Author
thatcher
Hopefully only one more draft to go.
5 died in Dhaka, Banglesh yesterday adding to the 5 deaths from last week and the 100
injured in violent clashes set off by Islamic religious leaders and right-wing opposition
party members to block a rally by NGOS, feminist organizations and secular gorups. Both
of these events were in response to the Bangledeshi High Court ruling to restrict fatwas,
or religious orders. This is the latest in a centuries old battle over
the rights and restrictions on women in rural communities. Lately NGO's in Bangledesh
have worked to improve the economic conditions of women. Local religious leaders,
always men, often abuse their religoius athority to
restrict the rights of women. They issued fatwas in response to NGO programs.
In the capital, one person, a police officer, was murdered by anti-NGO people in
a mosque--one of the very worst crimes under islamic law. Complicated by a growing
dissatisfaction with the government and a new election, Islamic law and the rights of
women are always major point of contention in elections in the Middle East.