Islamic Burqa Becoming An International Pain In the Neck
Posted: Wednesday, May 19, 2010
by Joel Hendon
http://hebronics.org/index.html
Muslim immigration into non-Muslim countries have, in many cases, brought controversy concerning certain features of their religion. Some segments, not all, have strict rules for their women's appearance in public. There are two items of their clothing which are required by certain groups that are causing the problems. The burqa, a cape which not only covers the body but also, the head and face with only a narrow slit to allow vision. The other is called a "nigab" and is a veil which covers the face. These are a religious requirement for the ladies to be worn when in public. Only a small percentage of Muslims adhere to these face covering requirements.
The United States laws and regulations do actually permit some, whose religion opposes medical treatment for illnesses, to refuse such treatment for themselves but they are not allowed to make such decisions with impunity for their children. Some Mormon sects marry their daughters to someone at age twelve. This is illegal and punishable by law, unless the enforcers looks the other way, which is some times done.
So far, here in the United States, we have not encountered large troubles. With the continuing influx of those of the Islamic faith, the troubles may increase. There are now several nations who are experiencing much difficulty with it.
The history of Islam in Spain is long and violent. In 1609, Phillip III issued "edicts of expulsion" and the Muslims were driven from their primary concentrations in Aragon and Valencia, also in 1614, they were expulsed from the kingdom of Castille. However, the past six or seven decades, there has been a resurgence in Islamic immigration, that now numbers approximately one million in Spain. Their objection to the Spanish agreement to assist the United States in the fight against terrorism, was basically the cause for Spain's change of mind and withdrawing their support..
France's President Nicholas Sarkozy has pushed legislation to ban the face coverings in France. He says the veils imply "subservience of women and are not welcome in France". He is running into problems however, as some lawmakers say it is against France's constitution to ban them.
The matter caused some slight violence on this last weekend. According to the UK Times Online, France had it's first case of "burqa rage" when a shopper reportedly tried to pull the veil from the face of a Muslim woman:
The Muslim woman, named only as lodie, told reporters that she had been leaving a shoe store in Trignac, near St Nazaire, when two passers-by, apparently mother and daughter, made derogatory remarks before telling her: "Go back to your own country."Belgium was working towards a nationwide ban on burqas as well as nigabs when Premier Yves Leterme's government collapsed on April 22, however, it is still expected to be passed as soon as another assembly can be in place. Sources say it should be enacted in July.
The mother, a lawyer, allegedly tried to tear off the niqab worn by lodie - at which point the two began trading slaps before being separated by shop assistants, lodie said.
"Things got nasty," she added. "The older woman grabbed my veil to the point of ripping it off." (UK timesonline 5-19-10 article 7130192) All three were detained by police.
"If all the inhabitants of Belgium for one reason or another decide to hide the face, how can everyone communicate together, because the face allows us to recognise each other. These are the fundamental reasons for the vote today," said Jacques Otlet, a Belgian MP (oneindianews-Belgium: Complete burqa ban from Jul-April 30,2010)An excellent article concerning the banning of an Egyptian woman from French classes in a Canadian school because she refused to remove her nigab. The nigab was said to impede her speech to the point her teacher could not determine the accuracy of her pronunciation. She filed a complaint with the Quebec Human Rights Commission, to which came this reply:
"There is no ambiguity about this question," Quebec's immigration minister, Yolande James, told the press. "If you want to integrate into Quebec society, here are our values. We want to see your face." Further, Quebec Premier Jean Charest took a cue from Belgium, France and the Netherlands, pushing forward a bill that bans women wearing a burqa, niqab or any sort of full-face veil from receiving or applying for government services, including non-emergency medicine and day care. In other words: The ban applies pretty much everywhere but the street itself. (politics daily.com)The Netherlands also, as mentioned above, are having their own problems as are the United Kingdom and Germany. The Islamic immigrant population has grown to the point that violence flares from time to time and it is difficult for police to arrest a Muslim lawbreaker(s) without incurring demonstrations which sometimes are violent. Reports say that many citizens of the Netherlands have moved from the country due to apprehension.
Australia has had a large influx of Islamics. Prime Minister John Howard has taken firms steps, and although he says they welcome Muslims in Australia, he stresses that there are not two laws in Australia, the only one is that of their constitution and they do not recognize Sharia Law. Teaching or advocating terrorism in mosques or other locations is strictly prohibited and whatever steps become necessary will be taken to determine if such is suspected of being done. This information is taken from Snopes.
An additional article, very informative by a Muslim woman writer Here.
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Top-level comments on this article: (1 total)I don't personally like the idea of a woman having to cover her face and I wouldn't want to be forced to it myself, but if somebody else feels that it's important, what business is it of mine? Thanks for writing about this, Joel.Hi Jennifer, thanks fo r your comment. Well, I agree with you completely except for the cases where identity is needed. I didn't mention in my article, but I read of one college which banned them in the dorms because there was nothing that would keep men from donning them and entering the girls dorms.
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