The Correspondant Special, Murder in Purdeh, on BBC2 on Saturday, January 23, disturbed me enormously. It graphically demonstrated the plight of Pakistani women amidst the rise of Islamic fundamentalism.

It is hard to believe that, with only 11 months to the 21st century, the women, not only in Pakistan but in many third world countries, are still treated as an inferior race, with no human rights.

Among the teachings of Baha'u'llah, the prophet founder of the Baha'i faith, is the equality of men and women. The world of humanity has two wings: one is women, the other men. Not until both wings are equally developed can the bird fly. Should one wing remain weak, flight is impossible. Not until the world of women becomes equal to men in the acquisition of virtues and perfection, can success and prosperity be attained as they ought to be.

What then, constitutes the inequality between man and woman? In simple terms it is the opportunities which man has for so long enjoyed, especially the privilege of education. One of the essential ways to encourage more co-operation is through education. While economic disparity and legal inequality are known to contribute to incidents of violence against women, it is obvious that violence arises from ignorance: the failure to understand such fundamental realities as the oneness of the human race and the mistaken notion that force is the only honourable way to resolve conflicts.

Education -- moral, material and practical -- is, therefore, not only a fundamental right but a practical necessity in today's world. Any attempts to curb societal violence that does not educate individuals to overcome gender prejudice will certainly fall short.

At a time when illiteracy is increasing among women in the developing world and levels of learning are falling for both sexes in industrial societies it is vitally important to re-emphasise the role of education everywhere if violence against women is to be controlled.

There is a special importance being placed on the role of education in the Baha'i faith. Baha'u'llah has emphasised that mothers are the first educators of the next generation, in the broadest interpretation of those terms, and that where resources are limited priority must be the education of girl children.

But the problem of violence cannot truly be resolved unless men are also educated to value women as equal partners. Any effort to protect women against male aggression which does not involve the early training of boys will necessarily be short-lived. Likewise, all attempts to understand the causes and consequences of violence against women which do not involve men are bound to fail.

In the Baha'i Holy Writings we read: "The Lord, peerless is He, hath made woman and man to abide with each other in the closest companionship, and to be even as a single soul. They are two helpmates, two intimate friends, who should be concerned about the welfare of each other."

And again: "the happiness of mankind will be realised when women and men co-ordinate and advance equally, for each is the compliment and helpmeet of the other."

My last thought provoking quotation is: "As long as women are prevented from attaining their highest possibilities, so long will men be unable to achieve the greatness which might be theirs."

Soussan Imani, Cannonbury

Avenue, Pinner

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000.Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.