi l yd i dno tp r o vi des uffic i e nt

6 d o wr yt ot h ema r r i a g e( Rud d8 9 ) .I n19 61,t h eDo wr yPr o hi bi t i onAc twa se s t a bl i s he di nI n di a a n dt h e r e f or e ,p r e s e n t l y ,ma r r i a g e swi t hdo wr ya r ei l l e g a l( Ru dd92) . Ho we v e r ,“ wi t ht he c h a n g i n gs o c i oe c ono mi cs t r u c t u r e ,d o wr yha sc h a n g e ds h a pea n dme a ni n gt ot h ep oi ntwhe r e[ i t i ss e e n]a sa‘ mo de r nmo ns t r os i t y ’ ,wh i c hpe opl ea t t e mptt ol e g i t i ma t e‘ b yl i n ki n gi tu pwi t ha n a n c i e nta n dr e s pe c t e dc u s t om’ ”( Ru dd93) .Be c a u s eo ft h eg r o wt ho ft h ec a s hba s e de c o no my , b r i de sa r es e e na sawa yt os i mp l ybr i n gi nmone y ,a n don c et h emo ne yi sr e c e i v e d ,t he ybe c o me a ne xpe n da bl ep r o duc t( Rudd9 3) . Si n c et hee c ono mi cc r i s i so ft he197 0s , do wr ya nddo wr ymur d e rha v ebe e ni nc r e a s i n g e xp one n t i a l l y( Rud d95) .Thi si sdu et ot h ef ol l o wi n gr e a s ons :fir s t l y , I ndi as t o ppe dr e c e i vi n g e c o nomi ca i df r o mt h eUSbe c a u s eoft h ePa ki s t a n/ Ea s tPa ki s t a nc onfli c t( Ru dd95) .Se c o ndl y , d uet ot h es a mec o n fli c t ,I n di awe l c ome d10mi l l i o nr e f u g e e s ;t h i sputas t r a i no nt h ee c o no mya s we l l( Ru dd95) .Fr om 1 9 70t o1975 ,i n fla t i oni n c r e a s e d ,i n c omep e rc a pi t ad e c r e a s e d,a n dp ub l i c d i s c on t e nt ,r i ot s , a nda l i e na t i onf r omt h eg o v e r nme ntb e c a mec u s t oma r y( Rudd9 6) . Duet o i n fla t i on ,f a mi l i e sd e s pe r a t e l yne e de dc a s ht oc ont i nuel i v i n gt h e i rl i v e snor ma l l y .Th ee c o nomi c c r i s i sc ombi n e dwi t ht h ea l r e a d yl o ws t a t usofwo me nr e s u l t e di nad r a s t i ci nc r e a s eo fdo wr ya nd d o wr yde a t h s . Th er e l i gi ond i s c i p l i n ef oc u s e sons t ud y i n gt hed i ffe r e nts e t sofr e l i gi o usbe l i e f spe op l e f o l l o w.Ar e l i gi o nc a nb ede s c r i be da sa“ c ul t ur a ls y s t e mo fb e h a vi or sa n dpr a c t i c e s ,wor l dv i e ws , s a c r e dt e xt s ,h ol ypl a c e s ,e t hi c s ,a n ds o c i e t a lor g a n i z a t i ont ha tr e l a t ehu ma ni t yt o …‘ a nor d e ro f e xi s t e nc e ’ ”( “ Re l i g i on” ) .Doe sr e l i gi o np l a yar o l ec onc e r ni n gwh oe x a c t l yi spa r t i c i pa t i n gi nt h i s v i ol e nc e ?Re l i g i onc a nbe c omec omp l i c a t e dt os t ud yb e c a u s eo ft h ed i ffe r e ntwa y st oi nt e r pr e t s a c r e dt e xt s . I nSo ut hAs i a ,t hemo s tc ommon l yp r a c t i c e dr e l i g i oni sHi n dui s m,buta no t he r wi de s pr e a dr e l i gi oni sI s l a m.Thi spa pe rwi l lf oc u sont heI s l a mi cr e l i gi o ni n s t e a dofHi nd ui s m

