Banning the Burqa in Europe
Banning the Burqa in Europe:
European Society’s Attempt to Prohibit Islamic Religious Expression
Jeannine Peters
Excelsior College
SOC 332 – Religion and Society
Dr. Thomas Russell
December 15, 2010
Abstract
Tensions between the Muslim population in Europe and the dominant European society have risen to the point that riots and protests have resulted motivated by the resentment of the other party. To intensify these tensions, a ban on the burqa, a form of religious expression for Muslim women, has been discussed or put into effect in many European countries. It is concluded that this ban is a form of oppression and subjugation of the Muslim population and functions to serve the interests of government officials and the dominant European society by attempting to protect national identity, blunt fundamentalism, and alienate the Muslim population to maintain their subjugation. Compromises and negotiations between the two varying cultures seem almost impossible and solutions will not be met unless there is greater initiative to stop what is truly causing such ideas of hate and racism towards the Muslim population, specifically negative portrayals of Muslims in the media.
Banning the Burqa in Europe:
European Society’s Attempt to Prohibit Islamic Religious Expression
Due to fear of losing national identity and rising fundamentalism, concern for human rights and security, and distrust and miscommunication between two extremely varying cultures, there has been conflict and debate amongst the dominant European society and the Muslim society in Europe over the right of Muslim women to wear the burqa, “a loose garment (usually with veiled holes for the eyes) worn by Muslim women especially in India and Pakistan,” in public places (WordNet, n.d.). This debate has stirred controversy and raised tensions amongst these varying cultures and has caused the emergence of the argument, Is banning the burqa an attempt to protect the human rights and dignity of
European Society’s Attempt to Prohibit Islamic Religious Expression
Jeannine Peters
Excelsior College
SOC 332 – Religion and Society
Dr. Thomas Russell
December 15, 2010
Abstract
Tensions between the Muslim population in Europe and the dominant European society have risen to the point that riots and protests have resulted motivated by the resentment of the other party. To intensify these tensions, a ban on the burqa, a form of religious expression for Muslim women, has been discussed or put into effect in many European countries. It is concluded that this ban is a form of oppression and subjugation of the Muslim population and functions to serve the interests of government officials and the dominant European society by attempting to protect national identity, blunt fundamentalism, and alienate the Muslim population to maintain their subjugation. Compromises and negotiations between the two varying cultures seem almost impossible and solutions will not be met unless there is greater initiative to stop what is truly causing such ideas of hate and racism towards the Muslim population, specifically negative portrayals of Muslims in the media.
Banning the Burqa in Europe:
European Society’s Attempt to Prohibit Islamic Religious Expression
Due to fear of losing national identity and rising fundamentalism, concern for human rights and security, and distrust and miscommunication between two extremely varying cultures, there has been conflict and debate amongst the dominant European society and the Muslim society in Europe over the right of Muslim women to wear the burqa, “a loose garment (usually with veiled holes for the eyes) worn by Muslim women especially in India and Pakistan,” in public places (WordNet, n.d.). This debate has stirred controversy and raised tensions amongst these varying cultures and has caused the emergence of the argument, Is banning the burqa an attempt to protect the human rights and dignity of
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