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Secularism

Kohhan | 18.10.2005 09:29

A victory for common sense

In a move appaluded by all those seeking an end to religious inlfuence in society the Dutch goverment has started the process of banning the burkha from all public places in the Netherlands. This follows on from similar rulings in Belgium.

France enacted laws late last year to prevent religious symbology in schools and despite early objection from fundamentalist groups this has now become universal.

Margret De Cuyper of the Den Haag womens forum hailed it as a victory for a secular Dutch society and for womens liberation from male formulated clothes of control, she said,

"Women have lived for too long with clothes and standards decided for them by men, this is a victory"

Kohhan

Comments

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We Order You To Be Free

18.10.2005 16:15

So a law which tells women what they can and can't wear is a blow for freedom? Erm..

Isn't it wiser and more liberating to recognise the diversity of women and the identities and meanings that experiences or symbols may carry for us, than to impose one view by law on all women (and more particularly, on women from non-European backgrounds?)

Or to put it simpler - shouldn't the point be women's right to choose?

Mr Spoon

Just a minute...

18.10.2005 20:10

Before you all jump to a reaction, a question or two. What's the position in the Netherlands regarding overtly Christian issues in schools? Is all religion/religious symbolism banned? Is it just Muslims picked out here or are Sikh's permitted to wear their headgear?

Boab

Not just schools

18.10.2005 23:24

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but this doesn't appear to be about schools at all. The article says the burkha is to be banned from all public places. Surely this is out of line, and indicative of the degree to which anti-Islamic prejudice is growing, if this is happening in the Netherlands.

"smoke pot, sell your body, just don't wear a headscarf."

Vashti

CHOICE and SELF DETERMINATION!

19.10.2005 01:37

Perhaps this was a well intentioned move, but it seems to restrict rather than liberate women. The basic and most important issues are CHOICE and self-determination. To respect women's self-determination means you allow them to choose whether they want to wear a burka (or not) or sell sex for money, or get an abortion, or whatever. It is not the business of government, church or mosque!

The heart of the feminist struggle is about control over one's own body, and life. It is not necessarily anti-religion, unless that religion or any institution, government or custom restricts a woman's choice.


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