Maher: Let Pro-Hamas Protesters See How Women Are Treated in the Islamic World

Comedian Bill Maher sparked controversy on his HBO “Real Time” show Friday by stating that pro-Hamas protesters in the U.S. should experience how women are treated in Islamic countries. His comments come as far-left extremists continue to cause disruptions on college campuses and in cities nationwide.

Maher suggested that those protesting should understand the real-life implications of supporting regimes that oppress women. “If you’re out protesting for a couple of hours wearing [a keffiyeh], you have to go all the way and spend an afternoon running errands wearing [a burqa],” he said. “You can’t side with the people who ruthlessly oppress women without at least getting a taste of what you’re supporting.”

• Maher highlighted the disparity in treatment of women in many Islamic countries compared to the rights enjoyed by women in the U.S.

• He criticized the protesters' focus on Israel while ignoring severe gender apartheid in many Middle Eastern countries.

• Maher called for social justice efforts to address the plight of women in these oppressive regimes.

“You want a cause? Because I totally got one for you, apartheid, yeah, apartheid, the thing you’ve been shouting about with Israel for months, never mind that Israeli Arabs are actually full citizens,” Maher continued. “Today, right now, hundreds of millions of women are treated worse than second-class citizens. When you mandate that one category of human beings don’t even have the right to show their face, that’s apartheid, and it goes on in a lot of countries.”

Maher pointed out that in 15 Middle Eastern countries, including Gaza, laws require women to obey their husbands, a legal enforcement of gender apartheid. “This is happening right now, right under your nose rings,” he remarked. “Kids, if you really want to change the world and not just tie up Monday morning traffic, this is the apartheid that desperately needs your attention, gender apartheid. This is what should be the social justice issue of your time. How about, from the river to the sea, every woman shall be free?”

Maher criticized the pro-Hamas protesters for their apparent hypocrisy, stating they overlook the treatment of women in the Islamic world because “the people who are doing it aren’t white.”

“I hate to have to be the one to break it to you kids, but non-white people can do bad things too,” he concluded.

Maher's comments highlight the need for consistency in advocating for human rights and the importance of addressing gender-based oppression globally. His remarks challenge activists to broaden their focus beyond Israel and confront the severe injustices faced by women in many Middle Eastern countries.

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