Accra, March 6, GNA -Most people in the Muslim community do not appreciate the Domestic Violence Act as majority of married Muslim women suffer gender based violence, a Muslim researcher has said. "Gender based violence has become a matter of global concern especially for women since they are the hardest hit by the storm of violence and it was about time the Ghanaian Muslim community addressed it". Hajia Fulera Alhassan, also a teacher at Eyisam Islamic Basic School, Central Region, was speaking on gender based violence in the Muslim Community at a day's seminar organized by the Federation of Muslim Women's Association in Ghana (FOMWAG), in Accra on Saturday.

According to her, any sexual intercourse between a man and his wife should be consensual and "therefore if such an agreement does not exist and force is applied by the husband, the right of the woman has been violated". She urged Muslims women all over the country to be very vigilant and stand firm for their rights adding, they should be bold to report such incidents to the Domestic Violent and Support Unit (DOVSU). Hajia Ayisha Abdul-Kadri, a teacher at Ashongman Junior High School and a researcher, said due to stigmatization, state of denial, judgmental role of Imams, lack of counselling and education and humiliation of most HIV/AIDS patients in the Muslim communities, they find it very uncomfortable to associate themselves with others.

"The attitudes and behaviours of Muslims in general and women in particular leaves much to be desired and as such we need to consider certain things we do that could dispose us to the pandemic, more especially moral issues from the Islamic perspective" she said.

She entreated FOMWAG to setup a fund that would help mobilize funds to support HIV/AIDS survivors in the Muslim communities Alhaji Abdul-Fattah Twahir-Akinyele, a member of the Coalition of Muslim Organization of Ghana (COMOG),called on all Muslims to come together to determine strategies and plans to change perceptions on Gender Based Violence and HIV/AIDS.

He said:" we as Ghanaians and especially as Muslims need to take a conscious effort to mainstream issues on HIV/AIDS, gender base violence and other very challenging issues in our religious discourse". According to him, the discovery of the HIV virus as the cause of AIDS has prompted researchers to come out with some vaccines like the Anti Retroviral drugs, awareness about the pandemic and the dangers that a promiscuous life could lead to.

Alhaji Twahir-Akinyele said since women and children have been identified as the most vulnerable segment of every countries population, they have a very crucial role to play in the numerous efforts and campaigns aimed at stemming the tide of the HIV/AIDS menace. "This can only be achieved when women are empowered by way of building their capacities through quality religious and secular education and skills development" he said. He urged all Muslims "not just to be seen as Muslims but live Islam and make a commitment to share the blessings of Islam with others".