You guys (and gals) know I hate religion. Religion is cool when you’re a spineless person in need for some fake reassurance and a reason to act human. That’s cool cause it only affects you. However, religion isn’t cool when it affects other people’s lives negatively. One negative way, as I’m sure all women and any person in his/her right mind would tell you, is being raped. Rape is one of the most heinous crimes people commit, up there with murder and child molestation.

Unfortunately, in Lebanon, where “honor” crimes were outlawed only last year, rape is still legal when the parties are married, or get married after the crime. Wow, how embarrassing and stupid… Every time I hear or think of this, I think “seriously?!” and wonder if we’re going to hold public beheadings and make Sharia Law the law of the land next.

What’s worse, is that the draft law that we all thought would pass with ease in parliament, has been held up for months as religious fundamentalists try to alter the draft law, making it defunct and ceremonial (the way they think women should be in society).

The disgusting stances of muslim religious leaders in Lebanon, calling women’s protection a “travesty to harm social and religious fabric” makes my stomach turn. But, that is to be expected from old men in robes who feel empowered by bringing down women and reducing women’s roles as “answering to men, as men answer to God”.

What’s even more disgusting is that the committee overseeing this draft law, consists mostly of non-muslims and even one of the few female MPs. I’d understand why Mohamad Jisr, Ali Ammar and of course Imad el Hout would want to hijack the law. After all, they belong to the sects whose religious heads made it not ok to protect women’s rights and in a country where these men in robes decide the fate of elections, I wouldn’t blame those MPs, they’re just boot-licking cowards in search of re-election.

Now, here I’m not blaming the whole sect of course, just its leaders. After all, people have brains and many of us are educated. For example, when I say the Vatican is retarded for being against the use of condoms and other contraceptives, that doesn’t mean all Catholics are retards. I myself was raised as a Maronite in communion with the Catholic Church and so were many of my friends. It’d be a pretty safe bet that none of them are against the use of condoms and safe sex. That’s why priests can be against condoms all they want, and preach against it day and night, but the law of the land should never ban it, and it never does in most cases because that would be endangering the lives and health of those involved. But, when retarded religious opinions and prejudices are law, that’s when the men and women in suits need to step-up to the robed men and set things right.

What’s even more disgusting, is the pressure some religious leaders have put on TVs to stop airing TV spots illustrating the horror many women still face. Blackmail at its finest, I’m sure if God existed he’d be proud of you!

Nabil Nicolas, Michel El Helou, Gilberte Zouein, Ghassan Mkheiber and Shant Jejenian have no excuse though. What’s appalling is that most are in the Free Patriotic Movement, the block who calls itself the “change and reform” block and whom I put a lot of hope in in 2009. To that, I say, shame on you, and that come next elections, I and many like me will be working fiercely to make you fail miserably in the ballot boxes. After all, some estimates put the male to female ration in Lebanon as high as 1 man for every 4 or 5 women, which means that out of every 5 votes, as many as 4 are female, who I’m sure don’t believe that the Kur’an is enough to ensure their protection from abusive husbands.

Protest January 14, 2012

I personally support this rally, and will be present at it, like many other men who are organizing themselves to lobby for gender equality and safeguarding women’s rights and safety. An example is the ABAAD NGO, which has almost 4000 fans on Facebook and that’s before the launch of their website! I recommend you follow KAFA and Nasawiya as well, two NGOs in which I have many friends and who I undoubtedly support. As for the details on the January 14 protest, here’s the FB event page.

Real Men

Real men don’t beat women. Real men don’t rape their wives. Real men will win the hearts of the women in their lives through respect and adoration, not oppression and subjugation according to religious ridiculousness.  Real men should lock up small men who take advantage of Lebanese moms, sisters and daughters.

Edit: check out this hilarious tumblr blog making fun of Imad Hout’s controversial comments. (thanks serge!)