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Momodou



Denmark
11713 Posts

Posted - 23 Jan 2007 :  13:22:09  Show Profile Send Momodou a Private Message
SEVEN UNATTENDED CHILDREN TAKEN BY POLICE
By Sarjo M.C Singhateh


On Friday morning, about seven unattended children were found at the entrance of the Police Headquarters in Banjul.
According to the parents of the children, they left their children to go and buy food for them, but when they returned, they found that the Police had taken the children to the Police Headquarters. Both mothers who are residents of Nema-Nasiru, Kombo North, confessed that they have resorted to begging in the streets because of poverty. According to an eyewitness, these children were found unattended by their mothers in the vicinity of the Department of Education in Banjul, where a vehicle nearly hit one of the children.
The concerned driver of the vehicle reported the matter to the Police Station. This led to the Police officers to collect the children and took them to the Police headquarters.

One of the mothers who have five children, including two of the boys who were picked up, stated that her children had lost their fathers five years ago. She said since then, survival has been a serious problem, noting that her two children are currently not going to school because of lack of payment of fees.
She explained that three of her five children who are older, stay at home while she goes with the two young boys to Banjul to beg in the streets. The ages of these boys can be estimated as 5 and 7 years respectively.

Another mother who may be in her thirties said her husband is an old man who could not fend for the family. She said it is because of this that she had decided to go and beg with her twins.
"Look at me I'm pregnant. How can I sit down with my kids without food?" she lamented. Three of her children were picked up by the Police, including the twins.

The mother of the remaining two children also narrated a similar experience.

The mothers were escorted to the Social Welfare Department in Banjul. When the officer in charge at the department was contacted, she said that they would advise the mothers appropriately in order to ensure that the protection and interest of the children are maintained.
The Police PRO was not available at the time and efforts to reach him by phone proved futile.


Source: Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issue
Issue No.009/2007, 22-23 January, 2007

A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone

Cornelius

Sweden
1051 Posts

Posted - 23 Jan 2007 :  15:18:22  Show Profile Send Cornelius a Private Message
In Sierra Leone, the average lifespan for men is 37 years and for women it is 39 years (according to UN statistics.

Now you may believe in the words of BENJAMIN DISRAELI: “There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics.”

It is an undeniable truth that children IS the future, our future, the future of the Gambia, of Africa, of the world of mankind. Only Adam and Eve were not children.

Dr. Jammeh came into this world in 1965 at a time when I completed "A" levels and that was possible thanks to the government of Sierra Leone who paid my fees throughout secondary school - seven and a half years free secondary schooling - otherwise it could have been different and the difference between people is mainly the difference in the lack of opportunity.

So it is heartbreaking that children who should be in school are to be found BEGGING in the streets of Banjul because of lack of attention by a government that should be more responsible and more responsive to it's own future - the future of children. Our children.
(Non- mystically speaking) Children do not choose their parents and this means that the children begging in the street – not only these seven, but all the children begging in the street are you and me and they are OUR children as Khalil Gilbran the idealist Lebanese poet-philosopher has so thoughtfully expressed this concern, even beyond brother’s keeper mentality:

http://leb.net/gibran/works/prophet/prophet4.html

(As far as education goes, we could all do with some more and not only more in-formation. Some people are what they eat, others what they read and re-actions to what they read. A slight contrast here and some rage):

http://www.bobdylan.com/songs/itsalright.html

In most of our struggling-to-make-ends-meet African democracies it should not be forgotten that children are also people, perhaps little people and (who was not or is not one?). In these our emerging and still struggling democracies in which each and every shortcoming and failure is laid at the doorstep of the head of state sometimes called the “father of the nation” – a title that is mostly earned by grandfathers or those long gone before or after our countries graduated from colonial status to independence and a title that younger leaders aspire to and would be deserving of should they not only initiate but carry through, sustain the momentum with which they started their new eras of progress and should Yahya Jammeh continue to deserve the support of the people because of progress and development then the earlier Gambians such as Pierre N’jie ( or even Lenrie Peters – no doubt a relative of the founder of Freetown, Thomas Peters) and Sir Dawda Jawara could then take their more rightful entitlements in the hierarchical and chronological council of the elders and ancestors(- as Koro Sallah would say - ) and instead of fathers of the nation, they could be promoted to being “grand fathers of the nation” and the former upstarts who in about twenty years time should have earned such merit to be seen in the eyes of their contemporaries or the generation before, as “Father of the nations” – and this is not a remote possibility – within our own lifetime and perhaps as late as a time when many Bantaba members are toothless old men along contemporary great grand mothers of the nation, we will be alive and witnessing people calling Yahya Jammeh, almost toothless himself, by that time but still, “Father of the Nation”.

