Muslim and religion equality

Question 1

European discrimination:

Answer 1

1) 2004 France bans head coverings
2) 2003 Germany bans headscarves
3) 2009 Swiss minaret ban

Question 2

2004 France head covering ban:

Answer 2

• the law was enacted nationally and applied to all religions
• this idea of cultural sameness excludes minorities through cultural assimilation
• Wiles 2007 - 50 expulsions resulted that year from students refusal to remove headscarves

Question 3

Disciplining Muslims - France:

Answer 3

courts have ordered supermarkets to be shut down that sell halal products and dont sell alcohol

Question 4

Disciplining Muslims - Belgium:

Answer 4

in 2017 the european court of human rights ruled that Belgium’s ban on face veils did not violate the human rights act so could go ahead without infringement

Question 5

Religious equality in the UK:

Answer 5

• the headscarf is assumed to be basic freedom of expression and women and girls are able to wear it in public (Wiles 2007)
• Muslims were never protected under the 1976 Race relations act however this was replaces by the 2010 equality act (Sayyid 2013)

Question 6

The religious equality act demands: no religious discrimination…

Answer 6

e.g. a muslim woman wearing a hijab should not be discriminated against in the workplace

Question 7

The religious equality act demands: even-handedness of the state in relation to religions…

Answer 7

state funding for religious schools = the governemnt has agreed to fund some Muslim schools on the same basis enjoyed by thousands of anglican and catholic schools

Question 8

The religious equality act demands: positive inclusion of religious groups…

Answer 8

• Levy and Modood 2009 - the governemtn has included a religion question in the 2001 census
• muslims should be treated as a legitimate group in their own right, whose presence in British society is reflected in all walks of life

Question 9

Muslims and secularism:

Answer 9

Sayyid 2009 = secularism becomes a means for dealing with Muslim identity which is measured through practices such as citizenship tests
- this form of secularism is used to maintain western dominance and depoliticise Muslims

Question 10

Politics of inclusion and exclusion - Dhamoon 2013 =

Answer 10

• moral panics about the visibility of non-dominant social markers like islamic veils have legitimised state racism against non-white bodies
• Muslims are positioned as backward/dangerous in comparison to the free and reasoned west

Question 11

As a champion of womens rights? - Chesler 2010 =

Answer 11

calls the burqa a “moving prison” and argues that the garment represents subordination of women

Question 12

Against ss a champion of womens rights?

Answer 12

headcoverings are a fundamental part of islamic identity (Croucher 2008)

Question 13

Howard 2012 =

Answer 13

banning any form of headcoverings is just as “paternalistic and oppressive of women as forcing them to wear these

Question 14

Amiraux 2016 =

Answer 14

the french laws restricing headscarves have an isolating effect on Muslims to the private sphere by regulating what is allowed in the public space

Question 15

Islamic veil as a security threat?

Answer 15

the burqa and niqab are visibly representing the differences between Muslims and others (Yasmeen 2013)

Question 16

security threat - Bleich 2009 =

Answer 16

• immigration policies across europe are heavily influenced by the growing association between muslims and violence
• future attacks in europe associated with religious motives could have the power to motivate tougher policies and restrictions

Question 17

security threat - Cesari 2012 =

Answer 17

european muslims are seen a “foreign enemies” and the increase in burqa bans is related to the perception of muslims as an enemy

Question 18

security threat - Edmunds 2012 =

Answer 18

governments are inreasingly linking headscarves with terror and this has increase due to terrorist attacks in Madrid 2004 and London 2005