Saturday, December 27, 2008

Islam, Europe, women, sex and modernity

A fascinating article in The Washington Post about a controversy in France over the annulment of a young Muslim couple's marriage, obtained by the husband on the grounds that the wife was not a virgin. After news got out that the French courts approved the annulment, political activists and commentators were incensed.

From the left and right came a barrage of criticism, suggesting that the decision had given French legal sanction to a Muslim's demand that his bride be a virgin. Elizabeth Badinter, a longtime women's rights campaigner, said she felt "shame" that such a court ruling could be handed down in France.

"This ends up simply pushing many young Muslim girls into hospitals to have their hymen reconstituted," she said.

Laurence Rossignel of the Socialist Party's secretariat for women's rights qualified the decision as "amazing."

"It violates the constitutional principles of equality between men and women and of nondiscrimination, because it cannot be rendered except against a woman," she added. "It makes a mockery of the rights of women over their own bodies and to live their sexuality freely, the way men do."


Under pressure, the Justice Ministry -- headed by Rachida Dati, the daughter of Algerian immigrants (and an unmarried mother-to-be) -- reversed the annulment, effectively remarrying the couple. They will now have to seek a divorce (complicated by the fact that the husband has remarried).

The groom's lawyer thinks the "politically correct" journalists and protesters have invaded the couple's private life to the detriment of both the man and the woman (the wife also wanted the annulment). There may be some truth to the charge that those who made the case public were more concerned with abstract women's rights and liberal values than with the welfare of this particular woman; on the other hand, there is a solid argument to be made that European law should not be enshrining the idea that a man can repudiate his wife for not being a virgin at marriage.

What I find interesting, though, is something else. This is not a conflict between Islamic and Christian culture so much as it is a conflict between traditional and modern culture. Not that long ago, virginity was as much of a requirement in a bride in European societies. There are, indeed, many people in the West (and perhaps especially in the United States) today who are nostalgic for those old-fashioned values, at least in moderate forms. I can think of quite a few American conservatives who would vehemently disagree with the notion that women have a right to "live their sexuality freely, the way men do."

Should everyone who lives in modern societies be required to assimilate to modern values? No, of course not. They should, however, be required to understand that the virtues they cherish cannot be imposed by law or by force. Though, in this case, the annulment may have been unobjectionable since the wife agreed to it.

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

A片下載成人影片下載免費A片下載日本A片情色A片免費A片成人影城成人電影線上A片A片免費看

米蘭情趣用品情趣用品情趣飛機杯自慰套充氣娃娃AV女優.按摩棒跳蛋潤滑液角色扮演情趣內衣自慰器穿戴蝴蝶變頻跳蛋無線跳蛋電動按摩棒情趣按摩棒

情人趣味用品柏拉圖情趣用品成人論壇

Anonymous said...

graphics design outsourcing | point of sale displays design outsourcing | bag design outsourcing

Anonymous said...

flyer design outsourcing | bookmark design outsourcing

Adi said...

Find Internet Marketing resource hare Online Marketing Strategy Internet Marketing Tools Online Marketing Campaign Online Marketing Business Online Marketing System Online Business Online Home Business Online Business Tips Internet Marketing Online Online Marketing Affiliate Marketing Online Marketing Success Selling Online Free Online Marketing Online Marketing Tools Online Marketing Blog

Anonymous said...

