Aji:
This is well said and I support your position regarding the right(s) of
women to protect themselves, if even to prevent unwanted pregnancies.
Unfortunately, religious justifications have often been used by some
Imams, like Abdoulie Fatty, and lay persons alike, to maintain male
privilege in Gambia and other patriarchal societies. Such views
regarding contraception must be contested and refuted as you have done
so well. Thank you.
Abdoulaye
Aji Joof wrote:
>
> Hi folks,
>
> I don't know about you guys but Imam Fatty with all due respect sounds like
> he is afraid of loosing control as a man if women activists succeed. As an
> Imam but above all, as a human being he should not call a fellow human being
> or a fellow muslim for that matter "ignorant and hypocritical" just because
> he does not approve of what they are supporting.
>
> I am not a feminist neither am I qualified to be called a female activists
> but call me a womanist. I believe in the advancement, protection and
> development of the woman. The fight is for rights of women not to the
> extreme though but really to be given enough rights to make decisions for
> our selves.
>
> For your information Sir, birth control pills cannot encourage prostitution.
> It is like saying that Female Genital Mutilation will prevent promiscuity.
> 'The pill' as he puts encourages women to space their child bearing periods
> and in the process help them heal after giving birth. It helps plan families
> as the name 'family planning' suggests. In effect, it is more to do with
> health reasons than sexuality.
>
> Family Planning is not a western concept. In fact, it is universal. Our
> 'mams' used to exercise contraception or family planning by way of
> abstaining from any sexual activity with their partners ( please feel free
> to correct me where you feel I am wrong). However, the effects of that is
> that one partner is deprived from satisfying such conjugal needs and at the
> same time puts strain on marriages, relationships etc.
>
> Fighting for woman's right is not and should not in any way shape or form
> 'subvert Islam'. We as women want to take control of our lives, bodies and
> of course, our future.
>
> Until later
> aji
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Amadou Kabir Njie <[log in to unmask]>
> To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
> Date: Wednesday, August 18, 1999 02:00
> Subject: Imam Fatty Condemns 'Fankanta'
>
> The Daily Observer Published at 12:00pm G.M.T 08/17/99
>
> Imam Fatty Condemns 'Fankanta'
>
> The imam of State House Mosque, Alhaji Abdoulie Fatty, has told the
> women of Bakau to distance themselves from the practice of family planning
> and not to listen to those campaigning for it as it is "unIslamic and a
> threat to Islam.".
>
> Imam Fatty was addressing a large congregation at an Islamic conference
> organised in Bakau, by Ibadu rahman, an Islamic association.
>
> Imam Fatty said the West introduced 'Fankanta', the localised concept
> of family planning, to fight Islam. "Family planning is the idea of the
> British scholar, Malthus, an unconscious philosopher who was theorising on
> how to avoid over population in the world." The imam added that Allah has
> promised in the Muslim holy book, Qur'an, to feed every mouth He created.
>
> He cautioned women practising family planning, to seek forgiveness
> from Allah. "Fankanta destroys our societies and is responsible for so many
> diseases in women because of the poisonous drugs they are issued," the
> strident imam said.
>
> He said the term, family planning, has now been changed to Fankanta to
> fool people. "They issue pills to women and even school girls to practise
> prostitution."
>
> He condemned the "so-called religious leaders who have been bribed" to
> speak in favour of Fankanta as "ignorant and hypocritical."
>
> Imam Fatty also spoke out against "so-called women activists" fighting
> for the rights of women, calling them "infidels" who are subverting Islam.
>
> He advised the gathering not to be fooled by the Ahmaddiyans "who are
> a threat to Islam.".
>
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