Now since POWER is organised in a very hierarchical & pyramidal structure with a concentration of the said power( and sometimes wealth too) at the presidential apex, all policy success or failure is usually attributed to one man: the president. It’s like a boomerang - failure is like a boomerang and so the only question that I as a Gambian brother would like to ask – is not different from the question that one of the Amponsah Kings, Nana Kwame Ampadu of African Brothers Band International, would also like to ask “He- who-Decides” and "He-who-is-most-responsible-in-the-land” and he who we agree is the First-Citizen-of-the-Gambia, and
“He -who-would-like-to-ENJOY-another-30-more-years-in-POWER" and even before he goes to Janna be called “ Father of the Nation” ( as opposed to being called "The Godfather" ) because of all his good works - as a good MUSLIM - so, as a response to Momodou's posting there is only ONE QUESTION which he must address and a solution he MUST give, if he is indeed a leader and a healer and the question is a question that was implied in Grand Ayatollah MONTAZERI's criticism of Yahya's brother Ahmad ( whose star is still in the ascendant):

WHY ARE THERE CHILDREN BEGGING IN THE STREETS OF BANJUL
WHEN THEY SHOULD BE IN SCHOOL


WHY

Edited by - Cornelius on 23 Jan 2007 16:24:37
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jambo



3300 Posts

Posted - 23 Jan 2007 :  16:11:00  Show Profile Send jambo a Private Message
shoot me if i am wrong, but what happened to not having anymore children. , it seems wrong to have more if you cannot feed the ones you have. what happened to the extended family i am sad that the begging situation is not getting better but reading this it seems to be getting worse.
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Alhassan

Sweden
813 Posts

Posted - 23 Jan 2007 :  16:21:46  Show Profile Send Alhassan a Private Message
quote:
Originally posted by Cornelius

In Sierra Leone, the average lifespan for men is 37 years and for women it is 39 years (according to UN statistics.

Now you may believe in the words of BENJAMIN DISRAELI: “There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics.”

It is an undeniable truth that children IS the future, our future, the future of the Gambia, of Africa, of the world of mankind. Only Adam and Eve were not children.

Dr. Jammeh came into this world in 1965 at a time when I completed "A" levels and that was possible thanks to the government of Sierra Leone who paid my fees throughout secondary school - seven years free secondary schooling - otherwise it could have been different and the difference between people is mainly the difference in the lack of opportunity.

So it is heartbreaking that children who should be in school are to be found BEGGING in the streets of Banjul because of lack of attention by a government that should be more responsible and more responsive to it's own future - the future of children. Our children.
(Non- mystically speaking) Children do not choose their parents and this means that the children begging in the street – not only these seven, but all the children begging in the street are you and me and they are OUR children as Khalil Gilbran the idealist Lebanese poet-philosopher has so thoughtfully expressed this concern, even beyond brother’s keeper mentality:

http://leb.net/gibran/works/prophet/prophet4.html

(As far as education goes, we could all do with some more and not only more in-formation. Some people are what they eat, others what they read and re-actions to what they read. A slight contrast here and some rage):

http://www.bobdylan.com/songs/itsalright.html

In most of our struggling-to-make-ends-meet African democracies it should not be forgotten that children are also people, perhaps little people and (who was not or is not one?). In these our emerging and still struggling democracies in which each and every shortcoming and failure is laid at the doorstep of the head of state sometimes called the “father of the nation” – a title that is mostly earned by grandfathers or those long gone when our countries graduated from colonial status to independence and a title that younger leaders aspire to and would be deserving of should they not only initiate but carry through, sustain the momentum with which they started their new eras of progress and should Yahya Jammeh continue to deserve the support of the people because of progress and development then the earlier Gambians such as Pierre N’jie ( or even Lenrie Peters – no doubt a relative of the founder of Freetown, Thomas Peters) and Sir Dawda Jawara could then take their more rightful entitlements in the hierarchical and chronological council of the elders and ancestors( - as Koro Sallah would say - ) and instead of fathers of the nation, they could be promoted to being “grand fathers of the nation” and the former upstarts who in about twenty years time should have earned such merit to be seen in the eyes of their contemporaries or the generation before, as “Father of the nations” – and this is not a remote possibility – within our own lifetime and perhaps as late as a time when many Bantaba members are toothless old men along contemporary great grand mothers of the nation, we will be alive and witnessing people calling Yahya Jammeh, almost toothless himself, by that time but still, “Father of the Nation”.

