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Open debate is welcome



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Published Date: 30 August 2008
I find myself agreeing with Anne-Marie Keenan (Letters, 29 August) that no debate should be silenced. However, in this instance I am curious to what it is we are debating. In her letter Ms Keenan raises a number of issues, but does not make clear what her overriding concern is.
She suggests the Scottish Islamic Foundation is in favour of oppressing women and makes other unsavoury accusations. We, along with the overwhelming majority of the Muslim community, are united in fighting against the oppression of women – whether on
a local, national or international level – including within Muslim countries.

I was surprised to hear negativity regarding the story on our website "Muslim wins Olympic sprint dressed head to toe in hijab". The sprinter in the story will be a role model for the many thousands of women who wear hijab in Scotland. Hijab, like any other form of dress, must not be forced on any women. However, those who do choose to wear it must not continually be labelled as oppressed. Surely fighting for our sisters means fighting for their right to choose.

In addition, most people I have spoken to have welcomed the idea of an al-Jazeera bureau opening in Scotland. During his short trip here, Wadah Khanfar, director-general of the Arab news channel, saw for himself the massive potential Scotland has to attract tourism and investment from the Middle East. How better to communicate this than through a media channel that goes out to more than 250 million people in that region?

The debate, when clearly defined, should be out in the open and is most welcome. In the heat of the moment I think it is important to keep our criticism constructive, I sincerely hope Ms Keenan has found mine to be of this effect.

HUMZA YOUSAF

Director of public affairs

Scottish Islamic Foundation

Royal Exchange Square

Glasgow



The full article contains 317 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
Page 1 of 1

  • Last Updated: 29 August 2008 8:07 PM
  • Source: The Scotsman
  • Location: Edinburgh
 
1

Team Scotland,

FC UK No! 30/08/2008 04:08:13
International news is no longer dominated by the BBC and CNN. There are new kids on the block and an al-Jazeera bureau is to be welcomed. As a re-emerging nation, Scotland needs to raise its profile and Developments like this can only help.
2

,

30/08/2008 09:15:55
Comment Removed By Administrator
Reason:
3

Team Scotland,

FC UK No! 30/08/2008 14:25:37
To judge Scottish Muslims by the standards of the most extreme cultures in the Islamic world is no more valid than branding all Christians as six fingered, Old Testament tub-thumpers from the backwoods of the USA. I think calling someone a liar foe expressing their views is rather harsh. I took the trouble to visit the SIF website and they seem to be doing a worthwhile job in engaging Muslims with the wider Scottish civic culture.

Highlighting the athlete from Bahrain is only to be expected, it was mainstream news and will be of interest to Muslims. Not all female athletes from the conservative Bahrain are similarly dressed.

Roqaya Al Ghasara

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/2008/2006-12/12/xin_1112031210321391664623.jpg

Maryam Yusuf JAMAL
http://www.iaaf.org/mm/photo/competitions/other/37008_w600xh400.jpg

Pakistan’s Kiran Bano appears to be under no obligation.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/images/716847.jpg

Ever since the USA’s war on due process, ‘Western Islam’ has not exactly been the flavour of the month. In England and elsewhere Muslims are being marginalised to the detriment of those cultures. In Scotland we witness Muslims fully engaging with Scottish civic society. Many young Muslims in our culture are fully integrating into our democratic culture some are now themselves nationalists. In Many countries Muslims would run for the hills on hearing the word ‘nationalism’. In Scotland we have developed an inclusive nationalism that many Muslims feel comfortable with. Whether you are a nationalist or not this should be cherished.

Having Muslims on both sides of the constitutional debate as shown here is a healthy development.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFDRLtTfe0M&feature=related

Even those who promote the Hijab manage to do so in a very Scottish manner.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0UBrlLHLGRA&feature=related

There will always be areas of disagreement but it is important to see the bigger picture. On balance, like what I am see
4

Team Scotland,

FC UK No! 30/08/2008 14:31:34
. . . cont

-ing.

That was a mean cut off
5

Maggie Bremner,

East Kilbride 04/09/2008 19:49:38
I would like congratulate Anne Marie Keenan on her call for debate also. I found her letter to be quite clear in terms of the nature of the debate and do not see where unsavoury accusations are present in it? It was presented as a list of questions and not accusations.

‘Standing together with our oppressed sisters’ says precisely what it means, whether it be the oppression that our Islamic sisters fight against “10th Century Sharia Law” or the fight of western society women against oppression that for example, dictates their body size. We must stand together for equality and an end to any oppression whether it be caused by secular or non secular beliefs.

And does the current situation benefit Muslims in Scotland at all?

I would say no. And Ms Keenan seemed to be clear that this needed debate is not just about the oppression and attitudes that most religions hold against women and gay people but also the effects on workers and state.

Without debate will there be true understanding that fundamentalists are a minority and the ability to keep that fundamentalism in the minority?

Without debate and transparency will there not be a voice given to the far right racist extremist groups?

Without debate will the Scottish Islamic Foundation itself be able to clarify and explain its own close links to the Muslim Association of Britain which is not an organisation at all representative of all Muslims?

And of course my intention is to be constructive here but it should be remembered that being constructive also means not shying away from the issues.

 

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