Religion Should Not Justify the Violation of Women’s Rights
We’re in 2024. Yes, 2024. And yet, somewhere, a woman is silently crying because a man has decided, in the name of religion, that her "no" doesn’t count.
It is particularly tragic that religion, which for so many people is a source of comfort and moral guidance, has been twisted into a tool of tyranny and oppression for women. How is that possible? How can we, today, look a woman in the eyes, steal her dignity, and dare to say it’s "God’s will"? What kind of arrogance does it take to claim that God would ever condone such cruelty?
Religion, which should be a light, a moral compass, is twisted into a weapon. A weapon that hurts, breaks, oppresses. I don’t understand. And I hope you don’t either. Because tolerating this is closing our eyes to an injustice that concerns us all. This isn’t faith. It’s a betrayal of everything faith is supposed to represent. Faith should uplift. It should never tear down. It should inspire people to care for one another, not chain them to systems of oppression. This is a shame.
But the problem isn’t just the texts or the rituals. The real poison is in the men who slip into the guise of God to impose their power. These men who read the scriptures their way, the way that suits them, to maintain their privileges and silence women. The truth is, they believe more in their domination than in God. And meanwhile, women pay the price. Their bodies, their minds, their freedoms are sacrificed on the altar of what’s called "tradition."
At the heart of all this is one simple word: consent. A word so simple. It is not something that can be set aside by religious expectations. Yet, in many cultures, women are not afforded this basic right. What you wear, what you say, who you love should be your choice. But no. In too many places, being born a woman means agreeing to be controlled. And all of this, under the pretext that "it’s always been this way." No. It’s not "just the way it is." It’s not normal.
And then there are those traditions we shouldn’t even have to denounce because they’re so absurd. Female genital mutilation, for instance. Little girls who’ve asked for nothing, mutilated mercilessly to uphold "values" that have nothing to do with humanity. Imagine yourself in their place. Imagine the pain. The enforced silence. The fear. Now imagine someone telling you it’s all for God. No, it isn’t all for God. It’s torture. Religious freedom does not, and should not, mean freedom to abuse.
And forced marriages. Let’s talk about that. A woman pushed to say "yes" when everything inside her screams "no," that’s not a wife. That’s a prisoner. Trapped in a contract that binds her against her will, without her consent, without her voice. Let’s stop pretending it’s noble or sacred. It’s pure violence. What infuriates me the most is that people still defend this. There’s nothing honorable about that.
But the real question is: what are we doing to stop this? Because we’ve had enough of pretty speeches. Religious reform is crucial, but it is not enough. What we need is action. Laws, punishments, people who dare to say "enough." And these men who stay silent while their sisters, daughters, wives suffer? Shame on them. Their silence makes them complicit. And complicit silence is as harmful as the violence itself.
And then there are the stories that cut to the heart. Like the one that Yasmine Mohammed so courageously describes in her memoir Unveiled. Here a little extract, in which her husband, a member of Al-Qaeda, told her: "I don’t care about your silly Canadian laws. In Islam, you’re still my wife. Even after your death, I will find you in heaven and you will still belong to me."
I hope you read that, and your stomach tightens. Because you know she’s not alone. There are thousands, millions, trapped in a cage they didn’t choose. And as you read this, ask yourself: What are you doing to stop this? Are you willing to stand by and ignore the screams of those who cannot escape? Because, as uncomfortable as it might be, ignoring this reality is a choice. We all have a responsibility, whether we like it or not, to fight for their freedom. Yet, you are doing nothing to save them.
But all is not lost. There are voices rising, even within religious circles. Men and women who are reinterpreting texts, who are saying what should have been obvious from the start: God never meant for us to kneel before another human. These voices need to be heard, amplified. Because yes, religion can be a powerful force. But only if it liberates. Never if it oppresses.
So, let’s say it once and for all: women have the right to live without fear, without chains, without excuses. And no one, no man, no religion, has the right to steal that from them.
Charlotte Hoizey-Oud.