DECEMBER 15 ― A few days ago, Sharul Nizam Ab Rahim achieved his moment of infamy in cyberspace when he proudly and gleefully posted on his Facebook page that he was not only going to break into the home of G25 spokesperson Datuk Noor Farida Ariffin and sexually assault her, but that he would also entrap her by calling the religious enforcement authorities.
Usually I wouldn’t give such lowlife any further attention because this is what this sort of person seeks as his post “I can also make other people angry” seems to indicate. However, I do feel that it is necessary to call him out on his rape threat, his belief that it is his “human right” to jest about rape or sexual harassment, and his perverse understanding that what he is joking about doing is somehow defending Islam.
First things first. We wouldn’t be having this kind of threat if the G25 spokesperson was a man. The reason why he feels entitled to threaten Noor Farida is because she dared to stand up, speak out and challenge others on a subject that, in Malaysia at least, is dominated by men.
I have yet to hear someone threaten to rape a man for expressing a contrarian opinion or for speaking out.
As can be seen from his posts and the subsequent responders to his initial FB post, it is really a group of men who feel threatened by the existence of female opinion that they would believe that it is necessary to punish and subdue the woman who dares to think and challenge the status quo.
The issue of khalwat and the supposed outrage regarding the call for institutional reform of religious laws are really just being exploited to bully and knock her down. Because it really has nothing to do with Islam but really about power and dominancy.
But this is one woman who is not likely to be intimidated into submission.
Sharul Nizam felt it was also his “human right” to jest about rape threats. He was most probably referring to the right to freedom of speech (such as it is in our country) and this was his way of exercising it.
To date, he has refused to acknowledge that what he stated in his posting can be considered to be a threat of sexual violence or rape. His supporters have even accused the media of spinning the story.
Predictably, quite a few people rushed in ― both online and outside of it ― to say that it was “just a joke.” Yes. It’s the kind of “joke” told by people who think rape is somehow a funny and humorous act. Who think rape threats can be used in normal conversation. Who think perhaps that such threats are a fitting punishment for women who dare to have an opinion and have the courage to speak out.
It is not a joke that recognises the horror of finding a stranger who having broken into your home, then proceeds to wait on your bed for the purposes of sex. It is not a joke that acknowledges that such acts or threats are actually criminal acts.
These jokes are told by those who have no respect for women. It is the kind of joke told by rapists and sex offenders. It is certainly not a “human right”, it never has been and never will be.
There should be zero tolerance for threats of violence against women. What Sharul Nizam wrote was indeed a rape threat. No caveats, ifs or buts.
Yet somehow, many of those who claim to be religious and practise the rituals of their faith with much zeal, believe that the targets of such hate and vitriol had it coming. That the recipients somehow deserved the threats, and in some extreme cases, the acts of violence which befell them. That it is necessary to do so or that such acts are justified to defend Islam and God.
How can the use or threat of sexual violence, an act condemned and vilified under Islam, be justified? This is such a perversion which all persons of faith must call out and condemn. Yet, I can’t help but notice that aside from human rights defenders, activists and representatives of a political party who have come out swinging in defence of Noor Farida, there is a deafening silence from the religious authorities.
These sentiments are arguably the by-products from the normalisation of misogyny, sexual discrimination and objectification of women, and the demonization of those labelled as liberals and feminists. What is worse is when the authorities are seemingly of similar opinion and remain silent in the face of such threats.
Such public sentiments and the blatant abuse and misuse of Islam are precisely why G25’s call for review and reforms to Malaysia’s Syariah laws, religious institutions, their mandate and powers, are justified and needed.
It is also disappointing to note the many outspoken misogynists and rape apologists that have crawled out of the woodwork. But it was also encouraging to read of the many men and women who spoke out in Noor Farida’s defence.
However, I was particularly dismayed to learn of the unexpected criticism from Tariq Ismail, co-founder of civil society group Aura Merdeka which was behind the “#Iam26” initiative, who rather than condemn the threats decided instead to go after the Malay Mail Online journalist Boo Su-Lyn who first reported on them.
In his Facebook posting, Tariq said that Sharul’s statement had been misconstrued and insinuated that somehow it was due to Boo’s lack of proficiency in Bahasa Malaysia and knowledge of Malay culture (are rape threats acceptable in Malay culture?). That her angle was to demonise Malays and Muslims. And that she is a racist. For that, I believe that Tariq owes Boo Su-Lyn an apology.
It is disappointing for someone who emphasised so much on the value of “respect” in his January letter, felt it necessary to take the apologist line of argument. That the offending post was actually a form of sarcasm and that there was no rape threat.
Let’s also not forget that Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan, Maria Chin Abdullah and many others are also currently facing threats and sexual harassment. We need to stand with them and Noor Farida against those who seek to justify such conduct.
We must demand that the authorities treat these threats with the seriousness they deserve. And we must also call out such behaviour when we see it.
Let us look them in the eye and not be threatened and bullied into silence.
*This is the personal opinion of the columnist.
