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The Hijab : Freedom of Expression or Symbol of Oppression?

category international | rights, freedoms and repression | feature author Wednesday January 21, 2004 17:54author by Indymedia Ireland Editorial Group - Indymedia Ireland Report this post to the editors

Range of Responses to IAWM support for recent International Protest against French School Ban

paula1.jpg

On Saturday 19th January the Irish Anti War Movement supported an international mobilisation against the banning of the Hijab in French Schools by taking part in a protest at the French Embassy in Dublin. This has lead to a heated debate on Indymedia Ireland which reflects the complexity of the issue. Below is one contribution to the debate: A defense of the stance of the IAWM contributed by Aoife Ní Fhearghail of the IAWM and SWP:

"When the Irish Anti-War Movement was set up - as well as opposing the looming war on Afghanistan, the use of Shannon Airport by belligerent powers and the on-going occupation of Palestine - two of our defining principles were opposition to the racism (or more particularly Islamophobia) which is inherent in Bush's 'War on Terror' and opposition to attacks on civil liberties.

Bush's 'War on Terror' has been a useful tool to governments the world over which want to enact racist, anti-immigrant legislation and crack down heavily on civil liberties.

Clearly, the decision by the french government to ban a woman's right to choose to wear the Hijab in school is not just an infringement on her civil rights, but a continuation of France's generations-long attacks on members of the Islamic community. This latest decision is not designed to further the cause of women's liberation, but to demonise young French Muslim women. If you cannot understand this then you are either guilty of the most infantile ultraleftism or you possibly subscribe yourself to the Robert Kilroy-Silk school of thought.

The SWP as a socialist organisation is opposed to women's oppression and women being forced to dress/behave in a way they do not choose. However unlike other 'socialist' groups and individuals notably absent from Saturday's demonstration the SWP supports an individuals' right to practice their religion.

Young Muslim women living in Ireland have been at the forefront of all the anti-war demonstrations. Many organised walk-outs of their schools on March 20 last year when the invasion of Iraq began. Along with members of Catholic, Quaker, Jewish, Church of Ireland and Gandhian-individualistic brands of religion, they have played just as significant a role in the anti-war movement as those of us who are atheists, and just as they march in defence of freedom in Iraq, so we in Ireland must defend their civil rights in France."

Debate Ongoing Here
Debate Began Here
Arguments For and Against from 'About Islam'
Opinion Piece on Ban from UK SWP
Muslim Women Debate Feminism and Fundamentalism at time of Afghan War: Audio from Democracy Now

 #   Title   Author   Date 
   harsh laws     nadia    Thu Jan 22, 2004 15:54 
   The problem is...     Ray    Thu Jan 22, 2004 16:05 
   More to the point     Ray    Thu Jan 22, 2004 16:09 
   did any one mention Turkey?     iosaf    Thu Jan 22, 2004 16:11 
   "democratic" centralism = the sharia     pat c    Thu Jan 22, 2004 16:17 
   Joining other campaigns...     A Person    Thu Jan 22, 2004 21:31 
   but they are an entryist organisation jumping on a bandwagon     fuinseog    Fri Jan 23, 2004 12:41 
   Sikh protests yesterday     Wun Dum Fuk    Sun Feb 01, 2004 13:06 
   What WE believe     nadia and sidra    Wed Feb 11, 2004 11:20 
 10   christ on a stick     Sorehead    Wed Feb 11, 2004 11:26 


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