Now since POWER is organised in a very hierarchical & pyramidal structure with a concentration of the said power( and sometimes wealth too) at the presidential apex, all policy success or failure is usually attributed to one man: the president. It’s like a boomerang - failure is like a boomerang and so the only question that I as a Gambian brother would like to ask – is not different from the question that one of the Amponsah Kings, Nana Kwame Ampadu of African Brothers Band International, would also like to ask “He- who-Decides” and "He-who-is-most-responsible-in-the-land” and he who we agree is the First-Citizen-of-the-Gambia, and
“He -who-would-like-to-ENJOY-another-30-more-years-in-POWER and even before he goes to Jana be called “ Father of the Nation” ( as opposed to being called "The Godfather" ) because of all his good works- as a good MUSLIM - so, as a response to Momodou's posting there is only ONE QUESTION which he must address and a solution he MUST give,if he is indeed a leader and a healer and the question is –a question that was implied in Grand Ayatollah MONTAZERI's criticism of Yahya's brother Ahmad ( whose star is still in the ascendant):

WHY ARE THERE CHILDREN BEGGING IN THE STREETS OF BANJUL
WHEN THEY SHOULD BE IN SCHOOL


WHY



Cornelius.
To answer you question, begging is no a crime in the Gambia. I have had some problems during my visit with adults(men) begging. These adults are quite fit to work and make a living but they go round begging from house to house in the name of BAMBA or any other Marabout. The Gambians are easily fooled by religious affairs. It is enough you mention SEIKOU TIJAN or praise him then you can see people giving money for no reason. SADAKA is for the peasant or the unable. Like a blind man or a disabeled person who is out of employment. I tell you you can see mothers with TWINS on Fridays by all Mosques begging, when they are capable of earning a living. Some prefer to give out money during Islamic conferences or GAMOs(celiberating the prophets birthday)instead of the five daily prayers. SUFISM is a big problem in West Afruica. People belive more in their Marabouts than God. This I say because you can here them swearing in the name of their Marabout. This I hope the Government has to do something about.
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Cornelius

Sweden
1051 Posts

Posted - 23 Jan 2007 :  17:06:38  Show Profile Send Cornelius a Private Message
Dear Al-Hassan,

La hawla wa la quwwata illa billah al- ali al-azim !

It is indeed distresssing that Sheikhs and marabouts have such a standing in the eyes of the Faithful. Superstition in the dark continent - as in everywhere else, is mostly the direct result of ignorance and lack of ILM! SO the motto is: Educate! Doesn't the hadith say that we should seek knowledge even if we have to travel to CHINA? (Taiwan??)

http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=HADITH+%3A+Seek+knowledge+even+if+you+have+to+travel+to+China&btnG=Search&meta=

Perhaps the next president of the Gambia will be a high-level Marabout of impeccable moral quality, or one with healing powers similar to the present president's?

Apart from the exaggerated veneration of some (in their eyes ) exalted personalities, every Muslim knows that only God is to be worshipped.

I remember a visit to TANTA to Sheikh Ahmad al- Badawi's place in Egypt, in 1991.
A man kicked open the door and shouted in the direction of the Sheikh's grave ”AHMAD BADAWI! DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY MILES I HAVE TRAVELED TO SEE YOU!!?
The Masjid was so packed. Some of us could not get to Sujjud that afternoon, and in the streets, some Sadaka, much sadaka yes, remembering Sheik AHAMD AL-BADAWI. Understandable. The "Beggars" give others the opportunity to give, to exercise that CHESED, to develop as human beings and to be blessed to put the qualities of Rahman and Rahim etc, into heart motion. Do we not all beg the Almighty, are we not all beggars? Indeed the Qur'an says that Allah Subhan t'ala is the rich, and we are the poor.

