نظریہ فوقیت یا نسلی برتری: مذاہب عالم اور اسلامی تعلیمات کی روشنی میں ایک جائزہ

Race represents a specific caste, creed and a generation of a common ancestor. It has been a source of identification among different tribes and group of people, since humankind started life on this earth. With the passage of time different races have started using their racial backgrounds as negative sentiments which created superiority and inferiority complexes among people. Concepts of chosen people aroused in different races which created great gap, differences and hate in the society. The current research work is based upon the concept of superiority in Hinduism and Judaism, which will be further reviewed in the light of Islamic teachings.

Factors Affecting Womens Share in Family Inheritance in District Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

The present study was conducted to find out factors affecting the women’s share in family inheritance in District Peshawar. It was based on the assumption made from Structural Oppression Feminism Theory that inheritance denial to women in Pakistani society is a common phenomena where male economic interest in family inheritance is directly or indirectly supported by patriarchy centered inheritance norms, practices and legal, religious and social institutions. Data for the study were collected through a pretested interview schedule from 384 sampled respondents belonging to both urban and rural areas of District Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Findings of the study are based on univariate and bivariate analysis of data. The findings of the study confirmed the denial to women in family inheritance as a common phenomena in the study area. Many respondents did not even consider the denial as a violation of female’s basic human rights. Hence, this was found a common phenomena among all socioeconomic groups. Almost three fourth of the total respondents did not share inheritance with females at all while those who gave full share constituted only 2.3 percent. The rest tried to exploit the females and their in-laws by giving a small piece of land or little amount of money. A number of factors were found to affect the phenomena. Female inheritance denial was found significantly associated with the families where land and property were considered as the critical and fundamental economic resources and assets for males who wanted to keep it within the family to control both the resources and the females. Legal and religious institutions, despite having clear rules and regulations, could not protect female inheritance rights. They were both male dominated and found favoring the males. The females, on their part, could not contact the legal institutions, especially, due to lengthy and cumbersome procedure as well as high social and economic cost on litigation. Similarly, mosque and religious leaders did not motivate the respondents to share inheritance with their females. In fact, the male claim on family inheritance was further strengthened by the prevalence of patriarchy based inheritance norms, practices, unlawful methods and complicated procedures to get the share in inheritance. A significant association of female inheritance rights denial in this regard was also found with the patriarchal based perceptions that emanated females as subordinate, land and property belong to family where male got the primary rights and females silence is a proper behavior in inheritance share cases. The family and social norms in one way or other supported these ideas. Special marriages including exchange, paternal cousins or with the children of inheritance entitled females were also arranged to keep land and property within the family. Helping females and dowry was found as a substitute for inheritance share. The community level social institutions such as family and Jirga also did not play a positive role and supported the male interest. Similarly, media, political parties, NGOs and educational institutions, despite having potential and authority, could not address to the extent it deserved and demanded. The results partially endorsed both the socialist feminism and intersectionality theories of structural feminism. The study concludes that for general understanding and acceptance at community and society level, the female inheritance denial was/is a basic but an ignored issue. At community level, it should be highlighted through mosque, religious leaders and community based organizations. Similarly, the political parties, media and educational institutions should also be used as channels for disseminating relative knowledge for bringing positive change in the attitude of locals over the issue under consideration. The study recommends further that there is no need for further legislation; existing laws should be implemented overwhelmingly. All customary laws and practices having any role in female inheritance denial should be dealt strictly in accordance with the prevalent law.