Imam urges Muslims to strategise to curb violence in society

Accra, Dec. 2, GNA - Mr Nurudeen Quaye, Greater Accra Regional Imam of Ghana Muslim Mission on Thursday called on Muslim leaders to map out strategies, to help curb the menace of domestic violence in Muslim communities.

He said domestic violence was a common phenomenon among Muslims due to the various interpretations and explanation of the Quran and the traditions of Prophet Mohammed which had led to a blend of culture and religion. Mr Quaye made the call when addressing Muslim leaders in Accra as part of the programme to mark the 16 Days of Activism to End Violence Against Women, organised by Women in Law and Development in Africa (WiLDAF). The celebration on the theme: "Women Speak Peace: End Gender Based Violence Now," was to create awareness on the Domestic Violence Act, discuss roles of individuals and leaders in ending violence against women and commemorate 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence. He said both the Quran and teachings of the Holy Prophet did not emphasis on beating or causing harm to anyone adding that the act of violence in the communities now was from the misinterpretation of a word in the Holy Book.

"The Quran and Hadith cautions the true believing Muslim to save the other from physical, psychological and verbal abuse of his or her own making," he said.

Mr Quaye said psychological and emotional abuses were also forms of abuses which individuals hardly recognised since it did not take the form of physical injury and added that such abuse trigger mental torture which had many rippling effects on the individual. He urged the participants to give violence in all forms a second thought and the attention it deserved in their various organisations, and communities for the betterment of all Muslim settings. Mrs Afua Addotey, Board Member of WiLDAF said the Domestic Violence Act 2007, was to provide protection from domestic violence particularly for women and children for connected purposes and emphasised the need for a violence free environment.

She said behaviours or conducts that in any way harmed another person, endangered the safety, health and well-being of other persons, as well as undermined another person's privacy, integrity or security was also a form of domestic violence. Mrs Addotey noted that although malaria and cancer were the leading causes of deaths in the world at large, violence against women caused more death than cancer.

She urged the leaders to set good examples by reporting all acts of violence especially against women to the authorised bodies since use of violence in the domestic setting was not justified on the basis of consent. Mrs Patricia Essel, Communication and Advocacy Manager of WiLDAF said despite the increased awareness on violence against women, females continued to experience violation in alarming numbers and new forms of violence were also emerging. She said it was important for every Ghanaian, irrespective of status, political affiliation, economic background, religion, or gender to ensure that women were protected from all forms of violence. Mrs Essel called on the leaders to create platforms and strengthen existing structures to work with victims and create safe places for women to engage in and strategise on how to address these issues primarily. 2 Dec. 10