Stop deportation and “honor killing” of Roohi Tabassum
by Kelli
The Toronto Sun reported this month on the case of Roohi Tabassum (pictured right), a 44-year-old Pakistani woman living in Canada, set to be deported April 28.
Many have rallied and contacted the Canadian government to allow Tabassum to remain in the country, claiming if she is deported she will become the victim of an honor killing.
Her husband, Faisal Javed, a Sunni, has written her, according to the TS…
Everybody is against you. I am also very combative to you…. [I]f you are here, I could not leave you alive…. Keep this in mind that now I will finish you myself.
In 2001, Tabassum came to Canada illegally and sought refuge but was denied, even upon appeal. She tried to divorce Javed in 2007, but he refused. Tabassum has been employed as a hairdresser and styles the hair of men as well as women, which has outraged her husband, who also believes she is seeing another man.
Tabassum denied this and fears for her life:
In 3 weeks, I will be put to my death…. He believes I have shamed and disgraced his family’s name and honour…. By killing me he thinks he will restore his family’s honour…. I am living in fear every day and I don’t know what to do.
And rightfully so. Family friend Habiba Ahmed told the TS: “There’s no doubt she will be killed if she returns to Pakistan. Her death will be made very public as a message for everyone to see.”
See more on this TS news video:
Imam Abdulhai Patel of the Canadian Council of Imams, claims honor killings are rare, “more of a cultural occurrence than a religious practice.” But statistics show 10k women die every year from honor killings in Pakistan. Tabassum’s own 1st cousin was a victim after refusing to submit to an arranged marriage.
Grassroots action is encouraged on behalf of Roohi Tabassum. Contact the following with the request “Do not deport Roohi Tabassum”:
Minister@cic.gc.ca
The Embassy of Canada
501 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC, USA 20001
Phone: 202-682-1740 or 202-682-1755
Fax: 202-682-7726 or 202-682-7738
Immigration Fax: 202-682-7689
Public Affairs Fax: 202-682-7791
http://www.canadianembassy.org
2 Robert Speck Parkway,
Suite 1200
Mississauga, ON
L4Z 1H8
Fax: 905-803-7392
The Consulate General of Canada, Detroit
600 Renaissance Center, Suite 1100
Detroit, Michigan, USA 48243-1798
Telephone: 313-567-2340
Immigration: 313-567-2085
Fax: 313-567-2164
http://www.detroit.gc.ca
dtrot@international.gc.ca
For more information go to AndrewLongman.com.
[Image HT: The Passionate Pro-Lifer]
Jill Stanek is a nurse turned speaker, columnist and blogger, a national figure in the effort to protect both preborn and postborn innocent human life.
Can she not be granted asylum? Barring that, are there no other countries willing to host her to protect her from her husband?
It seems like somoene in the international community could do something to make sure she isn’t handed over to her death.
Imam Abdulhai Patel of the Canadian Council of Imams says it doesn’t happen, it is rare.
Reminds me of abortion. It is rare also.
We give sancturary to illegals with criminal histories. Canadia can let sanctuary be granted to one without crime. They of course have plenty of space for 1 more.
Yep, 10K per year is “rare” in his world.
With 8 days to go, there is no time for hoping some bureaucrat will do the right thing. We must assume they will do all the evil they are stating they will do. We must pressure Canada with outrage, because their appeals have refused this lady over and over again. They don’t care if a woman’s life is snuffed out by the jihad. They care only that they “don’t get involved”. Nobody could believe Terri Schiavo was going to be killed. Everyone thought “surely someone will do something”. You are the only someone who might do anything. Do it. Nail Canada to the wall until they grant her asylum. 8 days from this post, she’s dead.
…and this barbaric practice is known as “Honor” Killing?
Hmmm…
Has anyone ever heard a peep out of the NOW
gang or any leading feminists on the despicable
treatment of women by Islam?
Turning a blind eye to some insane notion of
“honor killing”???? How depraved are we?
WOMEN SPEAK OUT AGAINST THIS TRAVESTY, or do you
think you’re immune from this barbarism?
WAKE UP!!
The London Free Press is accepting comments
on this grave matter.
http://www.lfpress.ca/cgi-bin/publish.cgi?x=letters&p=28064&s=letters
Where does Oprah stand on this? Oprah, please help!!!
This is terrible! Every one of us ought to support her publicly, send out letters to friends and family, and keep her, above all, in our prayers.
