Angus |
05-10-2010 01:40 PM |
Quote:
Originally Posted by Shasown
(Post 3828377)
Let me explain something about Islam. you either are a muslim or you are an infidel. Thats it.
If you are a muslim and you decide to turn to another religion or simply disown the religion, you dont suddenly become a non muslim or an infidel, you become apostate, in other words a major sinner.
Rushdie got a fatwa issued against him because in the eyes of some mullahs he sinned big time for a Muslim, not only was he apostate but also guilty of a major heresy referring to the supposed removed verses of the qur'an.
However if you read his book you will see the more controversial part of the book dealt with a religious leader in exile leading a revolution in his homeland from the safety of overseas and was taken by Khomeini to be highly critical of himself (well it was wasnt it?) so he issued the fatwa. Which is why a lot of Muslims ignored it.
While it's all very well having the noble intent to set Muslim women free, think carefully about that, you are talking about one of the major religions of the world, which as you have seen is very backward in its mindset towards women in some quarters.
Go head to head with a part of it and it will close ranks even though lots of schools of Islam actually agree there is no place for the burka in todays society, there are a couple who condone and one which requires its use. And thats the major stumbling block a small part of it sees it as a religious requirement. And a larger section of Islamic society has it as a traditional cultural requirement.
Rightly or wrongly they dont see it as subjugation of the female rather following a guideline that their women should be modest. You can argue that their women are brainwashed into believing that view and in a way you are correct. A lot of the women are brainwashed into believing they are required. There are however some who willingly wear it.
Do you honestly think though that an outright ban will suddenly make those who believe in wearing the burka change their mind? Or will it simply mean that those women who wear it will either choose not to go out in public or even be forced by their men to stay indoors. Which in itself would be counter productive to your cause, because the so called free thinking liberated Western society would in fact be restricting religious and cultural freedom.
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I am tired of arguing the point that muslims have no right to flout our laws with regard to their treatment of women. Just because a practise is a cultural norm in the countries they come from does not mean we have to accept it over here. Sex discrimination in this country is an offence, and muslims are not above our laws.
"All it takes for the triumph of evil, is for good men to do nothing". By suggesting we just allow them to get on with it, you are saying we must accept abhorrent practices in our society because it is "their culture". Well I beg to differ - probably as a woman I am always going to feel much more strongly about this issue than a man - but I refuse to accept that we have to kow tow and tolerate sex discrimination in our midst, and what's more allow faith schools to perpetuate the myth that women are inferior to men, by allowing them to indoctrinate and brainwash their female pupils. You would think after several centuries muslims would have progressed to some level of equality between the sexes.
Banning the burkha will be the first step towards the emancipation of these women who are treated as second class citizens by their male counterparts. Who said anything about "suddenly"? - no pain, no gain is the mantra - it might take decades to change muslim attitudes towards women but if they choose to live in the west amongst emancipated western women then they should not be allowed to continue flouting the law by their domination of women.
Your casual comment that there are some women who wear the burkha willingly is flawed, since a brainwashed person's compliance should not be confused with willingness, but rather a reluctance to be punished by their men folk for non-compliance. I would also point out what any casual obsever can see for themselves, that the burkha is not universally worn by muslim women. Most enlightened muslims do not require their women to wear the burkha and respected muslim scholars have acknowledged it is not a requirement mentioned in the Qu'ran. It is simply a legacy of some men's interpretation of "dressing modestly" that they have used to their advantage, about 500 years ago. It is sad that in 500 years there has been virtually no progress with regard to women's rights. I therefore take issue with your comment that "the larger section of Islamic society has it as a traditional cultural requirement". This is NOT true.
The issue of the subjugation of women aside (which in itself is unacceptable in this country), it is a garment that anonymises and conceals its wearers who should not be allowed to flout the requirement these days to be identifiable and accountable, particularly in public areas. The sooner it is banned the better.
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