A letter signed by the Mahdi Army linked to Moqtada al-Sadr, the radical Iraqi Shiite cleric who the United States considers the greatest threat to security in Iraq, warned Christian women in Baghdad to wear the veil as do Muslim women. It is the latest in a long string of abuses against Iraqi Christians, including rape, murder, kidnapping, extortion and forced conversions, AsiaNews reported Wednesday.
The letter, an English translation of which was published by Aina news agency Wednesday, said "Was the Virgin Mary (peace be upon her) unveiled so that Christian women be allowed to be unveiled? Was Fatima al-Zahra unveiled? And were the wives of the Caliphs in the First Caliphate or others unveiled? No, and then no ... Allah forbid and far be it from all of them." It then warns "She is an adulteress, and she even proclaims sinfulness, challenges and fights Allah and his Prophet and ignores and neglects religion."
Answering the question "What measure should be taken against a woman who disobeys her father, husband, or her guardian by not committing to the legal veil?" the letter said husbands and fathers "must guide and educate her religiously in order to convince her. If she is not convinced still, then they must imprison her at home and do not expose her to the forbidden interaction with men." Finally, it warns "special committees have been established to follow up on this matter."
Sunday, June 03, 2007
Christian women warned to wear veil
Christian women warned to wear veil
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