Ireland has finally jumped onto the bandwagon of the great Hijab Debates that have swept across Europe. This has largely been a media-driven debate since there has actually been no problems with schoolgirls wearing the hijab in this country to this point. The government is expected to publish guidelines for schools before the start of the next school year. These guidelines will most likely advise board of managements that the hijab should be allowed to be worn provided the colour is consistent with the uniform. However, this issue has caused much debate in recent weeks in Ireland with opinions both in favour and opposed making themselves heard. However, in a poll conducted by The Irish Times it was found that a majority of people support the right of Muslim girls to be allowed to wear the hijab. In a country with strong religious traditions it is not surprising that there does seem to be some unity amongst the more religious in our society against the possibility that secularist advances could make as a consequence of banning religious symbols in schools. That is not to mention the whole argument that revolves around the freedom of the individual.
A debate on this issue is currently underway on the new Irish Times blog. The debate has also touched on integration, immigration and what it means to be Irish. Interestingly, the Minister for Integration, Conor Lenihan, has also contributed to the blog debate.
If you wish to read my comments you will find them at
Comment 28: 'Irish society is constantly developing. This process of development comes on many fronts. This once traditional Catholic society is being changed by myriad forces from...'
Comment 43: 'Mona, what is ‘full integration’? Before we can talk about integration, multiculturalism or whichever we have to agree on definitions surely. I can cast my mind back...'
The crux of my argument is that Ireland is defined by its democratic nature, the right to free speech, the right to be treated equally before the law, to own property and all the positive aspects that are part of the package of liberal democracies. The issue of wearing the hijab in school or at one’s workplace does not threaten to bring down these fundamental values of the Irish state.
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
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3 comments:
I do not think that this should be viewed as just as an argument/ discussion of the hijab. State schools should be religion free, that way inconsequential, faith based but non mandatory items ie: Crosses/ charms, Kippot (Yarmulke) & Hijabs. Would be outlawed. Religion should not be taught in our schools. Schools are for learning of facts, No can say thar jesus christ (Rabbi Yeshua Ben Yussef), was the son of god, a cult leader or a Politically motivated Rabbi who taught of good times from the book of ruth. Take the religion out of schools, if a child is to wear a hijab, a kippot or even a cross they must do it off state grounds or in a faith vbased school.
'Conor Lenihan, Minister for Integration.'
What would he know about calculus?
What we need to do is dispense with the politics of assimilation and aggressive secularism and introduce the very novel idea of a politic of equal respect. Such a politic would see comments like roar's dismissed as extreme, divisive and lacking the essential ingrediant necessary to sociatal cohesion - equal respect.
But I'll bite and give roar an opportunity to tell us all why state school's should be religion free, only we'll define religion as: ...the organization of life around the depth dimensions of experience — varied in form, completeness, and clarity in accordance with the environing culture."
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