Self flagellations, a religious practice or child cruelty, a critical analysis

Guest Post by Amjad Malik

Message of Imam Hussain, the grandson of last Prophet of Islam of sacrifice is greater in spirit and is held very dear by billions of Muslims across the globe and the message is remembered zealously during the first month of Islamic calendar Muharram. The Ashura ceremony takes place during this month to commemorate the courage & sacrifice of Hussain, a central figure of the Shia faith and his disciples in many Muslim countries adopt various means to express their grief which include holding processions, reading and listening to the tragic events as they unfolded during that month in the battlefield of ‘Karbala’, chest beatings as well as self flagellation. In order to express extreme solidarity a small percentage use five bladed whip attached to a chain and a wooden handle to carry out the matam called ‘Zanjeer Zani’. The practice has been on going for centuries.

In January 2008 during Ashura, a devout Shia Muslim first flogged himself and later considering it part of his religion allowed two under-16 boys to use the bladed whip to flog themselves until their backs bled during a shia religious ceremony. He was charged upon a complaint of the mother and statements of the boys that they were forced and he was later convicted by a Jury upon a trial at Manchester Crown Court on two counts of Child cruelty in August 2008. He will be sentenced this September. This is a land mark case carrying serious repercussions on religious practices of a Muslim minority and critics view this prosecution as a tip of the iceberg and consider this policy decision will trigger more cases in future. This incident has initiated a debate where self flagellation as a religious ritual is up against the child protection laws.

First of all we see what the law says, S. 1 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933 makes it a criminal offence if any person has attained the age of 16 and has responsibility for any child or young person under that age, wilfully assaults, ill treats, neglects, abandons, or exposes him, or causes or procures him to be assaulted, ill treated, neglected, abandoned, or expose, in a manner likely to cause him unnecessarily suffering or injury to health, that person shall be guilty of an offence and if found guilty the accused shall be liable on conviction on indictment, to a fine or imprisonment for any term not acceding ten years or on summary conviction, to a fine or alternatively imprisonment for any term not exceeding six months. Now in order to have a healthy debate we look at the international organ which protects any religious practice. Article 9 of the European Convention on Human Rights which is part of UK law under Human Rights Act 1998 says, “1) everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief, in worship, teaching, practice and observance.” There can be only restrictions on such rights which are necessary in a democratic society, in the interest of public safety or for the public order”.

In order to express extreme solidarity, use five bladed whip to carry out matam called ‘Zanjeer ZaniMany argue that religious practice which is ongoing for centuries is protected by such law and despite having many complaints, there has never been a policy decision by CPS to prosecute in the past and if allowed this policy decision here, it will open a Pandora’s box leading to many such prosecutions which will be detrimental to all other religious practices, cultural traditions and customs which are held dear by millions. It is also believed that minors may participate in such ritual wilfully in defiance to make a principle point to safe guard such ancient religious practice. However, on the other hand law of the land which is quite clear to ‘look after the best interest of the child’ is in conflict with the said religious practice as far as under 16 are concerned and a clear understanding, guidance and code is required in order to bridge the gap to ensure child safety whilst protecting the said religious practice in order to avoid future prosecutions.

The issue of self flagellation is not disputed in adults, however the conflict arises where children under 16 use self flagellation as a religious right. There is a risk of harm and law prohibits an adults to cause or expose the child to harm and whether this religious practice is covered by such law is arguable and superior court’s ruling will be vital in settling the narration of policy . More work is needed to identify and correct the code of conduct where the issue of self flagellation in particular under 16 and teenagers arise which needs to be addressed by the community. The limit of such self flagellation in teen ager who are wilful participants is not very clear either, is it within reasonable limits or up to an individual’s capacity and the law is impractical on self harm too. Looking at Iran’s supreme Islamic Jurist, Grand Ayatollah Khameni in response to a question on the subject: “Any practice that causes bodily harm, or leads to defaming the faith, is haram” hence whilst self-flagellation itself is permissible, it is only permissible within reasonable limits. Whether it is on individual’s capacity or up to excluding the risk if death is quite an arguable.

