Gender Issues and the Hijab/Burqa
From the left, a call to end the current Dutch notion of tolerance
The country’s biggest left-wing political group, the Labor Party, called for an end to the failed model of Dutch “tolerance.” The cited that the current model “doesn’t work anymore” and stated “the mistake we can never repeat is stifling criticism of cultures and religions for reasons of tolerance.” The Labor party’s spokesperson, Lilianne Plouman denounced…
Ireland: For burqa wearing women, vitamin D deficiency rises from lack of exposure to sunlight
Muslim women who wear the burqa and other similar face-coverings run an increased disk of pelvic fractures during childbirth because of a deficiency of vitamin D, warns Dr. Miriam Casey of the Osteoporosis Unit in the St. James hospital in Dublin. Those in cloudier environments such as Ireland and Britain generally run an increased risk…
Woman in forced marriage case in Bangladesh to return home to the UK
NHS doctor Humayra Abedin, who said she has been held captive by her parents ahead of a forced marriage, is returning to the UK. A Bangladesh court’s decision to order her release has been hailed as a “landmark” ruling by her lawyers. But how significant is the case of the 33-year-old trainee GP to the…
Hijab barred in American court
Days after police arrested a Muslim woman for refusing to remove her religious headscarf before attending a hearing, city court workers and a municipal judge have been ordered to undergo sensitivity training. The judge in an Atlanta, Georgia suburb ordered Lisa Valentine to serve 10 days in jail for contempt of court – she was…
Denmark: Professional groups slam headscarf ban
A government proposal to ban the wearing of headscarves by judges in the courtroom has received criticism from lawyers and human rights organizations, who believe the law is a direct insult to Muslim judges. The majority of parliament supports the proposal, following a debate on whether or not a headscarf in the workplace places religion…