This doesn't mean that anyone who argues against aspects of Muslim faith or what Muslims do is racist or Islamophobic, by any means. But unfortunately many are; which means that reasoned debate is often drowned out by ignorant ranting. There are undoubtedly some aspects of Islamic culture in the West that need debating and are worthy of criticism; however this needs to be done in a thoughtful and reasoned manner, rather than the "send them all back" mentality or "they are all terrorists" mentality that so often comes to the fore.
A prime example of this is the debate about the burqa and its place in Western societies. With both Belgium and France moving to ban the costume (which covers a woman's entire body and face), this is a hot topic right now. Here in Australia, shadow parliamentary secretary Cory Bernardi raised some hackles recently by suggesting we ban it as well.
Among those opposed to the burqa are a strange collection of people. They include some moderate Muslims, feminists, average Joes, as well as rabid xenophobes. The obvious presence of the latter often means that opposition to the burqa is often dismissed as a manifestation of racism and Islamophobia. Which it sometimes is, but often is certainly not.
Personally, I am opposed to the burqa; I see it as inherently oppressive of women (even if some do choose to wear it), and the total covering of the face implies a kind of exclusion which is anathema to Australian culture. I don't see a problem in identifying certain values as crucial to a nation's identity, and saying that the wearing of a burqa is not compatible with them. That said, banning it would be problematic in practical terms. Nothing exists in a vacuum, and a ban may actually lead to further oppression of those women whose husbands force them to wear it; it may well mean they are unable to leave the home.
Of course, many argue, quite validly, that another key aspect of Australian values is that people can do and wear whatever they want as long as it doesn't hurt anyone else. Which is fair enough; however I would also argue that the burqa sends a message about the treatment of women which IS actually harmful and unacceptable.
In any case, I don't see my opposition to the burqa as being grounded in racism or Islamophobia, and neither are many of the reasonable arguments against it I have read by Muslim women and feminists. To be against the burqa does not mean being against Islam or Muslims. Muslims are welcome in Australia, but like any other group, it is also reasonable to expect that SOME cultural or religious practices be left behind in order to comply with local laws and social norms.
However, that doesn't mean that the debate about the burqa isn't being stunk up by a bunch of moronic racist types though.
ABC's Media Watch last week highlighted a quite disgraceful segment on Melbourne radio station 3AW. The presenters debated the burqa issue, but one of them, John-Michael Howson, unleashed plenty of vile anti-Muslim prejudice. He then allowed callers to sound off not just about the burqa, but about Muslims in general. An invited guest on the program was Sherene Hassan, Vice-President of the Islamic Council of Victoria (who wears hijab but not a burqa). Yet Howson kept her on hold and refused to allow her to offer her point of view. Hassan would later say "In my 40 years as a Muslim woman, I have never felt so oppressed."
She was given a chance to speak on a later program on the station by host Derryn Hinch. Hinch slammed his colleague and friend Howson for his behaviour - you can read and listen to that here. Earlier, Hinch had also offered his own balanced take on the burqa issue here.
Blogger Jeff Sparrow at Overland offers another observation on how bigotry too easily takes over discourse about the burqa and similar issues. He reflects on the howling from some conservatives about Lebanese-American Rima Fakih being awarded the crown of Miss USA, based on some vague connections Fakih's family has to Hezbollah.
This outbreak of craziness is trivial in itself, except that it illustrates the ongoing pathologisation of Islamophobia... If Muslims cover themselves entirely, they affront Western values. If they assimilate sufficiently to dance in strip clubs, they’re hiding their real agenda. Muslims’ politics can be determined from their relatives, with Islam now a biological rather than religious category; Muslims are clannish conspirators, who behind the scenes secretly control everything, pulling the strings to shape beauty contests and scientific awards alike.
I'm know some of you reading this will disagree with my opposition to the burqa. And that's cool; feel free to argue with me about it. I don't think it's a simple black-and-white issue and I'm open to some persuasion. But my point is that we need to be able to do so in a logical and respectful way, and not simply recycling the same old unthinking hatreds.
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