Maha Nasser: Violence against women and its relationship with immigrants
We always back to talk about violence against women. Because violence against women is a global problem that most women in the world suffer from. But it increases more in countries where there are no laws to protect women, as well as societies in which the level of awareness of human rights is low. In addition to the tribal societies that cling to the heritage and which still see women as private property and something defective and must be hidden. Recently, violence against women in Sweden has become in the headlines and is a controversial issue among political parties. Some of these parties are linking this issue to immigrants.
Some Swedish newspapers published statistics related to violence against women in Sweden and stated that in the 1970s there were 21 cases of murder against women by close associates. It is considered the highest rate of violence against women, and it is known that during that period there was no large percentage of immigrants in Sweden. From 1990 to 2004, there were 17 cases. The newspapers stated that the rate of violence against women since 2017 has reached 15 cases of murder, and this period is the period that witnessed the highest influx of immigrants to Sweden. As this statistic shows that the percentage has become less in line with the increase in the percentage of immigrants. But it is unfortunate to say that most of these crimes committed in the recent period, since 2017 to the present time, are related to people born outside Sweden. Often these crimes are linked to divorce and honor issues. I will talk briefly about the causes of the murders related to divorce cases from my point of view.
When the marriage relationship is a relationship of need and not a relationship based on a strong foundation and based on love, understanding and respect. This relationship ends as soon as the cause or the need for the other party ends. By the need here I mean the woman’s need for a man to support her financially, and the man’s need for a woman to take care of his affairs. It is known that in countries which suffer from a lack of laws that protect women, it is usually the man who is in charge of the family and he has the first and last word, and the woman must submit to that and respect it. The woman is forced to accept all of this. Because there is no law protecting her, as I mentioned earlier, and secondly because society holds women responsible for the failure of the marital relationship. The most important thing is the woman’s fear of losing her children in case of divorce, because the father has the right to take care of the children. This is what prompts women to accept a situation that they are not satisfied with. The woman may patiently endure all kinds of insults and violence for this. Many families immigrated to Sweden, and as soon as most of the women arrived in Sweden, they asked for separation from their husbands. The rate of divorce among arrivals to Sweden has increased significantly. Why?
I previously mentioned that the relationship is a need relationship of the first degree, in addition to the other reasons that I mentioned. When all of these reasons are removed, the woman becomes financially independent, in addition to protecting the law and supporting society. She felt brave enough to end this relationship. If these relationships are based on love, respect and understanding, they will continue even if circumstances change. But women found an outlet for freedom and financial independence in Sweden. This is what prompted some women to ask for separation. In some cases, women may decide to keep the children and deprive their father of seeing them. This may be motivated by fear of violence against the children, or out of revenge. The money that children receive from the government as a contribution to support may also be a cause of conflict between their parents.
Here the problems and challenges appear. Because the man feels at loss that he has lost everything, and his reaction may also be revenge, which may reach the point of killing. Most women say that the father of the children poses a danger to his children. Thus, it is protected with a protected address. Here comes the role of the law. Why is there not a serious investigation whether this man poses a danger to his children, or whether it is a revenge process that may lead to a greater revenge process. Because no party has the right to deprive the other party of its children just because he or she wants to. Unless it becomes clear through the investigation that this man actually poses a danger to his children in this case, why is he not deported, why should they wait for the crime to occur? What do they expect from a man who poses a danger to his children and a woman who has shared the bed one day? He is definitely a danger to society. But what we can say here is that even in countries that have laws that protect women, these laws are incapable of protecting women.
