The girl might be back from Bosnia but Bosnia is still fascinating for the girl. I just can't resist posting a link to this article by Balkan Insight which asks how is the proposed ban on minarets in Switzerland and burkas in Belgium and France different to the nationalist politics preached by the politicians in the Republika Srpska (the Serb half of Bosnia, known as the RS)?
Milorad Dodik, the President of the RS, has commented that by banning burkas in the RS they are becoming more European. Whilst any movement towards a more European position by the Serbs is to be encouraged, I'm not sure this is entirely what the EU meant. Whilst few Bosnians actually wear burkas, it is not going to make those Bosnian Muslims who have returned to the area following their 'cleansing' during the conflict feel welcome.
As the article's author says "The fact that the burqa ban is getting support form such (un)expected quarters should give Sarkozy and the Belgium authorities some food for thought".
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And getting back to the parent theme of the blog briefly, the latest edition of the British Mummy Bloggers Carnival is up over at Rosie Scribble's. I do recommend having a browse, there's some great posts included!
I'm not sure what's going on in Belgium with this anyway. It's all very strange to me. And I still don't know where exactly I stand on the issue...
ReplyDeletewhat is the world coming too?
ReplyDeleteI have a friend who worked in Bosnia re-establishing the education system after the war and is now writing her (occasionally horrific) memoirs of that time. I know she'd find this development rather disturbing, and it's hard to see it any other way.
ReplyDeleteWell, exactly. How can banning religious buildings or religious clothing be anything other than bigotry, and therefore worrying?
ReplyDeleteI agree with Iota, it is a bit scary if you ask me.
ReplyDeleteI've been used to niqabs for years in Tower Hamlets and even occasionally burkas, but even though I know that underneath the wearers are mostly normal people, they still give me the feeling that I'm considered to be something unclean, to be excluded from normal human contact. That's different from banning them, though, except in Glasgow jewellery shops, where I believe they've had the sort of experience that you might anticipate.
ReplyDeleteMwa - It is a toughie. I think, despite my misgivings about the dress, I defend the right to wear what you want. But I hate seeing it.
ReplyDeleteMH - good question...
Dotterel - it is, and a classic sign of the Bosnian Serb politicians who can bend almost anything to suit themselves.
Iota - precisely.
MM - me too.
Owen - Good point, I'd never thought of it that way before.