On an early Tuesday morning, KARAMAH’s Executive Director Aisha Rahman challenged a group of law students from Qatar University to wrestle with the complexity and multiple layers of a domestic violence case study. Adding yet another layer, Dr. Azizah al-Hibri then challenged the students to critically think about prevailing interpretations of verses from the Qur’an addressing marital issues.
Engaging once again in women’s leadership education across cultural and geographic boundaries, Meridian House International asked Karamah to conduct a workshop on domestic violence to a group of aspiring Qatari attorneys. These students were also participating in the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP), the U.S. Department of State’s top professional exchange program.
KARAMAH offered the group two sessions aimed at enriching their understanding of domestic violence in both the American and Islamic contexts. First, Ms. Rahman spoke to the group about domestic violence in the American legal system, focusing on the role of the Violence Against Women Act (2005) and protective orders in supporting victims.
In addressing one student’s question regarding the drafting of a Qatari domestic violence law, Ms. Rahman shared several recommendations based on KARAMAH’s experience on the topic. She recommended that, in drafting such a law, Qataris should seek to define domestic violence broadly to allow for greater victim protection. Ms. Rahman also encouraged suspending cultural and religious judgments and keeping the focus of legal remedies on providing solutions to the domestic violence problem. Ms. Rahman recommended that a Qatari law adopt protective orders as they grant victims effective and immediate relief while allowing for mediation or other alternative resolutions to domestic conflicts. Finally, she emphasized the importance of getting religious leaders, particularly male leaders, involved in addressing domestic violence.
Dr. al-Hibri’s session followed, focusing on domestic violence from the Islamic perspective. In her discussion, Dr. al-Hibri engaged the Qatari law students in a lively conversation about interpretations of Qur’anic verses popularly cited to justify domestic violence among Muslims. Dr. al-Hibri challenged the students to be critical and thorough in their search for a nuanced and complete understanding of such verses. Dr. al-Hibri also emphasized that Islam is based on a divine balance and spectrum of justice and that Muslims should always strive to the higher moral standard of mercy over retribution in the realm of domestic affairs. Given the internal consistency of the Qur’an, Dr. al-Hibri concluded, Islam in no way condones domestic violence. Rather, it advocates a humane and pragmatic approach to conflict resolution.
Dr. al-Hibri, Ms. Rahman and the Qatari visitors continued the discussion over lunch and made arrangements to stay in touch for future networking and collaboration.
This training was held at the KARAMAH office on Tuesday, June 19, 2012 courtesy of the Meridian International Center and sponsored by the U.S. Embassy in Qatar and Qatar University School of Law.
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