ID :
175777
Sat, 04/16/2011 - 11:45
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/175777
The shortlink copeid
Islamic dress empowers women, says Muslim campaigner
London, April 16, IRNA – The Islamic practice of modest dress “empowers women to contribute actively in the public sphere free from the pressures of being judged on superficial appearance,” according to the chief executive officer of Muslim Public Affairs Committee UK (MPACUK).
“Many women who freely choose to wear the veil do so as a statement against the objectification of women as well as an expression of their faith,” said Catherine Heseltine, who is a former teacher.
“Regulating what a person must not wear in this way is just as bad as forcing people to wear niqab against their will,” Heseltine told IRNA following the France's ban on women wearing a face veil in public which was implemented this week.
The ban has led to the first Muslim women in France to be fined for wearing the niqab based on claims that the face veil disempowers women and is a security threat in the so-called war against terrorism, which Heseltine also rejected.
“Niqab is not a security risk. This issue is easily resolved - at airports and at events simply have a female attendee check their face with their passport or ID. In fact this happens already at a number of airports and other places, with no fuss or issue at all,” she said.
“The underlying reason why niqab was banned in France is due to Islamophobia and the rise of the far-right. There are alarming parallels between the far-right's increasingly open demonisation of Muslims and Nazi propaganda against the Jews,” the chief executive officer said.
In addition, she said the French ban is a “direct infringement of personal and religious freedom and is surely in contradiction to the European Convention on Human Rights.”
The state intervention into what women can and cannot wear comes has also been approved by the Belgian parliament and similar moves are being proposed in Britain by way of a Private Members Bill from Conservative MP Philip Hollobone.
Heseltine, who encourages Muslims to become more involved in mainstream politics, warned that it was essential to campaign against the encroachment against Muslim values and principles.
“Over 6 million French Muslims failed to take action before it was too late. It is vital that British Muslims and our brothers and sisters across Europe take action to lobby against these Islamophobic moves and to empower ourselves through active participation in mainstream politics and media,” she said.
MPACUK was founded at the height of opposition to the 2003 Iraq war as a non-profit organization to address the under-representation of Muslims in British politics and campaigns on issues affecting Britain's two million Muslim population, including at elections./end
“Many women who freely choose to wear the veil do so as a statement against the objectification of women as well as an expression of their faith,” said Catherine Heseltine, who is a former teacher.
“Regulating what a person must not wear in this way is just as bad as forcing people to wear niqab against their will,” Heseltine told IRNA following the France's ban on women wearing a face veil in public which was implemented this week.
The ban has led to the first Muslim women in France to be fined for wearing the niqab based on claims that the face veil disempowers women and is a security threat in the so-called war against terrorism, which Heseltine also rejected.
“Niqab is not a security risk. This issue is easily resolved - at airports and at events simply have a female attendee check their face with their passport or ID. In fact this happens already at a number of airports and other places, with no fuss or issue at all,” she said.
“The underlying reason why niqab was banned in France is due to Islamophobia and the rise of the far-right. There are alarming parallels between the far-right's increasingly open demonisation of Muslims and Nazi propaganda against the Jews,” the chief executive officer said.
In addition, she said the French ban is a “direct infringement of personal and religious freedom and is surely in contradiction to the European Convention on Human Rights.”
The state intervention into what women can and cannot wear comes has also been approved by the Belgian parliament and similar moves are being proposed in Britain by way of a Private Members Bill from Conservative MP Philip Hollobone.
Heseltine, who encourages Muslims to become more involved in mainstream politics, warned that it was essential to campaign against the encroachment against Muslim values and principles.
“Over 6 million French Muslims failed to take action before it was too late. It is vital that British Muslims and our brothers and sisters across Europe take action to lobby against these Islamophobic moves and to empower ourselves through active participation in mainstream politics and media,” she said.
MPACUK was founded at the height of opposition to the 2003 Iraq war as a non-profit organization to address the under-representation of Muslims in British politics and campaigns on issues affecting Britain's two million Muslim population, including at elections./end
