Jack Straw: Hiding from his responsibilities on the veil issue
When Jack Straw came and spoke at a meeting held by the City Circle and Three Faiths Forum last night, you could see that he secretly loved the attention he was drawing.
He was asked on several occasions about whether he took responsibility for the attacks on Muslim women (veils being ripped off and so on) following his remarks about Muslim women and how he thought it would be better if they didn't wear veils. He said "I wouldn’t put my comments into that context".
Further he said "I'm only saying what Islamic scholars have said before… that the veil is a matter of debate." Slippery. And very cheeky.
He said that he would certainly write the column again, that sparked the whole debate, and lay the blame for the discussions and tensions that followed at the doorstep of the media "What is a story one day, may not be a story another day".
He offered up the current political buzzwords that Muslims in some parts were living 'parallel lives' (if you see this mentioned anywhere else, let me know!), and that what the Labour government was not asking for was "black people to become white" but was moving for a "British identity" to be built.
He said such an identity would be constructed on liberty, tolerance, the rule of law, of carrying out our rights and obligations and recognising that there is intrinsic value in taking part in society, and that means more than just breathing the same air.
Much of his presentation was great political spin and didn’t really add much to the discussion, other than to confirm that he is a slippery political animal and that he didn't even want to acknowledge the consequences of his words.
He was determined to connect the issues of separation and communication with that of the 5% of women who wear a veil and when challenged as to whether this was really the biggest concern in working through the issues of social cohesion he didn’t have a good answer.
He said he felt that it opened up a topic people wanted to discuss, but what he didn't realise is that instead of helping Muslim women it has closed down their voices and once again put all the focus on them, instead of dealing with the wider social issues. He has forced Muslim women to polarise themselves into pro or con the niqab instead of letting us work through the issues ourselves. What a shame he doesn't have the guts to take responsibility for the further pressures and abuse that he has incensed against Muslim women both from outside and within the Muslim community.
You can watch the event here
The Guardian posted an article here
He was asked on several occasions about whether he took responsibility for the attacks on Muslim women (veils being ripped off and so on) following his remarks about Muslim women and how he thought it would be better if they didn't wear veils. He said "I wouldn’t put my comments into that context".
Further he said "I'm only saying what Islamic scholars have said before… that the veil is a matter of debate." Slippery. And very cheeky.
He said that he would certainly write the column again, that sparked the whole debate, and lay the blame for the discussions and tensions that followed at the doorstep of the media "What is a story one day, may not be a story another day".
He offered up the current political buzzwords that Muslims in some parts were living 'parallel lives' (if you see this mentioned anywhere else, let me know!), and that what the Labour government was not asking for was "black people to become white" but was moving for a "British identity" to be built.
He said such an identity would be constructed on liberty, tolerance, the rule of law, of carrying out our rights and obligations and recognising that there is intrinsic value in taking part in society, and that means more than just breathing the same air.
Much of his presentation was great political spin and didn’t really add much to the discussion, other than to confirm that he is a slippery political animal and that he didn't even want to acknowledge the consequences of his words.
He was determined to connect the issues of separation and communication with that of the 5% of women who wear a veil and when challenged as to whether this was really the biggest concern in working through the issues of social cohesion he didn’t have a good answer.
He said he felt that it opened up a topic people wanted to discuss, but what he didn't realise is that instead of helping Muslim women it has closed down their voices and once again put all the focus on them, instead of dealing with the wider social issues. He has forced Muslim women to polarise themselves into pro or con the niqab instead of letting us work through the issues ourselves. What a shame he doesn't have the guts to take responsibility for the further pressures and abuse that he has incensed against Muslim women both from outside and within the Muslim community.
You can watch the event here
The Guardian posted an article here
posted by Shelina Zahra Janmohamed at 13:22
2 Comments:
assalam alaikum Sister this is bro. Amir from the Islamic Centre Of England. I was wondering if it would be ok for me to print your comments of J Straw's talk on the Dec. issue of our newsletter "
Awaiting your reply
wa salam
br. Amir
yes, but please make sure you credit my name and the blog including the address of the blog.
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