Finally someone from the federal Tories (Alberta MP Rahim Jaffer, himself a Muslim) has spoken up re the latest Quebec Hijab incident, wherein a girls' Tae Kwon Do team was banned from participating for wearing the offending garments. Jaffir says:
"There seems to be a little bit of over-sensitivity against the hijab," Jaffer said. "We've seen this more and more over the last little while. And it's unfortunate that that sort of attitude is developing – especially when this is the week that we're celebrating the anniversary of the Charter."
In response, Tarek Fatah goes apeshit:
Rahim Jaffer should have read the website of the Mosque that had sent these young girls to the TaeKwonDoo competition.
The Montreal mosque that hosts these young pre-teen TaeKwonDoo girls, says on its webiste that taking off the Hijab is to invite rape and risk becoming unwed mothers!
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Is this what Rahim Jaffer, the Globe & Mail, the National Post and all bleeding heart liberals are supporting? Why didn't even one media outlet or MP from any party protest the garbage being dished out by these apologists of the Hezbollah in Canada?
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What sort of sick minds would tell a 10-year old girl that she could be raped if she took off her hijab. This is the garbage that is being forced on to young girls, as young as 5 years of age. Is this a matter of 'choice' ? In my opinion, it is hate and bigotry being forced on young minds.
Where are Canada's feminists and women's groups? Why are they all silent as Canadian women who do not cover their heads are referred to as 'unpaid prostitutes'?
The symbolism of the hijab is disturbing to alot of people, myself included. But is Mr. Fatah then suggesting that the tournament organizers, who had the unfortunate girls banned from competing, were attempting to act in their best interests? Acting to "free" them from oppression? That seems very unlikely and in fact faintly ridiculous. And just as we do not find physical assault to be acceptable even where it "knocks some sense" into the person under assault, we should not find what happened in Quebec acceptable, no matter what we think of the hijab's cultural implications. Two wrongs, Mr. Fatah, do not make a right.
You asked:
ReplyDeleteis Mr. Fatah then suggesting that the tournament organizers, who had the unfortunate girls banned from competing, were attempting to act in their best interests? Acting to "free" them from oppression?
No, that is not what I said. I have no idea how you could come to that conclusion. All I said was that the young girls were sent there by a mosque whose agenda is far deeper than mere religious attire.
Here is what I wrote on the Macleans blog.
The Montreal mosque that hosts these young pre-teen TaeKwonDoo girls, says on its webiste that taking off the Hijab is to invite rape and risk becoming unwed mothers! Here is a direct quote from their website:
"WHAT ARE THE DISADVANTAGES OF DISCARDING HIJAB?
- Instigating young people to deviate towards the path of lust and immorality.
- Giving rise to cases of divorce, adultery, rape & illegitimate children. (emphasis mine)
Here is what the Imam has to say to the the young girls:
"Exposure of physical charm of our women may destroy many homes and cause innumerable rapes and murders for which we all are responsible.It is pertinent to relate one of the several heart-breaking stories caused by discarding Hijab: A young innocent man, who saw the photograph of an attractive woman, was immediately infatuated by her physical charm. Unfortunately, he had neither wealth nor position to get closer to her. To fulfill his desire, he thought of getting money quickly by any means and resorted to stealing.Finally, he ended up in prison for robbing a few people and killing one.Who is to be blamed for all the consequences but the person who caused them? Had that woman observed Hijab and refrained from displaying her attractions, these crimes would not have taken place .Our Prophet Mohammed (s.a.w.) has said that on the Day of Judgment, such people would be brought forward for trail on charges of quasi-crimes in which they had a share of responsibility. They would plead that they did not commit those crimes, but then they would be told that they removed their Hijab and attracted this person, which made him indulge in those crimes." (all emphasis mine)
Is this what Rahim Jaffer, the Globe & Mail, the National Post and all bleeding heart liberals are supporting? Why didn't even one media outlet or MP from any party protest the garbage being dished out by these apologists of the Hezbollah in Canada?
Referring to non-Muslim women, this imam writes:
"Today in some societies, particularly in the West a woman can walk semi-naked in public, swim topless, patronize bars and clubs, smoke, drink, dance in discos and have sex with anybody she feels like. She can even serve her boyfriend, like an unpaid prostitute, and be free to murder her unborn baby if she falls pregnant."
What sort of sick minds would tell a 10-year old girl that she could be raped if she took off her hijab. This is the garbage that is being forced on to young girls, as young as 5 years of age. Is this a matter of 'choice' ? In my opinion, it is hate and bigotry being forced on young minds.
Where are Canada's feminists and women's groups? Why are they all silent as Canadian women who do not cover their heads are referred to as 'unpaid prostitutes'?
To read more on the group that sponsored the young girls and cried racism and discrmination, please check out the webiste of the Center Communnautaire Musulman de Montreal and select 'Library' and then 'Questions about Hijab'. Don't miss the 'Useful Links' section on the left hand column. You're bound to run into your favourite Iranian Ayatullah in Tae Kwon Do attire
It was shocking to read what Mr. Fatah quoted from the website. It's such a difficult dialogue to have though. How do you object to blatantly awful preaching without having people misrepresent the issue as one of "freedom of religion".
ReplyDeleteIndeed, where are those who would protest for the secular society. While I'm not about to, I support those who've made it their careers to stand on podiums. Where are they now?
Then, Mr. Fatah, I am not sure I see the connection between your words and the actual events Mr. Jaffer is discussing. These girls went to a tournament and were banned because they would not discard their hijabs. The tournament organizers claimed safty concerns, but these claims do not really wash, and the most likely explanation is anti-muslim bigotry. This is what Mr. Jaffer is addressing (although he is being a bit more polite about it). How does pointing out the nasty stuff that appears on the website of the mosque the girls attend bear on THEIR situation? You seem to think that Mr. Jaffer should NOT have spoken out on their behalf because of this admittedly offensive material. IS that the case? I think he is supporting the girls in their decision, not their mosque.
ReplyDeleteTarek is right. It is not just the hijab issue, it is about why they are wearing it. If a 6 yr old girl is wearing a hijab because she thinks she would be raped otherwise, then it is in the best interest to prevent it.
ReplyDeleteAcceptance is a two way street. The refree did not ask everyone to remove the hijab, just the player. you can wear the hijab and watch, but if you want to play, play like others.
Anon,
ReplyDeleteIf that is what he meant, than Mr. Fatah is wrong. Again, the tournament organizers were not protesting any inherent flaw in Islam. For one thing, they tried to hide behind the whole safety issue. You are arguing that, even if this was a case of bigotry, its okay because the tournament organizers were correct in their actions, just for the wrong reason.
Read Infidel by Ayaan Hirsi Ali - it is eye-opening. You will have a much better understanding of this issue.
ReplyDeleteI prefer to read about wacked-out Christian fundamenalism. That's the real threat.
ReplyDeleteI suppose Mr. Fatah does mix issues and it comes at these young girls' expense. They should not have been used by either the organization or the referee to further their opinions. To do so is child abuse.
ReplyDeleteAs I said earlier, the issue of stigmatizing women is certainly important but we should not be doing it on the backs of these girls.
If Mr. Fatah and others (including myself) care so much, we should raise that debate separately. To do so would take more balls (or ovaries).