A R C H I V E S
Madinat al-Muslimeen Islamic Message Board
| Islam Oppresses Women? |
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| Aafreen |
| 11/04/03 at 20:44:07 |
| Islam Oppresses Women? http://www.mpacuk.org/mpac/data/11ab8d60/11ab8d60.jsp The West is threatened by "Islamofascism", Islam downgrades the education of girls, and "hardcore" Muslims shouldn't be allowed to be school governors. This is the world according to Julie Birchill, writing in the Guardian ('Mind the Gap' 1/11/03): http://www.guardian.co.uk/weekend/story/0,3605,1075241,00.html …Calling all you poor, oppressed, uneducated Muslim sisters out there - write and tell Ms Birchill that she's got it WRONG! Tell her the facts - your first hand experiences. (Brothers - don't think that means you don't need to answer this alert - defend Islam and your Muslim sisters). Please complain to the Guardian: Julie Birchill states that "the practice of Islam frequently downgrades the education of girls". This is a very offensive, Islamophobic stereotype. Is Ms Birchill not aware that in this year's GSCE a Muslim girl, Amina Al-Yassin, was named the country's top student by the examination board, Edexcel? (Muslim News 31/10/03) Islam strongly promotes education for all Muslims, regardless of gender. The first verse of the Qur'an to be revealed opens with "Iqra!" (READ!), and the prophet (pbuh) is reported to have said, "Seek knowledge, even if the search takes you as far as China". Ms Birchill sympathises with a Muslim parent who was unhappy about BNP members being school governors, but says "I wouldn't be altogether happy about a hardcore Muslim being in that position either". What exactly does she mean by 'hardcore'? Her implication that practicing Muslims should be banned from being school governors is bigoted and fascist. Julie Birchill seeks to add a new word to the English language: "Islamofascism". Her made up term is deeply offensive to Muslims. 'Islam' comes from an Arabic root meaning 'peace'. It is defined by the Qur'an as a 'middle' way (2.143), in which people run their affairs by mutual consultation (42.38). 'Fascism' is an authoritarian, usually violent, political system. Birchill's term is therefore not only grotesque, but also nonsensical! How much longer is a 'liberal' newspaper like the Guardian going to allow Ms Birchill to vent her prejudices in its pages? E-mail: letters@guardian.co.uk reader@guardian.co.uk (the 'Reader's editor' - responsible for complaints) Or send to: The Guardian, 119 Farringdon Road, London EC1R 3ER N.B. If you want your letter to be considered for publication you must include your full postal address and contact telephone number. Don't worry these won't be published. |
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