Thursday, April 17, 2008

Equal Rights of Women to Property?

Nowadays feminists are fierce in demanding equal rights of women on properties, in accordance with CEDAW (Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women) which Bangladesh has ratified.

Today I came across a different dimension of thought to this proposition as highlighted in a letter by Md. Shah Jahan published in The Daily Star and I found it thought-provoking. Here's the letter:

Whenever questions of inheritance under Shariah Law are addressed, it seems that people take for granted that each and every parent would leave behind huge properties and their heirs have to share and enjoy the same. In fact this is a misconception. Many a father leaves behind huge debts. Who pays back the debts of the deceased parents? Usually in our society a girl is not asked to pay the debt of her parents.

If a law is passed that boys and girls would inherit equally the assets of parents, then the question of liabilities would also come up. In that event if a poor girl is required to pay the debts of her parents, then I can guarantee that it would become a doomsday for hundreds and thousands of poor girls, including the married ones. They will lose their husbands and their families will be broken.

It is the microscopic wealthy section of society, which may claim equal rights of inheritance for boys and girls but the majority of the girls will not be able to pay debts of their parents. They are far greater in number, but their voice is not heard.

Allah knows best what is good and what is bad for His creation.