Somali women flogged by Islamist hardliners for wearing bras

Where in the Q'ran does it proclaim it is haram (forbidden) for women to wear pants? Or brassieres? Or burqas? In fact, where in the Q'ran does it forbid half the things modern-day Islamic fundamentalists force on women? Yet, the hard-line Islamic fundamentalists are hell-bent on establishing man-made religious laws that oppress and dehumanize women.

Most women accept their lot as a fait accompli; although there are a few who have the courage to fight back, regardless of the consequences. Take Sudanese journalist Lubna Hussein who was one of 13 women arrested , this past July, at a cafe in Khartoum for wearing trousers. Considered "indecent" and therefore un-Islamic, she was facing 400 lashes and a fine. Since she worked for the U.N. she could have had immunity, but chose to quit her job instead so she could challenge the law that forbids women to wear pants. Although she was not flogged, 10 of the 13 women were beaten and fined the equivalent of approximately $120.00. All for wearing pants.

The latest absurdity comes out of Somalia where women are being humiliated and publicly flogged for wearing bras. According to insurgent, hardline Islamists Al Shabaab, bras

violate Islam as they are 'deceptive'. The insurgent group Al

Shabaab has sent gunmen into the streets of Mogadishu to round up any women who appear to have a firm bust, residents claimed yesterday.

The women are then inspected to see if the firmness is natural, or if it is the result of wearing a bra. If they are found wearing a bra, they are ordered to remove it and shake their breasts, residents said.

As repressed as the men must be from forcing women to cover themselves from head to toe, do they get their jollies from inspecting and making the women shake their breasts?

Prior to Al Shabaab establishing a foothold in Somalia, the country practiced a moderate form of Islam. Now they are now attempting to impose an ultra strict form of Shariah law in that land, including banning

movies, musical ringtones, dancing at wedding ceremonies and playing or watching soccer.

Although both men and women suffer with the imposition of this kind of religious fanaticism, women suffer the most.

"Al Shabaab forced us to wear their type of full veil and now they order us to shake our breasts,' a resident, Halima, told Reuters, adding that her daughters had been whipped on Thursday.'They are now saying that breasts should be firm naturally, or just flat.'

Where do such ridiculous ideas come from? Are the men so afraid of women that they have to control every aspect of their lives?

The oppression of women from telling them what they can and cannot wear to what they can and cannot do is a form of slavery and just demonstrates how little women are respected. It is truly shameful.