Suzanne Nemchek
9/21/12
SOC 202-01
A
cleric and religious figure by the name of Hojatoleslam Ali Beheshti was
allegedly beaten by two Iranian women after requesting for them to cover
up (Barghi). In an interview, Beheshti expressed
that “he thought the women’s attire defied social codes and Islamic values” (Barghi). The women did not follow his orders; rather,
they allegedly insulted the cleric and proceeded to attack him (Barghi). The attack put Beheshti in the hospital for
three days and he claims that he is still in need of assistance as a result of
the attack (Barghi).
This
type of incidence represents a global battle for women’s rights that is still
going on today. Although the women were
breaking the law in the eyes of Iran, a feminist would argue that this law is
unfair. Why are women required to cover
up but men are not? The answer is a
religious one since Islam is the major religion of Iran. In Islam, women are perceived as property of
a male, whether that male be her father or her husband. As property, the religion wishes to
desexualize women by requiring a certain dress code so as to not attract other
men. Women all around the world are
appalled by this view and treatment of women.
Even women in Iran, such as the two involved in the attack, do not wish
to be treated any differently than the men.
Still, the law persists and, therefore, these two particular women
committed a crime. The severity of this
issue of women’s rights in countries such as Iran continues in the possible
punishment for these women. Since one
woman is considered the equivalent of half of a man in Islam, women receive
harsher punishments for less crime. With
the assistance of developed countries, such as the U.S., there is a glimmer of
hope for a women’s rights movement in Iran in the near future. Such a movement would improve the lives of
many women and create a fair society for both sexes.
Works Cited
Barghi, Shirin. 2012. “Hojatoleslam Ali Beheshti,
Iran Cleric, Claims He Was Beaten Up By ‘Badly Veiled Women’”. The Huffington Post. Retrieved September
21, 2012. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/18/hojatoleslam-ali-beheshti-beat-up-woman-iran_n_1894877.html?utm_hp_ref=world
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