Munawar Hassan
Encyclopedia
Syed Munawar Hassan (born August 1944) is the Ameer
(President) of Jamaat-e-Islami
of Pakistan
, a hardline Islamist party.
before the independence of Pakistan
. He was born in August 1944 and as his family opted for Pakistan, migrated to Karachi
in 1947. He obtained a Masters
in Sociology
(1963) and in Islamic Studies
(1966) from the University of Karachi
.
(NSF) - a student body with leftist leaning - and was elected its President in 1959. The real change appeared in his life when he got a chance to come closer to the activists of Islami Jamiat-e-Talaba
(IJT) Pakistan and studied the writings of Mawlana Syed Abul Ala Maududi
. As a result, he joined IJT in 1960, became its member and soon he was elected as President of its University of Karachi
Unit, Karachi City Unit and member of the Central Executive Council. Later, he reached its top slot and became all-Pakistan President in 1964 and served in that capacity for three consecutive terms. During his tenure of the President, the Jamiat organized several campaigns mobilizing public opinion regarding education problems, system of education, women education etc. etc.
He joined the Islamic Research Academy (IRAK) and later Islamic Jerusalem Studies
, at Karachi as a Research Assistant in 1963 and raised to its Secretary Generalship in 1969. Under his supervision, the Academy published 70 scholarly books. He also rendered services as Managing Editor of the Monthly The Criterion and The Universal Message, Karachi
.
Syed Munawar Hasan became a member of Jama’at-e-Islami Pakistan
in 1967. He served the Karachi unit as Assistant Secretary, Secretary, Deputy Ameer and Ameer of the city. He was also elected to the Central Shura and the Executive Council of the Jama’at. He represented Jama’at at several platforms, including United Democratic Front
(UDF) and the Pakistan National Alliance
(PNA). Contesting National Assembly election in 1977, he secured the highest votes in Pakistan. He was Assistant Secretary General of Jama’at-e-Islami Pakistan
in 1992-93, and became Secretary General in 1993.
He took part in a number of international conferences and seminars and has visited USA
, UK
, Canada
, Central Asia
, Middle East
, North Africa
and many countries of the Southeast Asia
.
Syed Munawar Hasan is well versed in English
. Many of his speeches, mostly in Urdu, are also available in cassette form. He heads a number of planning and research bodies within the Jamaat.
d women, that cannot provide four Muslim male witnesses to the act of forced penetration, remain silent rather than file criminal charges. He has also attacked his critics on this issue as non-Muslims.
Hassan has also alleged that the 'Women's Protection Bill', a law that makes rape a criminal offense under the Pakistan Penal Code (which means that four witnesses are not required) does not protect women. He claims that 'it is meant to promote vulgarity and obscenity in the society'. Journalists have alleged that Hassan and the Jamaat-e-Islami promote a 'rape culture'.
Emir
Emir , meaning "commander", "general", or "prince"; also transliterated as Amir, Aamir or Ameer) is a title of high office, used throughout the Muslim world...
(President) of Jamaat-e-Islami
Jamaat-e-Islami
This article is about Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan. For other organizations of similar name see Jamaat-e-Islami The Jamaat-e-Islami , is a Pro-Muslim political party in Pakistan...
of Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
, a hardline Islamist party.
Early life and education
Syed Munawar Hassan is from a distinguished family, based at DelhiDelhi
Delhi , officially National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, next to Mumbai. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16,753,265 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census...
before the independence of Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
. He was born in August 1944 and as his family opted for Pakistan, migrated to Karachi
Karachi
Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
in 1947. He obtained a Masters
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
in Sociology
Sociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
(1963) and in Islamic Studies
Islamic studies
In a Muslim context, Islamic studies can be an umbrella term for all virtually all of academia, both originally researched and as defined by the Islamization of knowledge...
(1966) from the University of Karachi
University of Karachi
The University of Karachi is a public university located in Karachi, Pakistan. It serves an on-campus student population of more than 24,000. According to the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan, it is ranked among the top three universities of the country...
.
History
Syed Munawar Hassan joined the National Students FederationNational Students Federation
National Students Federation is a Left-wing students federation in Pakistan.Its predecessor, the DSF , had links to the Communist Party of Pakistan. It had power base among progressive students from Dow Medical and DJ Science Colleges. It dominated student politics in Karachi, the then Federal...
(NSF) - a student body with leftist leaning - and was elected its President in 1959. The real change appeared in his life when he got a chance to come closer to the activists of Islami Jamiat-e-Talaba
Islami Jamiat-e-Talaba
Islami Jamiat Talaba is the male wing of an organization of students influenced mainly by the works of Late Syed Abul-Ala Maodudi. Its mission is to preach Islam to students of modern institutions throughout Pakistan. It has been attempting to increase the Islamic ideals of decency and glorifying...
