Indian Muslims urged to shun 'evil' dowry system

September 4, 2013

Indian_Muslims

Jeddah, Sep 4: Muslims should stick to Islamic teachings and shun the dowry system, Indian expatriates in the Kingdom have said in reaction to reports that the incidence of domestic violence in their country has worsened because of dowry disputes.

Women’s rights activists on Tuesday, citing statistics from of the National Crime Records Bureau, said 8,233 Indian women died at the hands of their husbands’ families because of disputes over dowry payments made by the brides when the marriage takes place. That's one woman killed every hour.

Aleem Khan Falki, an activist campaigning against dowries and the founder of Socio Reform Society Jeddah, told Arab News on Tuesday that dowries were once deemed a “social evil” but have now affected the “morale, economy and all social values” of India.

“NCRB statistics should astonish the world. In this age of education and technology, could India be such a savage country that it burns one woman to death every hour?” he asked.

Dowry demands can continue for years after the wedding. Thousands of young women each year are burned to death after being doused with petrol because the groom or his family believed the dowry was not sufficient.

“The worse effect of the dowry is that the parents have to spend every single penny of their savings on the dowry of the daughters and leave nothing for the sons,” said Falki. “The sons have no other option except adopting lower and contemptuous professions like auto driver, peons, sweepers or tea boys.”

Indian law bans the centuries-old custom, yet the practice continues unabated and country’s justice system has only a 32 percent conviction for dowry related crimes.

A group called the 50 Million Missing Campaign, laments that dowry in India today "has become the No. 1 method of criminal extortion through the infliction of blackmail, torture, violence, and murder of women."

"Every son born into a family is greedily viewed as the ‘golden goose’ who will bring in the fantasized wealth through the dowry they will demand when he gets married. So families want more and more sons. There is no end to the wealth demand even after marriage, and if the woman is killed, the son can marry again. For another dowry! Why kill, why not just divorce? In the case of divorce, there is always the chance that the woman or her family will demand their dowry money/items back.

"The families that are consumed with hoarding dowry, are the same ones that also do not want to pay dowry to other families. Hence, not only do they torment and kill women who marry into their families, but they destroy daughters in their own families through selective female feticide, infanticide and the killing of toddlers through starvation and deliberate neglect," the campaign said.

Abdul Raouf, an Indian who works in Jeddah, said dowries are considered "haram" or forbidden in Islam and there would be no disputes if all Muslims follow such rule.

“It is true that the dowry system has become a big problem for everyone regardless of religion,” he said. Especially in Islam it's not allowed according to Shariah, but people in India and Third World countries don’t follow these law.”

Dr. Sayeed Haroon, a Jeddah-based consultant, said the dowry system would remain unless community leaders and religious schools spread awareness about the deadly practice.

“It’s not only the problem of Muslims but all the religions in India,” Haroon said. “In our religion simple marriages are the best marriages according to Qur’an and Sunnah, but people are going in wrong directions. Because of this, many young girls are sitting at home and not getting married on time and going astray or committing suicide.”

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News Network
June 26,2020

Dubai, Jun 26: As summers in Dubai bloom in its full glory, the most savoured summer fruit - Mongo - is getting the most special treatment in the city as it gets delivered to customers via an emperor like ride of a Lamborghini.

As per a video report by Gulf News, the Pakistan Supermarket in Dubai is delivering the king of fruits to the doorsteps of its customers in a green coloured Lamborghini to match the level of its supremacy among fruits.

"The king should travel like a king," says the managing director of the store, Mohammad Jehanzeb who delivers the pulpy fruit by himself and also takes the customers on a short ride in the luxury car.

In order to avail the offer rolled out on the Facebook page of the famous supermarket, customers are required to make a minimum order of Dh100, reports the Gulf News.

"The idea is to put a smile on people's faces and make them feel special," says Jehanzeb who has put a smile on the face of dozens of Dubai residents amidst the throes of a pandemic with his 'Mangoes in Lamborghini' campaign.

The delicacy this year has gone viral with videos of delighted mango lovers taking a joy ride in the supercar doing rounds over the internet.

"The joy ride was essentially meant for kids who have been sequestered at homes because of the coronavirus but adults are equally thrilled at the prospect of getting behind the wheels of my Lamborghini Huracan. I am happy to oblige them too," says Jehanzeb.

"Each order takes about an hour. We do about 7-8 home deliveries a day but are hoping to ramp up the numbers to 12," he adds.

Arshad Khan who hails from the Indian city of nawabs - Lucknow- ordered the 'nawabi' varieties - Sindhri and Anwar Ratol - and said that his children were exhilarated after hearing the roar of the Lamborghini outside their Falcon City villa.

"For someone who hails from Lucknow -- the land of the famous dussheri and landga mangoes -- I was a bit skeptical about the taste of Pakistani mangoes. I ordered them for the sheer experience of seeing them come to my place in a luxury supercar," Gulf News quoted Khan as saying.

"It was quite exhilarating and I must confess that the mangoes were as delicious as the ones back home," he added.

Mango fruit has been a delicacy in the 16th-century Hindustan sub-continent. It holds a fascinating narrative in Babur Nama which is an autobiography of the Mughal emperor Zahiruddin Muhammad Babur.

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News Network
May 7,2020

Dubai, May 7: The holy month of Ramadan is expected to be a 30-day month this year, said Ibrahim Al Jarwan, member of the Arab Union for Astronomy and Space Sciences.

According to Arabic daily Emarat Al Youm, he said that Sunday, May 24, will mark the end of the holy month of Ramadan and the beginning of Shawwal.

Additionally, he said that the crescent of Shawwal will occur on Friday, May 22, at 9.39pm, after sunset, and will be visible on Sunday, May 24, the beginning of Shawal, which makes Ramadan a 30-day month this year.

He added that the next Ramadan is expected to start on April 13, 2021, and the one after that on April 2, 2022.

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Khaleej Times
June 7,2020

Dubai, Jun 7: Emirates airline on Sunday confirmed that it extended the period of reduced pay for its staff for another three months as airlines around the world struggle to preserve cash due to the grounding of fleets.

An e-mail has been sent across to Emirates employees about extending the wage cuts till September 30. In some cases, the salary will be reduced by 50 per cent.

Emirates had previously reduced basic wages by 25 to 50 per cent for three months from April, with junior employees exempted.

The Dubai-based world's largest international carrier employs around 60,000 people across its spectrum. While the parent Emirates Group employs over 100,000 workers.

On Thursday, Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways confirmed to Khaleej Times that it also extended salary cut of its employees till September 2020.

"Regretfully, Etihad has extended its salary reduction until September 2020, with 25 per cent reduction for junior staff and cabin crew, and 50 per cent for employees at manager level and above. Housing allowance and a number of benefits continue to be paid," the airline's spokesperson said in a statement last week.

In March, Etihad had announced temporary reduction of basic salaries for the month of April to all staff, including executives, between 25 to 50 per cent.

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