Muslim Veil & the Attack on Personal Freedom
23-October-2006
permalink email thisThe knee jerk response to the Muslim veil which seems to have snow balled. A license for what seems to be discriminatory practice. Here is some comparison's across Europe and what seems to be draconian practice from the state. The emphasis is how many feel unconfortable with the veil in terms of communicating. So where does the responsibility go - to the wearer or the ones who fail to raise awareness of the diversity of cultural practice??
United Kingdom - controversy around the niqab (or face veil) Jack Straw (MP) called this 'a barrier to integration'. This has been taken and agreed with by many politicians including Tony Blair. Many women in communities feel under seige and it opens the doors to the racists on the streets of the UK. Such comments has been the most significant event that has damaged community cohesion since the race riots of 2001. A recent survey commissioned by the Home Office and conducted by University of Central Lancashire has found black and asian overall more tolerant to cultural diversity than whites in the northen towns researched. The recent comments seemed to illustrate a similar situation at a state level. So there is a move from ASBOS, to banning 'hoodies' to not 'veils'!?
Netherlands - a parliamentary movement to ban burkas (full length garments) but was rejected by government last year. Since 2003 many schools have banned headscarves and this is permitted for specific reasons. So where is the free society when it comes to religious tolerance.
Belgium - earlier this year 2 teachers were sacked for wearing the hijab (scalf). The reason was for not complying with 'religious neutrality'. In 2005 a factory boss/manager got death threats for allowing a worker to wear a hijab. In Antwerp an old law was invoked about not being allowed to wear masks..
Austria - minister Liese Prokop proposed to ban teachers from wearing hijabs. Later he did not pursue this any further.
France Banned 'conspicuous' religious symbols in schools and this has clearly contributed to opinion across Europe. The impact of this is demonstrated to be far greater for Muslims that say Christians or Jews.
Germany - 7 or 16 federal states banned the hijabs in schools. Baden-Wittemberg said it would question Muslim immigrants on women's rights and 9/11.
Denmark - In 2005 a supreme court ruled a supermarket chain could fire a cashier wearing a veil (scalf).
Italy - There have been attempts to revive Musolini-era laws against wearing masks. Minister Letizia Moratti ruled out any ban on hijabs in schools.
Switzerland - a court ruling in 1997 banned the hijab for teachers.
Turkey - Laws state religious clothing should not be worn outside times of worship. For example a cause of friction is that women wearing headscarf are not allowed to register as university students or enter campuses. The so called secular state of Turkey began under Kemal Ataturk
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