
Chris replied to Hope's discussion Person of the day in the group Atheists in the Middle East
Chris replied to Ali's discussion Pictures Of Saudi Arabia + basic information in the group Atheists in the Middle East
Claudia Mercedes Mazzucco commented on Onyango Makagutu's blog post Is believing in god wrong?
Claudia Mercedes Mazzucco commented on Onyango Makagutu's blog post Is believing in god wrong?We are a worldwide social network of freethinkers, atheists, agnostics and secular humanists.
(Reuters) - Egypt's ruling Muslim Brotherhood warns that a U.N. declaration on women's rights could destroy society by allowing a woman to travel, work and use contraception without her husband's approval and letting her control family spending.
The Islamist movement that backs President Mohamed Mursi gave 10 reasons why Muslim countries should "reject and condemn" the declaration, which the U.N. Commission on the Status of Women is racing to negotiate a consensus deal on by Friday.
The Brotherhood, whose Freedom and Justice Party propelled Mursi to power in June, posted the statement on its website, www.ikhwanweb.com, and the website of the party on Thursday.
Egypt has joined Iran, Russia and the Vatican - dubbed an "unholy alliance" by some diplomats - in threatening to derail the women's rights declaration by objecting to language on sexual, reproductive and gay rights.
The Muslim Brotherhood said the declaration would give "wives full rights to file legal complaints against husbands accusing them of rape or sexual harassment, obliging competent authorities to deal husbands punishments similar to those prescribed for raping or sexually harassing a stranger."
U.S. Ambassador Susan Rice last week touted at the commission - a global policy-making body created in 1946 for the advancement of women - progress made by the United States in reducing the rate of violence against women by their partners.
"All 50 states in our union now have laws that treat date rape or spousal rape as just as much of a crime as rape by a stranger," Rice said. "We cannot live in truly free societies, if women and girls are not free to reach their full potential."
The contrasting views show the gap that needs to be breached in negotiations on the declaration, which this year is focused on urging an end to violence against women and girls. The commission failed to agree a declaration last year on a theme of empowering rural women due to similar disagreements.
WORLD IS WATCHING
Egypt has proposed an amendment, diplomats say, that would allow countries to avoid implementing the declaration if it clashed with national laws, religious or cultural values. But some diplomats say this would undermine the entire declaration.
The Muslim Brotherhood warned the declaration would give girls sexual freedom, legalize abortion, provide teenagers with contraceptives, give equality to women in marriage and require men and women to share duties such as child care and chores.
It said the declaration would allow "equal rights to homosexuals, and provide protection and respect for prostitutes" and "equal rights to adulterous wives and illegitimate sons resulting from adulterous relationships."
A coalition of Arab human rights groups - from Egypt, Lebanon, the Palestinian Territories, Jordan and Tunisia - called on countries at the Commission on the Status of Women on Thursday to stop using religion, culture, and tradition to justify abuse of women.
"The current positions taken by some Arab governments at this meeting is clearly not representative of civil society views, aspirations or best practices regarding the elimination and prevention of violence against women and girls within our countries," said the statement issued by the Coalition for Sexual and Bodily Rights in Muslim Societies.
Michelle Bachelet, a former president of Chile and head of U.N. Women, which supports the commission, said the commission was unable to reach a deal a decade ago when it last focused on the theme of women's rights and ending violence against women.
"Ten years later, we simply cannot allow disagreement or indecision to block progress for the world's women," Bachelet told the opening session of the commission last week. "The world is watching ... the violence needs to stop."
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Permalink Reply by Neal on March 15, 2013 at 9:57am When religion controls the minds of the populace, there is no equality, no freedom.

Permalink Reply by Hope on March 16, 2013 at 12:10am Women suffer of sexual harassment, domestic violence and they get insulted by what so called virginity test,, etc! and they want them to keep silent!?
Anyway, Egyptian women are still strong, and they won't give up no matter what happened!

Permalink Reply by Ali on March 16, 2013 at 7:22pm
Historic testimony:
the Judge: "Why did you killed Foda?"
the killer : "Because he is an apostate"
the Judge: "From which of his book you knew he was an apostate?"
the killer : "I didn't read any of his books."
the Judge: "how?"
the killer:" I don't read nor write!"
sometimes religions feeds on ignorance and not just the seek of power and control.

Permalink Reply by Adriana on March 17, 2013 at 10:30am
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