What is most distressing is when you say “Some prefer to give out money during Islamic conferences or GAMOs(celebrating the prophets birthday)instead of the five daily prayers.
INSTEAD OF ????????????????

In the whole world, Sierra Leone is the country that has the greatest disparity between the rich and the poor – followed by Brazil.

And in the Gambia too I’m sure that we would like to see the kind of democracy that Abu Dharr al-Ghifari usually regarded as the first of Islam’s socialists also espoused:

http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=Abu+Dharr+al-Ghifari&btnG=Search&meta=

Here we would mean Socialism of a very rudimentary type which would of course have to develop from the basic root of the WEALTH of the Gambia being invested in the LIVES of ALL Gambians. Do you agree to that?

Here are Sheikh al-Qaradawi’s views on begging:

http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?pagename=IslamOnline-English-Ask_Scholar/FatwaE/FatwaE&cid=1119503544186

Sadaka
http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=Alms+in+Islam&meta=

Zakat
http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&sa=X&oi=spell&resnum=0&ct=result&cd=1&q=Zakat&spell=1

You say that begging is not a crime and has not been crimialsied in the Gambia, and of course begging has not been criminalised in Social Welfare Sweden either as you must have noticed if you are a regular tunnelbana person in Stockholm. You may have beeen accosted in the underground by a distressed man or woman from Esatern Europe - they are aslo said to be professional beggars , of the type I encountered in Bombay in 1977, carring children whose ribs you could count in the sunlight. The idea is have some coins or at least small change in your wallet or pocket, so that someone does not ask you and you do not give. It is always a blesssing to give – so think of the example of the most generous of Arabs(and Arabs are generous) think of Ali, alaihi salaam’s example about that beggar who came into Allah subhan t’ala’s mosque and asked for Alms which Ali- even bowed in prayer gave him –(his ring) as a result of which we read in the Quran:

http://www.tafseercomparison.org/study3.asp?TitleText=Study%203:%20Verses%205:55-56

Check the section on ” Begging in an Islamic community” which you can find half way down the page.

http://www.ourdialogue.com/b4.htm

also

http://www.ummah.com/forum/showthread.php?t=109295

and
http://www.angelfire.com/mo2/scarves/begging.html

Strange things sometimes come up from the depths:

http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=How+does+Islam+view+begging%3F&meta=

Wa Salaam,

Cornelius

Edited by - Cornelius on 23 Jan 2007 17:49:58
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Sister Omega



United Kingdom
2085 Posts

Posted - 23 Jan 2007 :  17:14:46  Show Profile  Visit Sister Omega's Homepage Send Sister Omega a Private Message
To be poor is a crime! The poor have to worry about school fees just to get their children educated. If the G8, IMF, World Bank etc priorities were to channel revenue and resources into education rather than into supplying arms to governments then maybe poor children in developing countries could go to school. And these mothers who have limited skills could learn skills to generate an income.
Jambo do you really think that this woman has rights over her reproductive system. And even if they did contraception is not always 100% proof. It's undignified to blame the victim it won't solve the problem. These women need a solution to solve their immediate problem. Which is the ungrateful belly which needs to be feed everyday no matter how much it ate yesterday. Our stomachs needs to eat today.

It would be interesting if Forayaa followed up the story to see how the Social Welfare Department assisted these three women and their seven children.


Peace

Sister Omega

Peace
Sister Omega
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Cornelius

Sweden
1051 Posts

Posted - 23 Jan 2007 :  18:56:06  Show Profile Send Cornelius a Private Message
Although I have never liked his anti-Semitic views or his somewhat un-Shia predisposition, for English speakers ( he is a Scot, like George Galloway) & he is certainly one of the great communicators in Islam ( I have read all his books in publication including his "The Sign of the Sword" which would make George Bush shiver) and his very explicatory "Qur'anic Tawhid" and I hope that you (Al-Hassan) don’t have anything else against him:

Here he is in company with others of his clan:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extreme_Islam

HIs official website
http://www.shaykhabdalqadir.com/content/index.html

Al-Hassan writes: “SUFISM is a big problem in West Africa. People believe more in their Marabouts than God. This I say because you can here them swearing in the name of their Marabout. This I hope the Government has to do something about.”

Well, what do you want the government to do about it?
Should the president on the advice of Sheikh Hassan or the Mufti of the Gambia legislate that SHIRK is a criminal act liable to prosecution, hard labour imprisonment, fines, or community service, for anyone to (a) Believe in their marabouts more than they believe in God (b) that they should swear in the name of their marabouts at all.

