Islam and Women
“The veil is an obstacle to women’s participation on equal terms.”
This is what Harriet Harman, who is planning to run for the Deputy Leadership of the Labour government said, which happens to be complete and utter nonsense, it not an obstacle in countries like Iran wear the Hijab is mandatory, it only an obstacle in countries where it is ban or the government encourage Islamophobes and racists to discriminate against Muslim women.
Quite easily genius, stand for the Labour Party in a safe seat and you’ll win. Having your face on a poster doesn’t make a blind bit of difference to winning a seat in Westminster.
The argument that the veil oppresses women is typical, rich, white, middle class, feminist, drivel. Harman thinks Islam is patriarchal and oppresses women. She doesn’t have a clue what she talking about and she’s certainly doesn’t care what Muslim women think. Whitey knows best. This is just an excuse for Islamophobic fascists, like Harman, to hide behind the feminist veil. But Harman is right that Muslim women are oppressed because of their religion. In the West they’re oppressed by Christian and Secular governments, and in the Middle East they oppressed by Jewish and Christian imperialists and their lackeys.
Muslim women wear the hijab or niqab to protect their modesty, same reason I don’t go out the house in my bra and knickers. If we’re going to say that this is oppressive at least be consistent because I don’t see Harman demanding the right for women to walk around naked and let’s not forget that Judaism requires women to cover their heads too.
But its not only the veil, that they have a problem with it’s the Shariah, feminists have been demanding that the Bush regime oppose the Shariah in Afghanistan and Iraq and are demanding that Pakistan repeal the Hadood Ordinance laws, which supposedly make it impossible for anyone to be convicted of rape unless there are four male witnesses who saw the rape being committed or the accused confesses. This is again complete rubbish.
If you actually read section 8 and section 9 of the Hadood Ordinance, which is written in English, it says, zina-bil-jabr (rape outside marriage) is liable to hadd punishment according to the Koran if there are four male witnesses to the rape or a confession and to Tazir (punishment not according to the Koran) if a guilty verdict is decided on the “evidence on record”. Tazir for rape is a sentence of no less than four years and no more than twenty-five years, and 30 lashes. Gang rape is punished by death. In Iran all rape is punished by death. Islam is a lot tougher on rape than we are in the West.
There are over 1.5 Billion Muslims in the World. If Muslim women are oppressed why do so many women choose to follow Islam? Why do so many women convert to Islam? Why do they choose to observe the hijab or niqab? Obviously freedom of conscience and self determination mean nothing to the feminists arguing that Islam oppresses women. They don’t care what Muslim women actually think, they are happy to assume that Islam is oppressive and that Muslim women are to dumb to know any better, which is incredibly patronising and ignorant. These people who oppose the rights of Muslim women to practice Islam are the ones who are really oppressing women, not Islam.
steph
amica
rob
That’s interesting because the Umayyad armies never showed any intention of conquering Gaul, despite the myth, the battle of Poitiers was an inconsequential and fought over loot. But Islamophobes prefer the myth of Martel to the reality of el Cid because he was a multiculturalists.
Another point about climate – the 2000 hours/per year average sunshine line across Europe and western Asia corresponds almost exactly to the historical northern limit of Muslim rule! (Peninsular Italy is the main rule-breaker, as it is south of the line.)
Also in Sicily and Greece (both hot countries) older ladies still often cover their heads too.
And note also that nudism is particularly popular in Scandinavia. Complete nudity is permitted on all but 5 of Denmark’s beaches. Perhaps that explains the Islamophobia behind those notorious cartoons?
When I first read this I thought what the hell has been smoking but then I thought about it and you’re right.
Also in Sicily and Greece (both hot countries) older ladies still often cover their heads too.
Modern Western civilization emerged in northwestern Europe, one of the cloudiest regions on Earth (contrast with Islam, which sprang from one of the sunniest regions of the planet).
Many people in the West have an inordinate yearning to expose their bodies to the sun, as one can attest simply by browsing the brochures in a travel agents’ shop. No wonder they think Muslim women are oppressed!