Everything About Offensive Poll Ranking Female Islamic Teachers That Even President Halimah Spoke Out Against

Most of you probably already know what we’re going to be talking about here, because everyone’s been talking about it.

It’s hard not to talk about it, especially if you’re in a country like Singapore where race and religion are serious matters.

For those who don’t know, here’s a very brief run-down of what happened: on Wednesday (26 May), an offensive poll asking people to rank a list of ustazah, or female Islamic religious teachers, according to their sexual attractiveness came to the people’s attention.

The relevant authorities were quickly notified, and many key figures have since stepped up to speak out on the incident.

What Exactly Happened?

On Wednesday, an offensive poll on social media platform MeWe came to the attention of Ustaz Muhammad Zahid Mohd Zin.

The poll in question asked people to rank at least 12 asatizah according to their sexual attractiveness. According to The Straits Times, there were about 20 to 30 asatizah being ranked in the poll. At the time of the poll coming to light, there had been 1,005 people participating in the poll.

MeWe is a social media platform that allows users to post comments, start polls, message one another and have group discussions.

Horrified, Ustaz Zahid quickly highlighted the poll in an Instagram post. He said, “I got a distress call from an ustazah and was shocked! All listed here in an app are our local asatizah! Who did this must be held accountable!”

A police report has since been lodged, and investigations are currently ongoing.

The Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) issued an order on Friday (28 May) for the poll to be removed from all social media platforms. Under Singapore’s Internet Code of Practice, the poll has been concluded to constitute prohibited content.

Many Religious Leaders Have Spoken Up

Following Ustaz Zahid’s Instagram post on Wednesday highlighting the issue, deputy director at the Office of the Mufti Ustaz Irwan Hadi Mohd Shuhaimy also made a post expressing his opinion on the issue.

Within the post, he expressed how he was “utterly disgusted”, pushing for those involved in the poll to be “punished by whatever legal means possible”. He said that they “deserve[d] the full force of the law on them”.

 

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A post shared by Irwan Hadi (@irwan_hadiseeker)

On Thursday (27 May), the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis) also announced on Facebook that it was aware of the post, saying that it had caused “immense distress” to the individuals being ranked in the poll. Muis expressed their concern about the issue, adding that they had already lodged a police report to expedite investigations and “bring the perpetrators to justice”.

According to The Straits Times, Muis had also reached out to the victims of the poll. The council will be providing support and counselling for them.

Muis also made clear that they had zero tolerance for any form of sexual harassment, stating that such offensive behaviour was “an abomination to [their] religion”, and an act that “must be stopped and [is] a disgrace to the Muslim community.”

“Our faith calls for mutual respect at all times, and emphasises with utmost importance, the need to safeguard the honour and modesty of all members of society,” said Muis in their post.

Acting chief executive of the Singapore Islamic Scholars and Religious Teachers Association (Pergas), Dr Mohamed Qusairy Thaha, also confirmed that the association is pursuing the matter too. He expressed the association’s support for the victims of the poll, saying that it stands with all the asatizah who are affected, as well as all women who have been sexually harassed and abused.

President Halimah Yacob, Numerous MPs Also Voice Opinions 

President Halimah has also spoken out on the issue on her Facebook.

In her post, the President said that she was “deeply perturbed” about the poll which “degrade and defile women”.  Stating that those who conducted or participated in the poll “deserves our strongest condemnation”, she called for authorities to “punish those found guilty.”

Making a strong statement on the issue, President Halimah wrote, “This is not just the worst kind of harassment that’s against our law but amounts to an open invitation to commit sexual violence against women. We must not allow the anonymity of the Web to embolden those who wish to abuse, denigrate and violate women.”

Minister of State for Home Affairs and National Development Faishal Ibrahim also gave assurances in a Facebook post, saying that “The authorities are looking into the matter thoroughly and those found guilty will be brought to justice accordingly.”

Chua Chu Kang GRC Member of Parliament (MP) Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim also showed his support for the victims, commenting under Ustaz Irwan’s post that those who started the poll must be held accountable.

Referring to the picture in Ustaz Irwan’s Instagram post that showed 245 people had voted in the poll, Mr Zhullkarnain commented that “This is totally unacceptable against women and our asatizah… The person and the 245 or so who polled must be held accountable”.

Several other MPs have also taken to Facebook to condemn the poll. They include Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Masagos Zulkifli, Parliamentary Secretary for Health and Communications and Information Rahayu Mahzam and Ang Mo Kio GRC MP Nadia Ahmad Samdin.

Instigators of Poll Allegedly Students Studying to Become Asatizah

Several netizens online have speculated that those who started the poll are allegedly students who are studying to become asatizah. They urged Muis not to accredit them.

On the matter, President Halimah responded in her Facebook post, “If indeed it’s true that some are students studying the religion (of which I stand corrected), then we have to seriously consider whether they are fit to preach in the community once they complete their studies.”

Not Only About Race and Religion, But Also Gender 

Those who have criticised the poll have also highlighted how the poll incident involves matters of both race and gender.

In her social media post, Ms Rahayu also called on the public to “stand up against misconduct” against women. She emphasised that it was important to “teach people, especially the young, why its so wrong the degrade women (and men).”

“I feel that all our efforts to encourage women’s development will be meaningless if the society still disrespects women and still perceives women as the weaker gender or as sexual objects,” said Ms Rahayu in her Facebook post.

At the same time, she also expressed optimism at the situation in Singapore, saying that she “[has] faith that this is not completely the situation in Singapore though.”

“I am happy to note that many in our community, especially men, stand up against such transgressions and condemn such actions. I’m heartened,” added Ms Rahayu.

Workers’ Party Sengkang GRC MP Raeesah Khan also addressed the poll, pointing out that “what often starts as a joke or quip may end up in one of the various forms that abuse can take on.” She added, “When such undercurrents of misogyny go unchecked, it festers in the fears too familiar to too many women.”

The Association of Women for Action and Research (Aware) also joined the growing group of voices, sharing on Facebook that they “echo the point made by (Muslim women’s group) Beyond the Hijab and others that so-called “modesty” has never been a factor in sexual violence”.

“Sexual violence is about power and control over (mostly female) victims,” it added.

Featured Image: Instagram (halimahyacob/ irwan_hadiseeker)