About swearing in the name of their marabouts in itself is no crime (or is it?)
The third Commandment reads:
Deuteronomy 5:11 "Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain: for the LORD will not hold [him] guiltless that taketh his name in vain." – and thats’ why God’s Holy Name is protected from misuse in JUDAISM..... people swear so much even using English words. Swearing is second nature to some. I hear it everyday from adults, and then the same people tell their kids it’s wrong. I almsot do not swear at all.

http://search.yahoo.com/search?p=The+Ten+Commandments&fr=yfp-t-405&toggle=1&cop=mss&ei=UTF-8

SUFISM in itself is not the problem.

http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=SUFI&meta=

http://godlas.myweb.uga.edu/Sufism.html

Think of this most excellent Fulani man, Muslim Momin, Statesman, Jihadist, Scholar and eminent good example. One of his books is one of the best I have ever read on the subject of Islam - not a wasted word. It is published under the title of “Handbook on Islam, Iman, Ihsan”

http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&sa=X&oi=spell&resnum=0&ct=result&cd=1&q=Islam+Ihsan+Iman++(+by+Usman+Dan+Fodio&spell=1

http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=%E2%80%9CHandbook+on+Islam%2C+Iman%2C+Ihsan%E2%80%9D&btnG=Google+Search&meta=

http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=USMAN+DAN+FODIO&btnG=Search&meta=

http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=Handbook+on+Islam%2C+Iman%2C+Ihsan+%28+by+Usman+Dan+Fodio&btnG=Search&meta=

No, Sufism in itself is not a problem, (in fact Sufis did a lot of Jihad against colonial rule in West Africa)
http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=Sufi+and+Jihad+in+West+Africa&meta=

Sufism is not the problem, although there are a lot of charlatans out there hoping to deceive the credulous and even take their money. The problem is surely people of wrong understanding. I was once in a little bit of confusion and asked my then Sufi Morad, Dr. Javad Nurbakhsh mentally – not orally or aloud, but telepathically as to whether I should direct a certain thought to him or to the Almighty. He pointed with his index finger to the heavens in reply and from that time the question was illuminated.

AS you know in Islamics it is QUL HUWALLLAHU AHAD.

Is that too difficult to understand or to teach?

http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&sa=X&oi=spell&resnum=0&ct=result&cd=1&q=Dr.+Javad+Nurbakhsh&spell=1

The TEN COMMANDMENTS:

http://search.yahoo.com/search?p=The+Ten+Commandments&fr=yfp-t-405&toggle=1&cop=mss&ei=UTF-8

For you guys who either believe that Jesus is God , or the son of God, or a prophet of Allah, or a Sufi Sheikh, or the Messiah of Islam it is worthwhile in that case to know what he says about swearing in

Check out Matthew 5: 34-35

http://www.newadvent.org/bible/mat005.htm

But I say to you, make no oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God,
http://scripturetext.com/matthew/5-34.htm
or by the earth, for it is the footstool of His feet, or by Jerusalem, for it is THE CITY OF THE GREAT KING
http://scripturetext.com/matthew/5-35.htm

Edited by - Cornelius on 23 Jan 2007 19:53:01
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Alhassan

Sweden
813 Posts

Posted - 23 Jan 2007 :  19:27:02  Show Profile Send Alhassan a Private Message
quote:
Originally posted by Sister Omega

To be poor is a crime! The poor have to worry about school fees just to get their children educated. If the G8, IMF, World Bank etc priorities were to channel revenue and resources into education rather than into supplying arms to governments then maybe poor children in developing countries could go to school. And these mothers who have limited skills could learn skills to generate an income.
Jambo do you really think that this woman has rights over her reproductive system. And even if they did contraception is not always 100% proof. It's undignified to blame the victim it won't solve the problem. These women need a solution to solve their immediate problem. Which is the ungrateful belly which needs to be feed everyday no matter how much it ate yesterday. Our stomachs needs to eat today.

It would be interesting if Forayaa followed up the story to see how the Social Welfare Department assisted these three women and their seven children.


