The French are not a people who shy away from controversy. They are humorously notorious for their regular striking in the face of social injustice; a President (De Gaulle) who had repeatedly and openly condemned his own country; and have a number of political characters who find themselves often in the media spotlight for all the wrong reasons. Now several citizens of the French Republic have both embarrassed themselves and brought an ongoing religious debate to the fore.
Firstly, the event in question took place between a Muslim woman and a mother with her daughter. The Muslim woman was in a supermarket wearing the veil (niqab) when she was confronted by the mother and daughter. Following some verbal insults, the two women proceeded to physically attack each other culminating in the attempted removal of the niqab. The mother had told the other woman that she 'should go back to her own contry'. Such religious animosity should not be expected from anyone, especially in a place as public as a supermarket. The three individuals were detained by police and are now pressing charges against each other. This even has only aided in highlighting the political debate taking place in the French Parliament over the banning of the Muslim veil. This move put forward by President Sarkozy's Government is heightening tension between Muslim and non-Muslim communities of France, and overspilling in a matter which was experienced by that Muslim woman.
Such political actions against Islamic customs as well as other religions is not unusual in these secular times. The Swizz Government has banned any further construction of the Minarets which had become a common feature in the Switzerland. It is also the case in Belgium where measures to ban the 'Islamic' attire worn by many Muslim women. However, it can be very easy to forget the limitations which have been imposed on other religions. The fact is that in France there is no place for religion within schools or the syllabus. Students are forbidden of wearing anything that may express their religious beliefs. All these measures taken by a number of democratic European nations could be seen as an effort to be religiously inclusive, but is there an undertone of Islamophobia.
In a world which encourages tolerance and integration, it is hard to ignore the true feelings of the masses. Recent European Union elections have shown a sharp rise in the support for anti-immigrant right wing parties from all over the EU. This is a new tide of fascist sympathy spreading through people who are tired of change to the European way of time. In such times, individuals attack the greatest and most prevalent force of change, which in this case is Islam. The positive messages found within the faith are drowned out by its unfair association with all that is terrorism and negative change. Many fail to appreciate that it is a faith which has strong theological links to Christianity, but focus on those who are on television threatening to behead all those who insult the Prophet. It only takes the actions of a few fanatics to light the touchpaper of the many. Such fanatics willingly attack those they do not understand in Supermarkets, restaurants and on the street. By passing legislation which appears to support those anti-Islamists, governments are exacerbating the situation further. Perhaps a solution then can be found in both sides admitting fault. As each party pushes their views more firmly against the other, they are destined for a head on collision. By taking responsibility in part, they will create a more stable platform for progress. From this an understanidng may be reached where each party recieves the freedoms they so desperately strive for. In turn, a complete religious tolerance could be reached in lands where once there was conflict. As a Continent, we have spend too long being dragged through the dirt and mud to allow it all to happen again. The events of the 20th Century, especially the first 45 years, saw suffering which came from intolerance on this level. There is a fine line between limiting specific religious expression and the gas chambers of Auschwitz.
No comments:
Post a Comment