Thursday, December 13, 2007

Aqsa Parvez

I'm sure most people have heard of the unfortunate fate of Aqsa Parvez. Her claim to fame us quite unpleasant, and definitely somethings should did not want or expect.

Aqsa Parvez was killed a few days ago by her father. And what drove her father to such an act? She decided to stop wearing the hijab, to better fit in with her friends and society.

Many have commented on this incident. I have read many, and I agree with some and disagree with others.

What I don't get is just how someone can care so much about a scarf that they would be willing to kill their daughter over it. Is fashion that important? How can any symbol mean more than flesh and blood?

This is the problem with causes. They let people transform mere things into symbols, and then elevate those symbols into a matter of life and death. No piece of clothing is worth killing over.

End Post
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2 comments:

Hewhoblogs said...

I am sure that that remark about fashion was just rhetorical flourish. But if not allow me to point out that fashion had nothing to do with it. It was all about the virus of religion.

If a person really and truly believes in whatever fanciful God their parents told them was real then any act of barbarity becomes easily justifiable.

Esonlinji said...

This is the thing. Intellectually I understand that. As a theory I can accept that, but in my own mind I cannot comprehend having a belief strong enough to kill over, let alone thinking that it is the right thing to do.
In a certain sense religion is just as trivial as fashion to kill over. Both are personal beliefs with little objective standards to decide by. Why is choice of invisible father figure a better reason than hijab colour?