Many say that in order to protect the workings of the Shia missions children under 16 in UK are not allowed to self flagellate, but are allowed to watch, though the guidance is not clearer. Some Shias claim that people at the age of 7 participate in such practice in Pakistan, Iran and Iraq, and many travel to their countries of origin to mourn the month of Moharram, however in UK & Europe this practice varies from area to area in respect of children. I strongly believe that if this prosecution goes ahead unchallenged, then the option of taking under 16 abroad for religious practice may not remain safer and free of prosecution either as UK citizens will be protected by the local law here and abroad as was the case in ‘forced marriages’.

There are many other practices that fall into the same category, like the Jewish circumcision ritual where a 8 days old boy is circumcised without anaesthetic injection, teen age pregnancies, abortions, prescription of morning afternoon pill to under 16 girls, cosmetic surgery, physical chastisement, and contact sports which could all be life threatening in UK and go scot free without prosecution. There are children under the age of ten, who do boxing, kick boxing, karate, tae kwon do and judo– should their coaches be prosecuted if physical harm comes their way? And what about rugby, football, ballet and horse riding? They have all lead to more serious injuries of minors in the UK than self flagellation. There is still nail crossing in a few countries of Europe in memory of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. If other religious practices go unchallenged by the executive, then prosecution of Muslim minority may arguably be discriminatory under Article 14 of European Convention of Human Rights.

Whilst the writer agree that Muslim community must act together to safeguard their interest together as this prosecution has far reaching repercussions on other Muslim festivities such as circumcision, fasting, performing Haj, arranged marriages and participation in religious ceremonies and processions which often involve children under 16. At the same time, it is felt necessary that before next Ashura a code of conduct is agreed in consultation with Police and Crown Prosecution Service to avoid unnecessary restrictions in religious observance. Self flagellation must not be declared a child cruelty if a teenager wilfully participate considering his faith and religious duty, however, there is no question that force must not be used in self flagellation and it must remain a decision of an individual of an age under the law. Clearly local law of the land is in conflict with the religious practice and elders need to bridge the gap with collective wisdom, mutual understanding and clarifying the religious teachings towards this ritual. It is also praiseworthy that community has expressed desire to promote alternate methods in youngsters such as donating blood and spreading the message of Hussain of sacrifice, peace, tolerance and forbearance which is important than practice for young minds.

Amjad Malik is a Solicitor-Advocate of the Supreme Court of England & Wales


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7 responses to “Self flagellations, a religious practice or child cruelty, a critical analysis”

  1. dr razahaider Avatar

    Amjad before indulging my self in discussion, I would definitely love as obligatory duty to rectify you on following declared version of your comments as they have wrongly been liquidated by your kind sole without realizing that, “imam Hussein (a.s) is a symbol ,insignia and essence of Islam among all Muslim belonging to any philosophy or school of thoughts”. Please rectify, Hussein (a.s) is not a central figure of shias only but all Muslim community if they are with in the paradigm of Islamic ideology. Please review your phrase “central figure in Shia faith and his disciples”.

    Amjad please give a brief description of your second Para of subject accusation “He was charged upon a complaint of the mother and statements of the boys that they were forced and he was later convicted by a Jury upon a trial at Manchester Crown Court on two counts of Child cruelty in August 2008” as it is insufficient in understanding the theme of issue as your version to float this idea of acquisition has more of the element of controversy between two people of different faith and belonging, which are trying their level best to keep their progeny more towards their practices of perception.

    Please highlight the real story so to give and disembark my thoughts as wrong perception.

    Amjad though your reservation on the issue of restricting the minority in the contest of same dispute is a genuine notion but I have no option but to place your idea in the contest as smelling a little more of malicious intent.

    This is because your indictment without expressing the history of parties in lieu of belonging and practices, as petitioner or respondent have been, perhaps deliberately concealed which became the subject of objection of my reservation.

