Ireland: "We Need to ban the Hijab, Symbol of Repression and Submission in a Country That is Culturally Christian.....

Martina Devlin in the Irish Independent....

If Muslim men are so keen on seeing their headscarf introduced into Irish society, they should wear it as well as their women. Let them cover up, too.

Otherwise there must be no place for the hijab in civic life here. Not in banks, hospitals or libraries, not in the guards or civil service and most definitely not in schools.

You hear a constant stream of hooey about why we can't ban the headscarf. But this is not about Islamophobia. It's not about prejudice on race or religion grounds. It's not about equating the Muslim scarf with terrorism. It's not about denial of civil rights.

Here's what banning the headscarf is about: the State demonstrating our belief in gender equality. It's about removing a symbol of repression and submission. Showing we don't condone marks of separation -- either between men and women, Muslim and Christian, or native born and immigrant.

And it's about refusing point blank to make allowances for anything which could lead to a creeping erosion of women's rights.

Today the hijab which covers the hair and shoulders, tomorrow the niqab or full-face veil, the day after the burqa hiding everything from tip to toe -- described as a mobile prison by women obliged to wear it.

You can bet your bottom dollar Islam will complain about discrimination. That's fine, we allow freedom of protest unlike many Islamic counties. But it is not discriminatory to ban the hijab in a country that is culturally Christian.

Read it all>>>>

ZIP

Comments

[atheling]

Hooray for Ms. Devlin!

I hope the Irish set an example for Europe.