Singapore
By Zhaki Abdullah 27 May 2021 07:03PM (Updated: 27 May 2021 07:10PM )
SINGAPORE: President Halimah Yacob on Thursday (May 27) called on the police and the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS) to “fully investigate” an online poll about the sexual attractiveness of female Muslim religious teachers.
In a Facebook post, Madam Halimah said she was “deeply perturbed” to read about the poll ranking female asatizah (religious teachers).
“Is there no limit to how low some will stoop to degrade and defile women? Not only those who conducted the poll but those who participated in it also deserves our strongest condemnation,” she said.
“MUIS and the police should fully investigate this and punish those found guilty. This is not just the worst kind of harassment that’s against our law but amounts to an open invitation to commit sexual violence against women.
“We must not allow the anonymity of the web to embolden those who wish to abuse, denigrate and violate women.”
Addressing allegations online that among those who participated in the poll were people studying to become religious teachers, Mdm Halimah said the community has to “seriously consider whether they are fit to preach in the community once they complete their studies”.
The issue came to light after Ustaz Muhammad Zahid Mohd Zin, a popular local religious teacher, said on his Instagram account that he was shocked when he received a “distress call” from a female religious teacher about the poll.
Accompanying the post was a picture of the poll ranking at least 12 women, with their names and faces censored.
“Who did this must be held accountable,” Ustaz Zahid wrote.
CNA has contacted MUIS and the Singapore Police Force for comment.
One female religious teacher, Ustazah Fatin Afika, shared on her Instagram account that some of the images shared in the group were from “Islamic related videos”.
The incident drew condemnation from the Singapore Islamic Scholars and Religious Teachers Association (PERGAS), which said that all “sexual harassment, abuse and objectification” was haram, or religiously forbidden.
In a video on social media, PERGAS acting chief executive Dr Mohamed Qusairy Thaha said it was pursuing the matter and intended to “provide as much assistance as possible” to victims.
In a Facebook post, The Association of Women for Action and Research (AWARE) said it was “troubled by the demeaning and misogynistic social media poll" about the female religious leaders.
Beyond The Hijab, a website focusing on the experiences of Muslim women in Singapore, said on its Twitter account: "This shows how the issue of sexual harassment and violence in essence has never been about whether women are 'modest' enough, it is about a patriarchal culture that routinely dehumanises and reduces women with little consequence for the perpetrators.
“We are very disturbed by the fact that the group is allegedly comprised mostly of undergrads of Islamic Studies and therefore potential future teachers. This is not behaviour that teachers, as people in positions of power, should have. It would not be safe for students."
Source: CNA/az
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President Halimah Yacob condemns online poll sexualising female religious teachers
A screengrab of the poll on female religious teachers or ustazah (Image: Facebook/Al-kisah)By Zhaki Abdullah 27 May 2021 07:03PM (Updated: 27 May 2021 07:10PM )
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SINGAPORE: President Halimah Yacob on Thursday (May 27) called on the police and the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS) to “fully investigate” an online poll about the sexual attractiveness of female Muslim religious teachers.
In a Facebook post, Madam Halimah said she was “deeply perturbed” to read about the poll ranking female asatizah (religious teachers).
“Is there no limit to how low some will stoop to degrade and defile women? Not only those who conducted the poll but those who participated in it also deserves our strongest condemnation,” she said.
“MUIS and the police should fully investigate this and punish those found guilty. This is not just the worst kind of harassment that’s against our law but amounts to an open invitation to commit sexual violence against women.
“We must not allow the anonymity of the web to embolden those who wish to abuse, denigrate and violate women.”
Addressing allegations online that among those who participated in the poll were people studying to become religious teachers, Mdm Halimah said the community has to “seriously consider whether they are fit to preach in the community once they complete their studies”.
READ: OKLETSGO podcast should apologise for misogynistic remarks about women: President Halimah Yacob
The issue came to light after Ustaz Muhammad Zahid Mohd Zin, a popular local religious teacher, said on his Instagram account that he was shocked when he received a “distress call” from a female religious teacher about the poll.
Accompanying the post was a picture of the poll ranking at least 12 women, with their names and faces censored.
“Who did this must be held accountable,” Ustaz Zahid wrote.
CNA has contacted MUIS and the Singapore Police Force for comment.
One female religious teacher, Ustazah Fatin Afika, shared on her Instagram account that some of the images shared in the group were from “Islamic related videos”.
READ: 'Make your username obscure': Telegram chat groups circulating obscene material re-emerge
The incident drew condemnation from the Singapore Islamic Scholars and Religious Teachers Association (PERGAS), which said that all “sexual harassment, abuse and objectification” was haram, or religiously forbidden.
In a video on social media, PERGAS acting chief executive Dr Mohamed Qusairy Thaha said it was pursuing the matter and intended to “provide as much assistance as possible” to victims.
READ: Leaked sex tapes and child porn: A look into 13 illicit Telegram chat groups
In a Facebook post, The Association of Women for Action and Research (AWARE) said it was “troubled by the demeaning and misogynistic social media poll" about the female religious leaders.
Beyond The Hijab, a website focusing on the experiences of Muslim women in Singapore, said on its Twitter account: "This shows how the issue of sexual harassment and violence in essence has never been about whether women are 'modest' enough, it is about a patriarchal culture that routinely dehumanises and reduces women with little consequence for the perpetrators.
“We are very disturbed by the fact that the group is allegedly comprised mostly of undergrads of Islamic Studies and therefore potential future teachers. This is not behaviour that teachers, as people in positions of power, should have. It would not be safe for students."
Source: CNA/az
Continue reading...