Archbishop gives wrong signal
February 10th 2008 22:41
:
Archbishop gives wrong signal
Archbishop gives the wrong signal
Archbishop Rowan Williams, head of the Anglican Church in the UK, said on BBC radio last week that the introduction of moderate elements of Islamic law - sharia - into the British system were inevitable. The Archbishop has been fiercely criticized because of his remarks and very rightly so. Apparently he seems to be shocked about the hostile reactions, but anyone in his position should have been very aware of what would be the consequences of his remarks. If the Archbishop states the contrary, he is either utterly naive or he is lying.
The question is why Rowan Williams thinks it a right thing to utter these words. They may seem innocent - at least that is the way he likes to present it - but they are not innocent at all. Apart from the fact that they give the wrong signal - no matter what happens in the future, it will never be the right thing to introduce part of sharia law in the Western world, just like it will never be the right thing to slowly break down the clear borders of our secular societies - they are a slap in the face of the group that will be the main victims of the introduction of these laws: women.
Rowan Williams follows the line of thinking that - very unfortunately - has gained a lot of ground in the West and is continuing to do so: the idea that women with a non-Western background are somehow subject to different rules, different laws and regulations as they stem from different backgrounds than Western women. The 20th Century has seen a struggle for the liberation of women, for the fight for equality that has taken decades of blood, sweat and a lot of tears. People like Rowan Williams are happy to give this up in one go, to put the clock back at least a hundred - if not 1400 - years.
The past years have seen a lot of discussion focused on the subject of the battle for the hearts and minds within Islam. The West does not give the right signal by giving in to the most conservative forces again and again. On the contrary, we should give a signal to the liberating forces within the Muslim societies and let them know we are on their side, that following the law in our societies - once again: often the results of years of struggle - we will do everything to make sure that these laws are the laws of all people within our societies, instead of giving in more and more to the adherents of this type of segregation.
The Clog from Oz
Archbishop Rowan Williams, head of the Anglican Church in the UK, said on BBC radio last week that the introduction of moderate elements of Islamic law - sharia - into the British system were inevitable. The Archbishop has been fiercely criticized because of his remarks and very rightly so. Apparently he seems to be shocked about the hostile reactions, but anyone in his position should have been very aware of what would be the consequences of his remarks. If the Archbishop states the contrary, he is either utterly naive or he is lying.
The question is why Rowan Williams thinks it a right thing to utter these words. They may seem innocent - at least that is the way he likes to present it - but they are not innocent at all. Apart from the fact that they give the wrong signal - no matter what happens in the future, it will never be the right thing to introduce part of sharia law in the Western world, just like it will never be the right thing to slowly break down the clear borders of our secular societies - they are a slap in the face of the group that will be the main victims of the introduction of these laws: women.
Rowan Williams follows the line of thinking that - very unfortunately - has gained a lot of ground in the West and is continuing to do so: the idea that women with a non-Western background are somehow subject to different rules, different laws and regulations as they stem from different backgrounds than Western women. The 20th Century has seen a struggle for the liberation of women, for the fight for equality that has taken decades of blood, sweat and a lot of tears. People like Rowan Williams are happy to give this up in one go, to put the clock back at least a hundred - if not 1400 - years.
The past years have seen a lot of discussion focused on the subject of the battle for the hearts and minds within Islam. The West does not give the right signal by giving in to the most conservative forces again and again. On the contrary, we should give a signal to the liberating forces within the Muslim societies and let them know we are on their side, that following the law in our societies - once again: often the results of years of struggle - we will do everything to make sure that these laws are the laws of all people within our societies, instead of giving in more and more to the adherents of this type of segregation.
The Clog from Oz
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