7 b e c a us et h ev i ol e n c eo c c u r r i n ga g a i n s tMus l i mwome ni smor epubl i c i z e d,i . e . ,i ti sc o mmont o h e a ra b ou tMus l i mwome nbe i n guna b l et od r i v e , be i n gpu ni s h e df ort he i rs ki ns h o wi n g ,e t c . Th e i rQur ’ a ns t a t e st h a t“ me na r ei nc ha r g eo fwo me n”a n dt ha t“ f ort h os ef r omwho my ef e a r r e b e l l i o n,a d moni s ht h e ma ndb a ni s ht h e mt ob e dsa pa r t ,a n ds c o ur g et h e m”( TheQur ’ a n ,AnNi s a4. 34) . Thi ss e c t i o noft h eQur ’ a ns e e mst oa l l o wme nt obevi ol e ntwi t ht h e i rwi v e sa st he y s e efit ,wh i c hi sob v i ous l yt r o u bl e s o meb e c a u s eo fho ws ub j e c t i v ei ti s . Re l i gi o np l a y sas i g ni fic a ntr o l ei nPa ki s t a nis o c i e t i e s .Appr o xi ma t e l y9 7pe rc e nto f Pa ki s t a ni sa r eMus l i msa ndt h ema j or i t ya r ev e r yf a i t h f ult ot he i rr e l i gi on( But t1 69 ) .Th eQur ’ a n d oe sn o ts pe c i f yami ni mu ma g er e q u i r e dt og e tma r r i e d,t h e r e f or ei ta l l o wsf orma n yd i ffe r e nt i n t e r pr e t a t i o ns .SomeMu s l i msa t t e mp tt oj us t i f yc h i l dma r r i a g eb yc l a i mi n gt h a ti ti ss i n f u lno tt o a r r a n g eama r r i a g ef orad a u gh t e rt ha tha sr e a c h e dpub e r t y( Bu t t170) . Qu r ’ a n4: 34di s c u s s e st hedi s c i pl i ni n gofawi f ewhoh a sbe e ndi s o be di e n tb yb e a t i n gh e r ( Ma h moud537 ) .Th eQur ’ a ns t a t e st h a tGdl oo k e dmor ef a v o r a bl yo nme n,a n dt he r e f or et he y a r et ob ei nc h a r g eofwome n.Fu r t h e r mor e ,i tde c l a r e st ha tt r u l yr i ght e ou swo me na r ed e v o uta n d r e ma i nf a i t hf uldur i n gme n ’ sa b s e nc e ,a st h i si swha tGdwoul dwa nt( Ma hmou d5 37 ) .Whe na wi f ed i s o be y sh e rh us ba nd ,t hehus ba ndmu s te x hor tt he m, nots h a r eab e dwi t ht h e m,a ndb e a t t he m;i ft hewi v e sobe yt h e i rh us ba nds ,t he ymus tnotha r mt he m( Ma hmoud53 7) .I nt h eI s l a mi c r e l i g i on ,g i v e nt ha tma l ed omi n a nc ea n dma l es u pr e ma c ya r ec o n s i de r e dn or ma l ,Mu s l i mss e e n ot hi n gwr on gwi t ht hi ss c r i p t ur e . Re l i gi o usvi ol e n c eh a si nc r e a s e ddr a s t i c a l l yi nPa ki s t a no v e rt h ep a s tf e wde c a d e s( Ta l bo t 1 45) .Onet h e or yt oe x p l a i nt h i si st h ed e s e r t i ono fMoha mma dAl iJ i nn a h ’ sl i b e r a lou t l ook. J i nna hwa st heg o v e r norg e n e r a lf oras ho r tpe r i o do ft i mea n dh ea d v o c a t e df o re q u a l i t ya nd d e moc r a c y( Ta l bo t146 ) .I n s t e a do fus i n gWe s t e r ni de a l st odos o ,h ed r e wi ns pi r a t i o nf r om

8 I s l a mi cmor a l i t y( Ta l b ot148 ) .Af t e rJ i nn a h ’ sr e i g n,r e l i gi ousn e u t r a l i t ya ndc i vi cn a t i o na l i s m b e c a mef or e i g nc o nc e p t st ot hePa ki s t a nig o v e r nme nt ,c a u s i n gvi ol e nc ei nflue nc e db yr e l i gi o nt o e s c a l a t er a pi dl y( Ta l bo t1 48 ) . Ane x t r e me l ys e r i ousf o r mo fv i o l e nc ea g a i ns two me nt h a ti sbe i n gpr a c t i c e di n c r e a s i n gl y i nPa ki s t a ni sf a t wa s .Fa t wa sa g a i ns twome na r eo c c u r r i n gmor ef r e q u e nt l yd u et ot h er i s eof I s l a mi nMus l i mc ommu ni t i e s( Ba ue re tHé l i e68 ) .Fa t wa sa r el e g a lpr on oun c e me n t st ha ta r e i s s u e db yt r a di t i on a lvi l l a g ec o unc i l sorr e l i g i ousl e a d e r s , i nwhi c hwome na r et a r g e t e d s p e c i fic a l l yi nor d e rt oo b s t r uc tt he i rde v e l opme nta nde duc a t i o n( Ba ue re tHé l i e68) . Ac c or d i n g t oGa t e s t oneI ns t i t ut e ,i nMa y2 01 2,i nPa ki s t a n,af a t wawa si s s ue dde c l a r i n gt h a ta n ywo ma n s e e nus i n gac e l l phonewi l lha v ea c i dt hr o wni nhe rf a c e( “ Pa ki s t a n :Fa t wa sAg a i ns tWome n” ) . Th i sf a t wawa si s s u e db yMa ul a naAbdulHa l e e m,af or me rI s l a mi s tl e g i ...