Democracy and Human Rights

Rights for Women and Children

I am totally against the idea that a Muslim woman should not have the same opportunities as a Muslim man to learn, to open up, to work, help shape the future. To close Islam down to a sexist approach is totally intolerable and ridiculous. It's not Islam.

Interview with Milton Viorst
“The Hashemite Option”
Chapter 10 of In the Shadow of the Prophet, 1998

 

The role of women today has become more important and crucial than at any other time. The Jordanian woman has excelled in the field of education and succeeded in different professions and contributions in the various organizations. Her support of official efforts to serve society and develop the countryside has become stronger. She also began to take part in the political life, becoming an important pillar of the democratic structure. This is why we must all pay serious attention to some of the dangerous phenomena that remain a source of women's suffering, and which—unfortunately—constitute an inhuman violation of their basic rights. The most serious and dangerous of those is the visible and hidden violence, which was the focus of many international conferences. This does not befit our Arab and Islamic society: the society of solidarity. It is a flagrant contradiction with our ongoing calls to preserve human dignity and all human rights.

Speech from the Throne
Opening of the Thirteenth Parliament
Amman
November 29, 1997

 

As for the children, and despite all laudable efforts, there remains a number of negative, harmful and shameful practices that we must all confront with rigor and determination. The child is also another victim of various forms of violence, whether at home or in society. In the former, he is victimized under the pretext of discipline and upbringing, and in the later by vagrancy and exploitation. A quick look around us shows an increase in street children either begging or being used in various selling schemes. All this leads many of our own flesh and blood into the abyss of delinquency and the depth of poverty and vagrancy. Therefore, in cooperation with your esteemed assembly, my government will seek to fight off these dangers in an effort to raise our society to the levels of our ambitions.

Speech from the Throne
Opening of the Thirteenth Parliament
Amman
November 29, 1997

 

And yet another group has chosen to concern itself, day and night, with archaic side issues, such as the woman as a physical entity, rather than as a mother, sister, and a daughter, or as a capable human being, forgetting that Islam is the religion of values that suppresses animal instincts in the human being, be it man or woman alike, and that Islam was the religion of hard work and productivity which does not permit the incapacitation of half the society or forgive a condescending look at our mothers, sisters and daughters.

Address on the Eve of the General Elections
Amman
October 7, 1989