Its amazing that if there is any incident, people start quoting from religious textbooks and prove how it is important for women to follow modesty and what not. Modesty should be followed, but will that guarantee safety?
Modesty makes it nearly impossible for males to look down upon females as objects of lust. This development in itself can greatly minimize risks/chances of exploitation for females.
But then "practice of modesty" is one of the MAJOR steps required to reform a society; Islamic laws are also very strict and penalties for wrongdoings are harsh (Islam suggests exemplary punishments for criminals and offenders).
Strict laws coupled with practice of modesty would absolutely collectively guarantee a safe society for both genders and not just women.
In Pakistan many women follow modesty, but Pakistan record of women treatment is not great.
I disagree; many women do not properly practice PURDAH in public in Pakistan. They beautify themselves for the PUBLIC rather then their own husbands. Do the math.
In Egypt, 83 % women complained of harassment where they mostly cover up completely. Go to any public transport in Pakistan, fully covered women are being ogled and even touched by teenagers.
Reports such as these are part of the propaganda to justify lack of practice of modesty on the part of women. I don't buy this BS.
Yes, perverts may go to extreme lengths under certain circumstances (crowded situations) but this doesn't means that women should stop practicing modesty; otherwise you would be adding FUEL to FIRE.
I have travelled a lot in popular public transports such as Buses. In majority of Buses in Pakistan, women sit separately from men; they do not intermingle (Buses are even compartmentalized in this manner). This is also an "example" of practice of modesty and end result is that women are unlikely to get harassed in Buses; at least, I have never seen this in my LIFE.
However, I would advice women to not seek transports where they are forced to intermingle with strangers.
You want to CITE examples of countries where women are at HUGE risk of getting harassed? Look no further then INDIA (a nation of over a billion people).
Ask women and men to be modest, but why not improve law and order too?
Islam recommends both.
First they said cover up and if that did not work, they said stop going out and when even that didn't work they said, Oh God we want sons only.
What would people say about incidents when people call women at home and harass them?
South Asia is regressing and it deserves it.
You sweeping generalizations make no sense; sorry. Women are much more likely to be treated with respect in a Islamic society then in a non-Islamic society. Now their is more to an Islamic society then women being modest but the latter part is IMPORTANT.