{"id":33805,"date":"2012-06-28T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2012-06-28T05:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ready-for-feedback3.com\/shape-history\/fmr\/rahaei\/"},"modified":"2012-06-28T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2012-06-28T05:00:00","slug":"rahaei","status":"publish","type":"fmr_content","link":"https:\/\/www.fmreview.org\/fr\/rahaei\/","title":{"rendered":"The rights of refugee women and children in Islam"},"content":{"rendered":"

Aman<\/em> (safeguard) is the term which Islamic law uses to refer to the refuge that Muslims offer to non-Muslims. Such refuge remains inviolate even if the person who is being offered protection is in a conflict against Muslims [9: 6]. Islamic scholars of jurisprudence believe that aman <\/em>creates an indissoluble bond.<\/p>\n

Many instances of migration by the faithful and prophets appear in the holy Koran and in history books. After suffering persecution and torture, the Muslims of Mecca migrated to Abyssinia on the orders of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his descendents) where they were protected by a Christian king. Prophet Muhammad, was himself a refugee, having fled Mecca with his followers in 622 in order to escape persecution, and as a refugee was cared for by host communities. The Prophet Abraham and his family were forced to migrate and were supported by Almighty God [21: 71]. After being harassed by the Egyptians, Moses moved to Midian where he was provided with housing, employment and other amenities [28: 20-28].<\/p>\n

These Koranic verses show that migration can become a necessity for anyone in times of trouble or when one’s life and beliefs are in danger. Some verses go as far as requiring the faithful to choose migration in such circumstances (if they are able to do so) [4: 97-99].<\/p>\n

The holy Koran requires the faithful to comply with agreements and treaties on the rights of refugees [5:1]. It provides a set of instructions in dealing with refugees and migrants, praising those who go to the assistance of people in distress and requiring the faithful to protect refugees [9:100 and 117]. It recognises the rights of refugees and internally displaced persons, entitling them to certain rights and to humane treatment [8: 72-75, 16: 41]. It condemns people whose actions prompt mass migration and views them as lacking faith in God’s words [2: 84-86]. Article 12 of the 1990 Cairo Declaration on Human Rights in Islam says: “Every man shall have the right, within the framework of sharia<\/em>, to free movement and to select his place of residence whether inside or outside his country and, if persecuted, is entitled to seek asylum in another country. The country of refuge shall ensure his protection until he reaches safety.”<\/p>\n

The holy Koran puts forth certain regulations to lend additional support to women and children, who are considered more vulnerable [4: 2, 9, 36, 75, 98, 127, 17:34]. Besides, under the principle of justice, which is the basis  of all Islamic regulations [42: 15, 16: 90], those who are more at risk as a result of migration and asylum should be offered extra support. This remains the case even in the case of non-Muslims or those who oppose the Muslim faith [5: 8].<\/p>\n

Required alms – such as khums<\/em> (one fifth of income or of the spoils of war that Muslims are required to hand out as charity) and zakat<\/em>  (a portion of property that the faithful are required to give away for charitable causes) – as well as optional alms constitute a fund that can be used to meet the basic needs of refugees. That part of khms <\/em>and zakat<\/em> which is originally reserved for travellers in distress, orphans and the needy could be spent for migrants and refugees.<\/p>\n

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Some rights in Islam of refugees and asylum seekers, especially women and children <\/strong><\/p>\n