    Kindly revert with my query so that we may reach some conclusive result with respect to the issue.

  2. Silence Avatar
    Silence

    Dear Mr Amjad;

    Your idea is not only brillient but unique!

    On what standerds religious practices can be regulated by LAW?

    Actually its ‘faith’ which itself provides the guidelines for such practices, self flagellation, is a symbolic act and not ment to actually hurt the person in any way.

    The religious scholars has set the limits of injury one can inflict on him/her. As minors are concerned they too can participate in ‘a purely symbolic act’…not withstanding and not only law but religion itself, there is no focre in religion (holy Quran) and every law has same wisdom that no one shall force other to perform any act, its religious or social.

    Let us go beyound that now…as you are a lawyer, the laws are not made in space, but according to apalcibility, there can be no law which can not be applied.

    Now,taking in consideration relagious practices, the laws are to respect the religious beliefs no otherwise and any law against religious practices and beliefs of any group of people will be a ‘bad law’.

    Botomline: the faith while setting up certain practices, also sets up certain rules and apart from these rules people will reject any laws imposed by state.

    Intrestingly what will you usggest in case a minor willingly violates a law on his/her religious practice? Send him to prison, for mental treatment or de religion him?

  3. AsISeeIt Avatar
    AsISeeIt

    If Self flagellations was part of the religion, Ali (R.A) would have done it at the death of his beloved wife Fatima (R.A).

    If Self flagellations was part of the religion, Sahaba Ajmaeen (RA) would have done it at the death of Muhammad (S.A.W.W).

    If Self flagellations was part of the religion, Muhammad (S.A.W.W) would have done it at the death of his beloved wife Khadija (RA) or at the death of Hazrat Hamza (RA).

    Its one way to say that they didn’t love those personalities more than we love Hussain (RA).

  4. imran Avatar
    imran

    @aslseet, i was monitoring this post and feared that someone would post sectarian remarks here, and my fear did come true, the question is at hand is that should Govt interfere in someone’s religion or not? and the Simple answer is No. and I appreciate that no one here stirs up sectarian debate here thanks.

  5. Silence Avatar
    Silence

    @ ASIstreet

    There are lots and lots of ‘practices’ in every belief and religion which can not be backed, but still these are merely ‘traditions’ or ‘practices, it’s not your or my job to ask people to prove these traditions or beliefs before us, as long as one believed on such things, he is free to practice.

    If you dont agree with these practices, simply stay away and let others do what they believe, as belief is a personal matter of every body and must not be questioned.

    Mr. Amjad is simply projecting a non-issue for obvious reasons according to my understanding, let him have a chance to go to court untill the judge through his case on his face, as, he is unable to understand the difference in ‘symbolic self flagellation ‘ and ‘actual self flagellation’.

  6. tc Avatar
    tc

    As I understand it, this is NOT about the rights of adult persons to believe and practice their religion. Making it a question of religion, simply distracts from the point. The question is: at what age is a person considered an adult allowed to make decisions that may result in harm to themselves? Western society agrees that children are to be protected, period. It is my understanding that this belief in protecting children is also shared by non-western cultures, yes? The problems come with having different definitions of “children”. Ealier posts indicate that age 7 is considered the “appropriate age” in some places, however they would consider age 4 “too young” or in other words, a “child, to be protected from this adult behavior” so this is CLEARLY something that is not for everyone, not for children. In England that age is 16, so if one simply choses to look at it that “adult” age is something defined by the country of residence, then it is clear what the behavior should be and when persons should begin to make their own decisions about religeous, and non-religeous behaviors. Let’s not make this more complicated than it needs to be!

  7. Kristian Mattias Avatar

    I was reading something else about this on another blog. Interesting. Your position on it is diametrically opposed to what I read earlier. I am still mulling over the opposite points of view, but I'm inclined to a great extent toward yours. And irrespective, that's what is so good about modern-day democracy and the marketplace of ideas online.