By: Robin Murray-o'hair
Re: Hang Her!

HANG HER!

What do you do with a woman? Hang her. At least that seems to be
the answer in Bangladesh these days. Bangladesh has been in the
news the past year because of calls by fundamentalists there for
the execution of Taslima Nasrin, an Atheist doctor and writer, on
charges of blasphemy. Nasrin has fled to Europe, but Muslim
fundamentalists have found a new target for their hate.

The unlucky woman is Ms. Farida Rahman, who  represents the
Bangladesh Nationalist Party in the Bangladesh Parliament. On
March 15, she suggested that men and women be given  equal
property rights in inheritance -- something not permitted under
Islamic laws. Or to quote her,

      "I am not saying that the Koran should be rewritten but I
want equal rights for the women. I believe there is no harm in
going beyond the laws set by the Koran in this regard."

The reaction from the Islamic Action Council?  "We want to hang
Farida Rahman, like we wish for Taslima Nasrin,"  said
spokesperson Mufti Fazlul Huq Amini on Saturday, March 25, 1995
(Reuters, 3/25/95).