Muslim Veil & the Attack on Personal Freedom

23-October-2006

[ Religion , Non-secular , Identity ]
The 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

Glenn Hardaker; 23-October-2006 02:24:38 forum (0)

Muslims & Multiculturalism

16-October-2006

[ Religion , Racism , Multiculturalism , Identity ]
Jack Straw's entrance into the right wing debate on multiculturalism and Muslims has little to do with the veil and has the opposite impact is being pushed in terms of opening up the so called debate....
I have been intending to post my view in the recent media coverage of the wearing of the veil but time pasted... I struggle with the logic and Jack Straw (MP) should be far more aware of the situation (he is loosing the Asiam vote due to the war on Iraq/Afganistan and no voice on Lebanon so why kick even harder). The response seemed calculated from the Labour government and I guess to some extent well discussed way before the public comments from Jack Straw. Such comments increase the atmosphere of Islamaphobia and anti-Muslim racism in the country. The follow up in the context of wider issues of citizenship also has the potential of moving the country towards models being pushed in other European countries and away from what is still a more pluralist rather than secular approach here in the UK. In England we now see the situation of the Liverpool woman having a veil ripped off, woman suspended from working in a school for wearing a veil and racist attacks near many Mosques. I thought we had open views in the UK and legislation that is intended to protect from religious prejudice and the Race Relations Act. We should keep with the Multiculturalism and celebrate the diversity that it has enabled through positive anti-discriminatory action.... Northen towns such as Blackburn have no problems in community relations but have significant economic deprivation. This is the challenge not what people are wearing and the comments from many leading people in the Labour party are intrusive and discrimatory in attitude. For many women the veil is a sign of liberty and in the UK many more women have decided to wear the veil since the war on Iraq. For many more its part of there identity and a choice. In Europe typically it is a choice and a sign for many of controlling there own way of doing things. For others it is a central part of being a Muslim.. In other words for many women it is central to what they are and a choice in a free society that has no impact on others.....

Glenn Hardaker; 16-October-2006 03:30:55 forum (0)

Growing concept of 'Eurabia': People seem to Believe the Fantasy

24-July-2006

[ Religion , Ethnicity , Multiculturalism , Identity ]

IRR journal Race & Class leads with an essay by Matt Carr who writes................Race & Class: Journal 2006 Seems to be a grrowing consensus on both sides of the Atlantic that is presenting Europe as a doomed continent that is being transformed into an Islamic colony called 'Eurabia'. Writer and journalist Matt Carr takes the reader  through the writings of conservative historians and newspaper columnists, right-wing Zionists and European neo-fascists, who find common cause in the dangerous Islamophobic fantasy that 'Judeo-Christian' civilisation is under threat from Muslim immigrants. Hey whats this 'one world order' thing we are being pushed......


Glenn; 24-July-2006 23:22:02 forum (0)

I’LL NEVER RETURN

04-July-2006

[ Religion , Terrorism , Identity ]

Just came across the powerful image and thought provoking poem by Meena. She was dedicate to the struggle of Afgan muslim women andhuman rights . The poster below is by an north American artist: Favianna Rodriguez Giannoni. Cool work with emotion and power ( http://www.favianna.com/ ).


I’LL NEVER RETURN
I'm the woman who has awoken
I've arisen and become a tempest through the ashes of my burnt children
I've arisen from the rivulets of my brother's blood
My nation's wrath has empowered me
My ruined and burnt villages fill me with hatred against the enemy
Oh compatriot, no longer regard me weak and incapable,
My voice has mingled with thousands of arisen women
My fists are clenched with fists of thousands compatriots
To break all these sufferings all these fetters of slavery.
I'm the woman who has awoken,
I've found my path and will never return.
Poem by Meena (1956-1987)


Glenn; 04-July-2006 23:53:16 forum (0)