Alexandra Loesser
Religion is no excuse for inequalityMona Siddiqui the professor of Islamic Studies at Glasgow University, said " I agree woumen should be given an equal voice, but it is a matter many cultures and religions are still struggling with. Equality is not the same in everyone's eye" in response to Cherie Blair's attack on inequality of women's role in world religion. It's true that cultures differ from each other in many ways but it seems they have one thing in common. Mrs Blair points out that differences of culture or religion could not be used as a justification for denying equal rights. She address this issue with many religions particuarlly Islam. Blair denounced the treatment of women on religious grounds as a "distortion" of the true message of faiths such as Islam. In Egypt there are new laws that give men and woment different rights on divorce much like Orthodox Jews which do not allow a woman to divorce without her husband's consent. Another huge problem Blair addresses is that in some parts of the world domestic violence is not a crime. These kinds of issues do not just show up in middle eastern cultures and religions, Blair also points out inequailty of women in Catholicism, Protestantism, Judaism, Sikhism, and Hiduism. Although some may feel that "religion has it's reasons" many agree with Blair that this is a serious problem. Morag Mylne, of the kirk's Church and Society Council, said: "worldwide, it's clear there are examples where women are not just discriminated against, but suffer and are at harm because their rights are not recognised". The Catholic Church also addressed Blairs criticism of the Vatican by saying: "Cherie Blair's assertion that women and men are equal human beings and deserving of equal respect is absolutley correct." Now it is just time for some changes to be made.
McLaughlin, Martyn. "Religion is no excuse for inequality." The
Scotsman 01/11/2007 01/11/2007
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