Category Archives: Right wing

Why do the French hate the hijab?

Posted on by Bob Pitt

In light of the backlash that followed the recent court ruling in favour of Fatima Afif’s right to wear a headscarf at work, Marie Dhumieres asks what it is that provokes such hysteria over the hijab among the non-Muslim population of France.

She concludes: “French should maybe take some time to think about why they really care so much, and maybe forget for a second what they believe ‘the hijab’ represents and think about the women under them. For example, about how humiliating it might be for a mother to be banned from accompanying her child’s class on a school trip because her head is covered. Because extremism is indeed dangerous, but it goes both ways.”

Independent,16 April 2013

Inquiry launched after Islamic group holds segregated lecture

Posted on by Bob Pitt

TTatchell No Islamic Statehat’s the headline to a report in the Guardian. Essentially, it’s just a repeat of the nonsense that was published about the iERA debate at University College London last month, although this story concerns an iERA meeting at the University of Leicester.

To the credit of the authorities at that university, and in contrast to their counterparts at UCL, they appear to have taken a stand against this ignorant and bigoted witch-hunting. Contrary to the headline, Leicester University has launched no formal inquiry into the allegation that gender separation was enforced at the iERA meeting.

A university spokesperson is quoted as saying: “The University will not interfere with people’s right to choose where to sit. If some people choose to sit in a segregated manner because of their religious convictions then they are free to do so. By the same token, if people attending do not wish to sit in a segregated manner, they are free to do so.”

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Islamophobia and free speech in Denmark

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Martin Krasnik DeadlineThe Copenhagen Post reports on the case of Martin Krasnik, a journalist on the Danish Broadcasting Corporation’s (DR) current affairs programme Deadline who is noted for his combative interviewing style.

Last month Krasnik subjected the notorious anti-Muslim bigot Lars Hedegaard to a grilling on Deadline, in the course of which he pointed out that there is an obvious parallel between Hedegaard’s paranoid fantasies about a Muslim plot to take over the West and the antisemitic conspiracy theory promoted in The Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion. Hedegaard was furious, claiming that he had been led to expect a friendly, sympathetic interview and instead was given a hard time by Krasnik.

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Geller gets to speak at Long Island synagogue

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Geller speaking at Chabad of Great Neck

Pamela Geller, an outspoken activist known for her anti-Islamic terrorism viewpoints, spoke before a packed crowd this morning at Chabad of Great Neck in Long Island.

Geller’s group, Stop Islamization of America, has been classified as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center and the Anti-Defamation League.

Her speech was originally slated to be delivered at the Great Neck Synagogue, but was canceled. The synagogue claims the cancellation was due to security concerns.

“It is a sad day for Long Island,” said the Muslim Center of LI Bay Shore Mosque in a statement. “Ms. Geller is not an expert on Islam. We would not allow an extremist Muslim to speak at a mosque.”

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Oklahoma Senate passes anti-Sharia bill

Posted on by Bob Pitt

On Monday, the Oklahoma State Senate passed legislation that would prevent the use of religious or foreign laws in American courts.

Considered by some to be the “anti-Sharia” bill, House Bill 1060 passed the Oklahoma Senate on a vote of 40-3. An amendment to the bill was added. That amendment must be approved by the bill’s author before going to the desk of the Oklahoma governor.

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Republican politician compares Islamic prayer to terrorism

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Michele PresnellNorth Carolina state Rep. Michele Presnell (R-Burnsville) linked Islamic prayer to terrorism in an email sent to a constituent, the News & Observer reported Tuesday.

In an email exchange obtained by the Raleigh newspaper, Presnell was asked by a constituent if she would support an Islamic prayer being said before a state legislative meeting.

“No, I do not condone terrorism,” Presnell responded, according to the report. “We just need to start taking a stand on our religious freedom or it will be whisked away from us.”

Huffington Post, 10 April 2013

See also “GOP must repudiate NC lawmaker who compared Islamic prayer to ‘terrorism'”, CAIR press release, 10 April 2013

Hate speech has no place in a synagogue

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Rabbis against GellerRabbi Michael White and Rabbi Jerome Davidson condemn the decision to invite anti-Muslim hatemonger Pamela Geller to speak at the Great Neck Synagogue in Long Island next weekend.

They write: “We state unequivocally that Geller’s inflammatory rhetoric does not represent us or the great majority of Jews in Great Neck and on Long Island. Hate speech has no place in synagogues. Synagogues should be places for worship, positive dialogue and reasoned political debate. The right of free speech is vitally important, but Geller crosses the line from political to hate speech. In sharp contrast, Judaism teaches us to respect the traditions and values of other faiths.”

Jewish Week, 9 April 2013

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