Peace

Sister Omega


Sister,
I hope you don't misunderstand me. The problem here is the men. They marry more than one and cannot afford for all, I want the men to see the problem and do something about it. They have to plan for the family before producing babies. Of cause this does not apply to all.
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gambiabev

United Kingdom
3091 Posts

Posted - 23 Jan 2007 :  19:39:53  Show Profile Send gambiabev a Private Message
I saw some accounts for the fishermen in Tendaba. Several of them had 4 wives and 20 (yes 20!) children. How does ANYONE afford that?!

One of the big changes in UK in the 1960s and 1970s was freely available contraception and abortion. This clearly empowers women to take control of their reproductive life. Gambian women, especially in the villages have very little choice in their sex life and contraception. They have no power. To many of their husbands they are just baby making machines.

What life choices do they have? Is there an alternative? If there is no viable alternative to producing babies then why would you stop? It is the only thing that gives your life purpose and meaning.
But if you are well educated and employable outside of the home, suddenly you can see beyond babies and see a purpose beyond domesticity.

Of course, being a mother is a worthwhile job, but women should have CHOICES.

In Pirang there is a poor lady who is ill, weak and struggling. She offered me her daughter to bring to the uk. I help her with her daughters schooling. When I returned this visit she was pregnant AGAIN. I was sad and disappointed. Has my help just allowed her to have another baby? I wanted to help her help her daughter have a better life.

I have already told my Gambian guide that any children he and his wife produce HE will have to support. (NOT ME!) I dont want to encourage babies that people cant afford to feed.
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Newfy



Western Samoa
462 Posts

Posted - 23 Jan 2007 :  20:43:46  Show Profile Send Newfy a Private Message
This is disturbing story. How will the protective forces/social workers help these seven kids and moms too without being punitive?

The law an eye for an eye makes the whole world blind.
Mohandas Gandhi
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Sister Omega



United Kingdom
2085 Posts

Posted - 23 Jan 2007 :  22:54:38  Show Profile  Visit Sister Omega's Homepage Send Sister Omega a Private Message
Alhassan how can men be persuaded to use contraception within an Islamic society?

Peace

Sister Omega

Peace
Sister Omega
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Alhassan

Sweden
813 Posts

Posted - 24 Jan 2007 :  09:39:44  Show Profile Send Alhassan a Private Message
quote:
Originally posted by Sister Omega

Alhassan how can men be persuaded to use contraception within an Islamic society?

Peace

Sister Omega


Sister,
Islam does not prohibit family planning or the usage ofo ntraceptives within marrage. It is us the Moslems who misinterprit.

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jambo



3300 Posts

Posted - 24 Jan 2007 :  14:18:22  Show Profile Send jambo a Private Message
sister the answer to your question is no, but she said, my husband is old and cannot work, i bet this is his second or third wife, the problem here is not the womens.
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Sister Omega



United Kingdom
2085 Posts

Posted - 24 Jan 2007 :  14:41:30  Show Profile  Visit Sister Omega's Homepage Send Sister Omega a Private Message
There are reasonable men who will use contraception but there are a lot of others who won't even consider using condoms or allow their wives to take contraception. Therefore it comes down to women to take their destinies in their own hands. This is not an easy situation for women to be in if the society cannot afford to subsidise poor people. If these women can't find work then there seems to be only two options available to them either to beg or prostitute themselves.

Jambo Of course the problem is the woman's because when children are hungry they expect their mother to feed them. If her husband is not providing for her and their children. Then she has to find a way to feed them herself otherwise they will go hungry. It is not suprising when children parents can't afford to send them to school either through old age, disability or death that children have to use their wits to survive.

As for drivers there needs to be lower speed limits within residential areas to avoid accidents. This case only came to light because one of the children nearly got run over. Having said that there is an indication of extended family break downs emerging and a crumbling of social security net, which traditionally acted as a buffer zone which the koranic school system provided for the very poor in terms of childcare. Even though the system was far from perfect.

With the increase of motorists on Gambian roads young children need to be taught road safety. It is common for small children to play in the streets giving their mothers relief during the day whilst they do their chores. However it seems that unless residential zones are brought in i'e reducing speed limits or predestian free zones there will be an upsurge of road deaths in Gambia. I hope that the authorities will bring in preventative methods by introducing traffic calming measures whilst they are expanding the road networks. Especially in residential areas where congestion from pedestrians is high.


Peace Sister Omega

Peace
Sister Omega

Edited by - Sister Omega on 24 Jan 2007 14:52:57
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