Malawi Muslim Women Fight Gender Abuse

Malawi Muslim women are mobilizing themselves to advocate for the enforcement of harsher penalties against perpetrators of Gender Based Violence (GBV), seeing them as the only means to minimize escalating rates of the social problem.

“Despite the existence of laws which criminalize gender based violence in the country, there are rising incidences of GBV. Women and children are dying silently in this country due to violence,” Fatima Ndaila, National Chairperson of the Muslim Women Organization, told OnIslam.net.

“This situation has compelled us to take an action. We are trying to lobby the judiciary and lawmakers to enforce stiffer penalties for perpetrators of violence against women. We believe this is the only way we can guarantee safety of women in the country. The present situation is quite worrying.”

The government of Malawi has welcomed the initiative describing it as a “noble cause.”

“As government, we are very much concerned wth rising incidences of GBV in the country. The figures are quite alarming. Much as we can't interfere in the operation of the judiciary, we commend this initiative,” Patricia Kaliati, Minsiter of Gender, Community Services and Social Welfare told OnIslam.net.

“This is a noble cause, which as a nation, ought to support. We need to rise above religion and save lives of women and children regardless of where they fo for worship.

Sheikh Muhammad Idrissa, National Chairperson of Muslim Association of Malawi (MAM) applauded the initiative.

“As a religious organization, we are very disturbed with how women are being subjected to pain and torture. The rate at which women are suffering in this country is quite alarming,” Sheikh Muhamad told OnIslam.net.