Freedom from Oppression: Thanks to Canada
Rahaf Mohammed Al Qunun is free. She has arrived Canada and has been received by Chrystia Freeland, the Foreign Minister of Canada. She has been granted asylum in Canada. Rahaf, who is a teenager, slipped out of her family during their visit to Kuwait, made her way to the airport and boarded a flight to Bangkok. Her passport was snatched from her as she was boarding off the plane at Bangkok. Despite all efforts by the Thai immigration authorities, she refused to return to Saudi Arabia barricading herself in her hotel room.
She fears she might be killed upon her return to her country as she has renounced Islam, the religion of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Anyone who leaves the fold of Islam is punished by death sentence. The laws of the Kingdom are very strictly rigid. There is no concept of forgiveness and mercy in Saudi Law.
Meanwhile in her hotel room she communicated non-stop with her friends in Canada and other countries through social media. One of her friends in Canada immediately contacted some journalists who are well-known for raising their voices against persecution of women. The case of Rahaf became viral on social media and caught the eyes of state authorities in Canada and Australia who were quick enough to help the woman who was fighting to reclaim her right to lead a life as per her desires.
Rahaf has broken the chains of slavery. She has flown out of the cage of conservative religious laws which deny women their rights to live as free and independent person. Women in Saudi Arabia are at the mercy of male guardians. The Kingdom is famous for its strict guardianship system that controls the movements and activities of women. Women in the Kingdom must get approval of a male guardian before applying for passport, travel outside the country, study abroad on a government scholarship, get married or even exit prison.
Women cannot go out of the house without wearing hijab and abaya, a cloak or veil that covers head and body. The Saudi Arabian society is a gender segregated society. There are separate areas for males and females in restaurants and other public places. The religious police are very strict and impolite in implementing the dress and public ethics code. At the prayer time, all shops and markets close for a certain time. The customers may wait in the malls or outside till the end of the prayer time. Saudi Arabia is a perfectly male-dominated society. A woman may get education, become a civil officer, physician or professor but she will remain dependent upon a male guardian. Her guardian can be father, husband, brother or even her son.
Women in Saudi Arabia and all over the world are sending congratulatory messages to Rahaf for her victory in winning her battle to reclaim her rights to live as an independent human being. Rahaf wants to wear clothes of her own choice, she wants to choose the education devoid of religious tint. She has renounced the kind of religious beliefs and practices which were forced upon her. She was suffocating and choking in the ultra-religious atmosphere of the Kingdom. As a human being she has the right to live the style of life she wants. She has the right to wear the kind of clothes she likes. She has the right to move around and visit the places independently deciding where she wants to go. But the ways of the Kingdom are different from what she likes.
Human rights and justice is not only the problem of Rahaf but all the women of Saudi Arabia who have developed the awareness of their rights. The victory of Rahaf in breaking the chains of her conservative society and flying away from the country as a free bird out of the cage, is a landmark in the history of the struggle of Saudi women for their freedom from the cruel, conservative cultural system of Saudi Arabia.
Rahaf has reached Canada which is a country that respects every citizen and resident irrespective of gender, class, colour or creed. No matter what faith or sect one comes from one is considered equal to all others. There is no hatred or prejudice against anyone. Canada is not a police state where rules, codes of ethics or religious values and practices are forced upon people. You may go to mosque, church or temple as you choose. Nobody cares whether you leave one religious faith and join another. One is free to choose his/her style of life. Love, compassion, human rights, justice, politeness, respect and honor are some of the outstanding values of Canadian society.
Rahaf has arrived in Canada at the prime of her life and it is hoped that she will enjoy her life as a free citizen of the country. It is also hoped that this positive and bold step taken by Canadian Government will open the door for several other persecuted people who are languishing in miserable and appalling conditions in Immigration Detention Centers (IDCs) in Thailand, Malaysia and Sri Lanka.
Mumtaz Shah
Thanks for the information
Sam
Thanks Mr. S.Laldin for your comments. Blessings.
Very Nice sharing.Too early to make a comment!
Goshi, you are very right. It’s still too early to make comments. There are varied opinions coming up gradually.
I really don’t know why Canadians government is taking so much interest in her case. Is it just because she belongs to a crown’s family? What about those refugee claimants who have been waiting for the past several years separated away from their dear ones? What about those failed refugee claimants whose cases were rejected waiting to be deported back to their countries. Canadian Government is very much aware what will happen to failed refugees after being deported. Two Pakistani youth who returned to Pakistan were arrested under Blasphemy Law, put behind bars and have been sentenced to death. Who will decide the fate of all such people living every day of their lives in stress and fear? I do not say that Rahaf Mohammed should not have been given asylum. What I say is, why don’t we show the same mercy for Aasia Bibi? Why don’t we help the persecuted asylum seekers languishing in IDCs in Thailand, Malaysia and Sri Lanka? These are all the questions that need to be answered. God bless Canada and the refugee claimants.
Dear Noel Shah. Your questions have baffled me. To tell you the truth I have no answer. But I do have all my sympathies with Rahaf and all those women in Saudi Arabia and the entire Arab world who are living a life of gender-based slavery. I have all my sympathies for the persecuted people in Pakistan, Thailand, Malaysia and Sri Lanka. I have my sympathies with failed and rejected refugee claimants in Canada and other parts of the world. I believe and hope that if we all keep raising our voices in support of all these persecuted people through social media and through writing and posting our complaints through various communication channels, we shall one day be able to bring about a positive change in the overall environment. Please read my article on Aasia Bibi and New Year. Those articles will further clarify my viewpoint. Thanks for your comments.
Nicely written piece. Now up to canadian people to choose next prime minister wisely. Who will do the same for people like Asiya bibi
Thanks Zimran for your comments. Several people are now raising voice for Aasia Bibi that she should also be given asylum in Canada. Her case is much more stronger than Rahaf Mohammed. Aasia Bibi has gone through eight long years of constant persecution, victimization and injustice. We ask Canada to show the same merciful attitude towards her by giving her immediate asylum. Have you read my article on Aasia Bibi? You will find it on my blog.
Not only one lady but people all over the world should be liberated who are suffering from religious, social or political discrimination n oppression. In this case Canada deserves a big applause.
Clement Maurice, you have very rightly highlighted the point that not only one woman but all the women who are facing oppression and discrimination from religious, social or political perspective must be liberated. We raise our voice for Aasia Bibi and other helpless women who face victimization on daily basis.
Shah Sahib your appreciation and commendable recognition regarding Rahaf case is realistic and holds the Canadian government in high esteem. There are instances in human history that when cruelty and injustice reached extreme limits a panacea in the form of a Redeemer a Savior a land where justice prevails or a civilization having no discrimination and equality regardless of gender caste creed religion color or race generated naturally by Will of Almighty.For Almighty has chosen certain lands and rulers for this sublime cause and a case of Rahaf is just a symbol of the foregoing scenario in world turbulent time span moving gradually towards the Promised Eternal Life and Promised Land.Shah Sahib your scholarly sentiments and motivational narrative is applaudable.Regards.
Dear Raymond Simon: As always your comments are very comprehensive.Canada became a saviour for a person who was oppressed and vistimized.i have hope that Canada extends its helping hand for the persecuted asylum seekers stuck in miserable conditions in Thailand, Malaysia and Sri Lanka. We hope that it rescues Aasia Bibi so that she could live in peace with her family. We also hope that it opens its arms for Christian refugee claimants who have been waiting for years living in fear and stress.