In recent years, child rape in Bangladesh has reached an extreme level. Neither boys nor girls are being spared. Fathers are now also raping their own daughters. Child rape continues openly in mosques, madrasas, homes, and outside.
The state has laws for the protection of women and children. Human rights activists are fighting against such inhumane acts from their own positions. The situation in Bangladesh after August 5, 2024, is now somewhat different. Across the country, there has been a sudden rise in Islamic extremism, fundamentalism, and militancy. Groups such as Jamaat-e-Islami, Hefazat-e-Islam, Charmonai, and Hamza Brigade are being seen in a very aggressive position. The processions of black flags bearing the Kalima in Dhaka and across the country have increased public concern.
Is the country then moving towards becoming a jihadist state?
At the same time, the demand for establishing religious Sharia law has also become quite strong.
Why do the Islamic gender guardians want Sharia law?
They want it so that they can freely rape children.
Under Sharia law, rape is considered legal because there is no such term as “rape” in Sharia law. Sex outside marriage is called zina or adultery. Under Sharia law, everyone involved in this adultery is considered guilty. Even if a 3-year-old child is raped, it is considered adultery, and the punishment for committing adultery would apply to both the rapist and the victim; meaning that the 3-year-old child victim would also be punished.
To establish adultery as adultery, evidence must be provided; without four adult, trustworthy male witnesses, an accusation of zina or adultery would not stand. If you make an accusation but fail to bring witnesses, then you will be punished for making the accusation.
Aisha, a young woman travelling with a caravan, once became separated in the desert and was lost with a young man named Safwan. People began saying that surely they had engaged in sex at that time. After this news spread, to protect her honour and reputation, Prophet Muhammad declared that at least four witnesses must be brought, and they must say that they had personally seen the act of sexual intercourse. Since no one except Aisha and Safwan had seen such an act, the Prophet himself saved his wife from defamation on that occasion. From then on, the law of requiring four witnesses began in Islam.
Now the gender guardians see that they cannot rape children without consequences; if they are caught, they have to go to prison. They do not want these “Jewish-Christian civilized laws”; they want laws for child marriage, so that they can marry children and rape them to their satisfaction. After the rape is over, simply saying “talaq, talaq, talaq” will end the marriage; the pleasure of Sharia law is not only in child marriage but also in divorce without giving any reason at any time.
If Sharia law is established, the abuse of male children will become legal. As I mentioned earlier, the term rape or sexual assault does not exist in Sharia law, or in Quranic law, or in Allah’s law. Although the Quran mentions sexual relations between two men or sodomy, there is no law against it. Therefore, men will be able to continue raping male children freely and without fear, and no one will have to face imprisonment.
If Sharia law is established, these Muslim gender guardians will then rule. Gather stones now; women will be stoned to death. The age of Arab ignorance will return again.