(IJT) Pakistan and studied the writings of Mawlana Syed Abul Ala Maududi
Abul Ala Maududi
Syed Abul A'ala Maududi , also known as Molana or Shaikh Syed Abul A'ala Mawdudi, was a Sunni Pakistani journalist, theologian, Muslim revivalist leader and political philosopher, and a major 20th century Islamist thinker. He was also a prominent political figure in Pakistan and was the first...
. As a result, he joined IJT in 1960, became its member and soon he was elected as President of its University of Karachi
University of Karachi
The University of Karachi is a public university located in Karachi, Pakistan. It serves an on-campus student population of more than 24,000. According to the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan, it is ranked among the top three universities of the country...
Unit, Karachi City Unit and member of the Central Executive Council. Later, he reached its top slot and became all-Pakistan President in 1964 and served in that capacity for three consecutive terms. During his tenure of the President, the Jamiat organized several campaigns mobilizing public opinion regarding education problems, system of education, women education etc. etc.
He joined the Islamic Research Academy (IRAK) and later Islamic Jerusalem Studies
Islamic Jerusalem Studies
Islamic Jerusalem Studies was established by ISRA over 15 years ago as a new field of Inquiry. The Academy was founded in 1993 to discuss issues relating to Islamic perspective on Al-Quds and its region. ISRA is located in Dundee, Scotland, United Kingdom....
, at Karachi as a Research Assistant in 1963 and raised to its Secretary Generalship in 1969. Under his supervision, the Academy published 70 scholarly books. He also rendered services as Managing Editor of the Monthly The Criterion and The Universal Message, Karachi
Karachi
Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
.
Syed Munawar Hasan became a member of Jama’at-e-Islami Pakistan
Jamaat-e-Islami
This article is about Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan. For other organizations of similar name see Jamaat-e-Islami The Jamaat-e-Islami , is a Pro-Muslim political party in Pakistan...
in 1967. He served the Karachi unit as Assistant Secretary, Secretary, Deputy Ameer and Ameer of the city. He was also elected to the Central Shura and the Executive Council of the Jama’at. He represented Jama’at at several platforms, including United Democratic Front
United Democratic Front (Pakistan)
United Democratic Front was formed in Pakistan in 1973 in opposition to ruling Pakistan Peoples Party of Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. This was a coalition of opposition parties in the National Assembly and Senate....
(UDF) and the Pakistan National Alliance
Pakistan National Alliance
The Pakistan National Alliance was a nine-party alliance in Pakistan, formed in 1977 in which the alliance agreed to run as a single bloc to overthrow the rule of Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, the first elected leader of that country. It was a major and largest alliance formed against...
(PNA). Contesting National Assembly election in 1977, he secured the highest votes in Pakistan. He was Assistant Secretary General of Jama’at-e-Islami Pakistan
Jamaat-e-Islami
This article is about Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan. For other organizations of similar name see Jamaat-e-Islami The Jamaat-e-Islami , is a Pro-Muslim political party in Pakistan...
in 1992-93, and became Secretary General in 1993.
He took part in a number of international conferences and seminars and has visited USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, Central Asia
Central Asia
Central Asia is a core region of the Asian continent from the Caspian Sea in the west, China in the east, Afghanistan in the south, and Russia in the north...
, Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
, North Africa
North Africa
North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, linked by the Sahara to Sub-Saharan Africa. Geopolitically, the United Nations definition of Northern Africa includes eight countries or territories; Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, and...
and many countries of the Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...
.
Syed Munawar Hasan is well versed in English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
. Many of his speeches, mostly in Urdu, are also available in cassette form. He heads a number of planning and research bodies within the Jamaat.
Position on rape as crime
He has come under criticism for suggesting that rapeRape
Rape is a type of sexual assault usually involving sexual intercourse, which is initiated by one or more persons against another person without that person's consent. The act may be carried out by physical force, coercion, abuse of authority or with a person who is incapable of valid consent. The...
d women, that cannot provide four Muslim male witnesses to the act of forced penetration, remain silent rather than file criminal charges. He has also attacked his critics on this issue as non-Muslims.
Hassan has also alleged that the 'Women's Protection Bill', a law that makes rape a criminal offense under the Pakistan Penal Code (which means that four witnesses are not required) does not protect women. He claims that 'it is meant to promote vulgarity and obscenity in the society'. Journalists have alleged that Hassan and the Jamaat-e-Islami promote a 'rape culture'.
See also
- Jamaat-e-IslamiJamaat-e-IslamiThis article is about Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan. For other organizations of similar name see Jamaat-e-Islami The Jamaat-e-Islami , is a Pro-Muslim political party in Pakistan...
- Qazi Hussain AhmadQazi Hussain AhmadQazi Hussain Ahmad was the third president of the Islamist political party Jamaat-e-Islami, a major political party in Pakistan...
- Liaqat BalochLiaqat BalochLiaqat Baloch Bawala is a political leader in Pakistan. He is originally from Muzaffargarh, a remote area of southern Punjab....
- Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi