Why Islam Isn't Pro-Domestic Violence: The Kashmir Example

Kashmir -- a volatile region of religious and political conflict along the India-Pakistan border -- is an area marred by suspicion and distrust of the "other." A recent New York Times article on the deaths of two women in Kashmir highlights the nature of this conflict. Fortunately, the mainstream media coverage hasn't all been doom and gloom. Across the pond, the British paper The Independent presented a different tale of Kashmir, one in which religious and cultural differences are bridged to address a common problem: domestic violence.

Women in Security, Conflict Management and Peace (WISCOMP) has worked for ten years to facilitate the leadership of women in peace, security, and international affairs. WISCOMP's Kashmir initiative, Athwaas (Kashmiri for a warm greeting or handshake), has created a safe space for Kashmiri women from Hindu, Muslim, and Sikh communities to dialogue and "build bridges of trust and reconciliation." According to Ashima Kaul, WISCOMP's Kashmir consultant, the common concern over domestic violence grew from the Athwaas project.

Regardless of religion, region or ethnicity, Athwaas participants found they were all impacted by domestic violence in their communities, so they have been working together to spread a zero-tolerance message for domestic violence, engage community leaders, and lobby for stronger legislation.

While it's not highlighted in The Independent piece, the role of Muslim women in the domestic violence initiatives should be noted, particularly in Western media where Islam is far too often depicted as a violent religion that sanctions spousal abuse. (For an excellent explanation of why Islam is not pro-domestic violence, see Naazish YarKahn's piece "Violence Against Women is not a Tenet of Islam.")

Perpetrators, victims and survivors of domestic violence can be found in all cultures and all religions. Those who argue otherwise, or insist that Islam is inherently violent toward women, do so from a combination of fear, ignorance, prejudice, and stupidity. While the mainstream media seems to have little interest in addressing common misperceptions, the rest of us can take a page from the Athwaas participants who are overcoming their distrust through dialogue and collaboration, and shout their story from our respective soap boxes.

Photo from babasteve on flickr