It so unreal how honor killings could still be legal. I have a tremendous respect for Islam, but not for the degradation of women. Pray, pray, pray, pray.
Has anyone ever heard a peep out of the NOW
gang or any leading feminists on the despicable
treatment of women by Islam?
Don’t you DARE say such a thing! Islam gives women rights that women of many other religions can only DREAM! I have never felt more free as a Muslim woman. Honour killing are NOT ALLOWED in Islam and are an EMBARRASSMENT!
I will pray that she be granted asylum because for her to die for something she did that was not wrong in the least is a terrible and shameful thing.
No one is within their rights as a Muslim to kill this woman. That would be unacceptable and embarrassing to every single Muslim I know, including myself and my husband.
According to Wikipedia:
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) estimates that the annual worldwide total of honor-killing victims may be as high as 5,000.[1]
“SILENCE ON THE MURDER OF PALESTINIAN WOMEN IS COMPLICITY”
Letter to Mahmoud Abbas:
Mr President,
I understand the political burdens you shoulder. I know how busy your schedule is; the stubbornness of our occupier and the disaster and over disagreements with our brothers in Gaza. I know our unceasing fears and questions about when we will get Gaza back and when we might stop defeating ourselves must take up a great deal of your time.
I am writing to you on behalf of myself and on behalf of many women, though I am not by any means an appointed representative.
I am writing on behalf many many women so that I can stop feeling responsible as my society stands chained and watching as women are killed on the cheap, though we all say we know killing is illegal and violates our religious teachings.
Mr President, less than two weeks after you sighed the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women on International Women’s Day this March, Tahani Uda, a girl from Habla village south of Qalqiliya was smothered to death by her own brother.
More . . .
http://www.stophonourkillings.com/?name=News&file=print&sid=3544
Islam, I don’t think, is the problem. There are radicals in Islam- and the Taliban- and that is the problem. But Islam was initially- and still is (in most places, I think, anyways)- a beacon of equality. Mostly for men, I imagine, but it grew to incorporate all people: think of the way in which mosques were designed.
Anyways, I’m sorry to sound snappy. Thanks for your comments, Leah. :). My mother looked at this article (I sent it to her) and the first thing that she said was, “How do I know that this is REAL?” I just stood there, mouth agape. But, if you don’t mind, Leah, may I ask you what Islam does say about women? :).
Nothing says freedom like a burqua!
“Honour killing are NOT ALLOWED in Islam and are an EMBARRASSMENT!…No one is within their rights as a Muslim to kill this woman. That would be unacceptable and embarrassing to every single Muslim… ”
=========================
So, why is this woman fearing for her life on coming back home?
Shouldn’t the Islamic community (or even just the relatives and townsfolk) rise up and defend this woman from his husband…to avoid Honour Killings and embarrassments? Or are Shari’a judges’ rulings subjective like our own judges here?
..no disrespect..just wondering…
In all fairness it should be pointed out that “honor killings” are not exclusive to Islamic countries. According to one program I watched, men in S. America, a mostly Christian enclave, were quite free to murder wives, daughters, and girlfriends who had offended their “honor” in some way. These men for the most part set free by a sympathetic “justice” system and supportive society.
I think this has less to do with religion and more to do with worldwide cultural attitudes toward women.
Before we tsk tsk our moral indignation, let’s not forget how long a blind eye was turned to domestic violence in this country. How many women were brutalized and killed by men who got little more than wrist slaps. After all a man’s home was his castle. “Good” wives were not abused.
Social attitudes in this country toward rape victims are still in the neanderthal era. The day is not long past when it was virtually impossible for a rapist to be convicted. Trashing the victim to prove she “asked for it” was a great defense tactic.
Leslie Hanks,
An Afghan woman may have an entirely different perspective on wearing a burqua than you or I might have. Just as an Amish woman may have an entirely different persective on her tradtitional life style than you and I may have.
We judge solely from our cultural perspectives not realizing that people may view some of our cultural practices with the same revulsion that we view theirs.
This article’s own research states 10K women killed
by relatives annually in Pakistan alone.
Unconscionable!!!!!!!!!
“Honour killing are NOT ALLOWED in Islam and are an EMBARRASSMENT!…No one is within their rights as a Muslim to kill this woman. That would be unacceptable and embarrassing to every single Muslim… ”
That’s funny..mo himself had a woman snuffed for insulting him. Read up on that and then tell me islam doesn’t encourage honor killings.