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Should America Ban the Burqa?

July 2, 2009  •  Pajamas Media

Earlier today, Muslims demonstrated in Antwerp to oppose the banning of headscarves in two schools–and the new Swedish head of the European Union, Justice Minister Beatrice Ask, stated that the "27 member European Union must not dictate an Islamic dress code…(that) the European Union is a union of freedom." As my readers know, yesterday, al-Qaeda threatened France because President Sarkozy had called for a ban on the burqa.

Clearly, this is a major issue in Europe where anywhere from 30-50 million Muslims live. Paradoxically, various European countries have banned or restricted the far less restrictive headscarf (hijab) in schools, universities, and courtrooms–but have not yet restricted the far more smothering burqa. Perhaps hijab is seen as the "nose of the camel," a garment which, if allowed, will lead Europe right down the slippery slope to more oppressively restricted clothing for Muslim-European women.

Could this issue arise in America with its much smaller Muslim population? Is this an issue we must address?

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Al-Qaeda Threatens France Over Burqa

June 30, 2009  •  Pajamas Media

Today, al-Qaeda threatened France over the ostensible issue of the burqa. Tommorrow, America will be in their gun sights on this same issue.

The burqa, niqab–even hijab–are being used as pawns in the power struggle between jihadic Islam and the West. These dress codes are primarily political in nature.

For those people who really and truly believe that the burqa is a religious and not a political/jihadic issue–consider this:

According to the United States monitoring service SITE Intelligence, Al-Qaeda, has just announced that it plans to "take revenge on France for its opposition to the burka, calling on Muslims to retaliate against the country." Abu Musab Abdul Wadud, head of Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb said:

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Islamic Face Masks: Banned in Michigan Courtrooms

June 29, 2009  •  Pajamas Media

In 2006, in a small claims matter in Michigan, a Muslim woman, Ginnah Muhammed, refused to take off her face mask (niqab) while she testfied. Judge Paul Paruk dismissed her case. Muhammed sued, the ACLU backed her. They argued for a "religious exception" to courtroom attire. Although Muhammed's small claim case was against a car rental agency, here is what Michael Steinberg, legal director of the ACLU of Michigan stated:

"The Michigan Supreme Court should not slam the door of justice on a category of women just because of their religious belief…Under the proposed rule, women who are sexually assaulted do not have their day in court if they wear a veil mandated by their religion."

Sexual assault was not at issue nor was the victim afraid that testifying might lead to her death. Leave it to the ACLU to always get it wrong.

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A Frenzy of Honor Killings: Neda, Soraya, Bursa - and Me

June 26, 2009  •  Pajamas Media

The world has just watched the cold-blooded murder of Neda in Teheran. The last sentence she uttered was: "Death to the Dictator." Many of us are now about to see the haunting film about the real-life stoning of another Iranian woman, known as Soraya M. These two tragedies took place in a Muslim country.

The blood of real (not just reel) Muslim women, murdered either by the state or by their families, continues to cry out—not only in the Middle East, Asia, and Africa but also in the West.

Two days ago, on June 24, 2009, in Germany, a Turkish father, Mehmet O, a kebab shop owner, repeatedly knifed his fifteen-year-old daughter, Bursa, while she was sleeping. Despite the fact that Bursa, her mother, and her sister all wore hijab, Mehmet O. still felt Bursa was too "westernized," and that she did not want her "strict Muslim father to control her life."

Bursa's friends described her as a "fun-loving girl, (who) loved hip hop music….But that is no reason to kill someone."

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Sarkozy vs Obama on The Burqa

June 22, 2009  •  Pajamas Media

As far as I'm concerned, Frenchmen are back in vogue. Who could ever have predicted that the French president would stand up for women's universal rights and for freedom as a universal right — while the American president would hang back, wait, temporize? It's almost as if we've elected a Frenchman president of the United States — and an American-style president is ruling France.

Please contrast the following two speeches.

On June 22th, 2009, President Nicholas Sarkozy stated that he viewed the full-body burqa and niquab as a sign of the "debasement" of women and that it won't be welcome in France.

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Obama Fiddles While Iran Burns

June 21, 2009  •  Pajamas Media

Iran is on fire. And as I watch a potentially revolutionary, internet-driven uprising unfold over vote-counting, (vote-counting!) and not over the torture, unlawful imprisonment, and mass murder of Iranian citizens by its own leaders, I only now begin to appreciate the possible psychological impact of that first free, public election held in Iraq, courtesy of brave American blood.

I have been watching the coverage and reading the news about what is happening in the streets of Teheran. I've also been contacting Iranian dissident friends and colleagues. I am terrified and outraged (by the heartless Iranian regime), thrilled (by the bravery of so many young Iranians), mortified (by my own government's cautious refusal to "take sides"). After all, we are talking about a nuclear-obsessed tyranny that has threatened to genocidally exterminate Israel and to re-establish a world-wide Caliphate. Yes, on American soil too if they can.

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