OUR WORK SPEAKS FOR ITSELF
THIS is in response to the letter, “Ministry aid for Sisters In Islam sends wrong message” (NST,
April 5).
Over three decades ago, the founding mothers of what would eventually be known as Sisters in Islam (SIS) got together to discuss the disturbing trend of inequality subjected onto women in the name of the religion.
It is through their personal experiences and observations of these prejudices, that they began to explore a deeper understanding of Islam and the rights of women encapsulated therein.
What they discovered is not only the benevolent and compassionate essence of Islam, but also a call to arms in standing up against injustices and inequality.
This is the proud mission of SIS that we continue to champion today. More and more, the lives of Muslim women in Malaysia today are deeply rooted in normalised discrimination and oppressive socially conditioned expectations, and their voices are not being heard. This is why thousands of women come to SIS.
They come to SIS because we are known to uphold and promote equality and justice of Muslim women in the family — these are normative values of Islam held by the majority of Muslims in Malaysia and Muslims globally.
The work of SIS is to ensure that women are able to exercise their rights that are granted in the family within the 21st century context where women play a critical role in both private and public spheres — this is also a normative reality of the majority of Muslim women in Malaysia and globally.
SIS amplifies the voice of Muslim women and their experiences of not getting justice when pursuing their rights and that of their children’s within the legal system, particularly in issues of custody, maintenance and protection from domestic and sexual violence.
It is the norm that women are expected to remain silent and not speak of their negative experiences because these are worldly challenges that they are expected to endure and that they will be better rewarded later for their patience.
For speaking out against the injustice done to Muslim women, SIS has been issued a fatwa which deemed it to be subscribing to liberalism and religious pluralism — this is a normal reaction by the religious authorities to women who are vocal in expressing their rights and for calling for reforms. Malaysia is not alone in this, there are other countries too. It is important to address this with the question “Why?” This is because reforms require honest reflection and calling for changes of the existing structure, and challenging the authority.
SIS believes that the rule of law must and will prevail. This is why SIS has applied for a judicial review against the fatwa. This process is ongoing.
It is through our Telenisa work we learn that for the third year running, fasakh (divorce in Islam) constitutes the highest number of enquiries by our clients, followed by queries on polygamy. Most complaints were by wives whose husbands have legally entered into subsequent marriages without their knowledge and only discovered about them later.
Amendments to the law on polygamous marriages in Malaysia in 1994 and 2006 have chiselled the rights of wives to a point where such marriages are now done in secret. The legal requirement of being able to maintain the standard of living of current wives has also been removed, which is contrary to what is stated in the Quran.
Whatever the challenges and other issues faced by women, the work of SIS continues. We also call on women groups and the public at large to come on board and serve, to ensure that Muslim women in Malaysia are given the information and support they need in their struggle to live their lives in full recognition of their agency and dignity as women.