In Islam, women are protected and honored via the laws that Allah ﷻ has laid down for us to follow. These laws of shariat are not meant to oppress women and restrict them, rather they are meant to give women real freedom, protection and honor.
Unfortunately Muslims today have become so enamoured with the western life and the pursuit of wealth and status that they don't see the dangers of sending their daughters into environments where their morality is destroyed and where they can be easily molested, raped and even murdered. Parents will use reponses such as "Don't we need female doctors?" etc to justify sending them to such places, but this will not hold weight in the court of Allah ﷻ when they will be questioned as to why they violated the laws of Allah ﷻ.
A glaring incident which highlights the reason for these laws occurred recently in Kolkata, India, involving the rape and murder of a 31-year-old female trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. The doctor was found dead on August 9, 2024, in a seminar hall within the hospital premises. An autopsy confirmed that she had been sexually assaulted before being brutally murdered, with multiple injuries indicating a violent death.
The police have arrested a 33-year-old volunteer, Sanjoy Roy, in connection with the crime, but the investigation is ongoing, with reports that multiple individuals including her own colleagues and other physicians themselves were involved.
The public are engaging in foolish protests and blaming the hospital authorities, whereas the blame can only be with the parents, who allowed their daughter to go into such an environment. They were not Muslim however, so they could not be expected to follow the guidance of Quran and Sunnah, but what of those who call themselves Muslim and yet also fail to follow the guidance of Quran and Sunnah and the laws laid down by Allah ﷻ in this regard?
This is not an isolated incident, it occurs regularly all over the world, as evidenced by the following research and these recent incidents:
Research:
- A study published in JAMA Network Open in 2021 revealed that around 30% of female healthcare workers worldwide have experienced some form of sexual harassment or assault during their careers
- Another study found that female medical students and residents reported high rates of harassment, with over 50% of respondents stating they had experienced sexual harassment during their training.
- In the UK, a 2020 survey by the British Medical Association (BMA) reported that 28% of female doctors had experienced sexual harassment in the workplace. The harassment often came from colleagues or superiors, creating a hostile work environment that many felt powerless to challenge.
The reality is that the actual figures are far higher as many do not report these incidents for fear of the stigma attached to it and the other consequences of doing so.
Recent incidents where the female doctors were also assaulted or murdered:
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Dr. Priyanka Reddy, India (2019): In November 2019, Dr. Priyanka Reddy, a veterinary doctor, was raped and murdered in Hyderabad, India. Her body was found burned under a bridge.
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Medical Professionals in Conflict Zones: Female doctors and nurses working in conflict zones, have reported instances of sexual violence, abduction, and even murder by armed groups.
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Dr. Katherine Morris, USA (1995): In a notorious case in the United States, Dr. Katherine Morris, a surgeon in Los Angeles, was murdered by a colleague who had been stalking her.
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Dr. Sandeep Kaur, India (2020): In June 2020, Dr. Sandeep Kaur, a 25-year-old doctor in Punjab, India, was sexually harassed and threatened by a male colleague. Despite filing complaints with the authorities, she faced continuous harassment
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Dr. Samia Shaikh, Pakistan (2019): In October 2019, Dr. Samia Shaikh, a young doctor in Karachi, Pakistan, was found dead under mysterious circumstances. Initially reported as a suicide, further investigation revealed she was sexually harassed by a senior doctor, leading her to take her own life
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Nurse Caroline Mwatha, Kenya (2019): Caroline Mwatha, a Kenyan nurse and human rights activist, went missing in February 2019. Her body was later found in a mortuary, with indications that she had been murdered
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Dr. Tinuade Adebayo, Nigeria (2016): Dr. Adebayo, a medical doctor in Nigeria, was sexually assaulted by a senior colleague in 2016. Despite reporting the incident, she faced significant backlash and intimidation from the medical community, which attempted to silence her.
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Dr. Elham Al-Mousa, Saudi Arabia (2011): In 2011, Dr. Elham Al-Mousa, a Saudi doctor, was attacked and severely injured by a male colleague at King Fahd Hospital in Jeddah. The attack was reportedly motivated by her refusal to marry him.
Allah ﷻ says:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اسْتَجِيبُوا لِلَّهِ وَلِلرَّسُولِ إِذَا دَعَاكُمْ لِمَا يُحْيِيكُمْ
"O those who believe, respond to Allah and the Messenger when He calls you to what gives you life"
This verse informs us of a very important principle, in that the laws of Allah ﷻ and what the Quran and Sunnah contains is for our own benefit, it gives us life spiritually and physically, it is to our benefit in every way and if we adopt it and adhere to it, then we will experience those benefits and be saved from the harms and evils of the world, but alas many modern muslims think that deen is a hindrance to their progress in life.