Rubber. Rubber is widly used in the outsole of the athletic shoes.
cheap puma shoes
cheap sport shoes
discount puma shoes
It has the advantages of durable, skipproof, flexible, elastic, extensive, stable and proper hardness.
But the rubber is weighty and easy to be frosting, nonrecoverable.
nike shox torch
nike tn dollar
cheap nike shox
PU. PU is a kind of macromolecule polyurethane materials which is offten used in the midsole of basktball shoes and tennis shoes.
cheap nike shox shoes
nike shox r4
puma mens shoes
Sometimes, it is also used in the outsole of casual shoes.
PU is durable, strong hardness, upstanding flexbility and more important, it is environmentally friendly.
cheap nike max
discount nike shox
cheap puma ferrari shoes
The disadvantage is also outstanding. Strong hydroscopic property, go yellow easily, easily break apart and the sole is putrescible.
EVA. Ethylene –Vinyl Acetate Copolymer,a kind of macromolecule polyurethane materials
nike mens shoes
nike shox nz
discount nike running shoes
which is usually used in the midsole of the running shoes and casual shoes.
EVA is quite lightweight, elastic, flexible and suitable to a variety of climates.
discount nike shoes
nike shox shoes
cheap nike shoes
Just as the rubber, it is also nonrecoverable and go dirty easily.
PHYLON. Phylon is the product of the EVA after the second processing.
nike sports shoes
puma running shoes
puma sneakers
The midsole of running shoes, tennis shoes and basketball shoes in the world is made of the PHYLON.
nike air max tn
puma cat
puma shoes
The upstanding hardness, density, traction and extension make it favorite by the manufacture.
Besides, the lightweight and good flexibility could prolong the life of the shoes.
nike running shoes
wholesale nike shoes
nike shoes
Just as a coin has two sides, Phylon is nonrecoverable and easily shrink under high temperature.
TPR. The TPR is made of TPR kernel after fusion. This kind of materials is usually made to running shoes and casual shoes.
nike shoes kids
nike women shoes

Anonymous said...

As well as erectile dysfunction, sildenafil citrate is also effective in the rare disease pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). It relaxes the arterial wall, leading to decreased pulmonary arterial resistance and pressure. This, in turn, reduces the workload of the right ventricle of the heart and improves symptoms of right-sided heart failure.

Unknown said...

Overland Park, Kansas, Sprintchi flat iron argues that this is not the time to solve the dispute before the confirmation of March.chi flat irons For subscribers of Bloomberg yesterday's hearing can be found here.

Plan will control EchoStar Corporation, the largest secured creditor. It would replace the 97 percent stake for $ 944 million for 15 percent higher wages in kind notes guaranteed. Secured creditors

also have chi Straightening irons cheapthe right to buy 97 percent of preferred shares the right to place $ 125 million to fully support EchoStar.

lee said...

comAust was recognized by many other firefighters because YFD's Paramedic of the Year throughout the service, whilst Bob Anderson had been named the Emergency medical technician of the season, along with Gabrielle Trevino your Unexpected emergency Health-related Dispatcher of the seasonAnderson's nomination go through, He could http://www.nikesbsale.com/nike-free-30-c-83.html Nike Free 3.0 be known for regularly going above and also outside of as part of his responsibilitiesMay well 15-21 is actually Countrywide Unexpected emergency Medical Solutions Week (as well as EMS Week)We are really not really seriously considered until we have been essential, explained Kobayashi, whom calculates associated http://www.nikeshoxclearancestore.com Nike Shox Clearance with Rural/Metro's Stop In search of EMS workers also includes those that carry the particular ill as well as wounded to be able to healthcare amenities and the health care workers available throughout clinic unexpected emergency areasKrieger may have summed inside the dedication of the within http://www.discountbeatsbydre.net Discount Beats by dre unexpected emergency providers the very best by simply the cause they actually do simply because, it's of their bearsThe two Aust and Anderson, according to the nominations, had been selected because of their commitment for you to always supplying their patients using the greatest care Instead http://www.nikeshoxclearancestore.com Nike Shox Clearance Store of an emergency require a hearth or perhaps a car accident however, whatever they noticed ended up being the words associated with 9-1-1 Dispatcher Shelly GoodmanYuma observing countrywide EMS few daysColors was at each Rural/Metro Hearth Section train station Monday day, getting the consideration of all http://www.nikesbsale.com/nike-free-70-c-85.html Nike Free 7.0 of the firefighters

Anonymous said...

Hey you have a very nice blog
Download gta iv

newlaunchsingapore said...

Really appreciate this wonderful post that you have provided for us.Great site and a great topic as well I really get enjoyed to read this great article.Just please keep us updated when posting. Keep sharing... Great websites!

Casa Cambio

Op Dr Ali Mezdeği said...

Site's character and a great color match .. I will recommend your site to the other platforms.Sacekimi

rsgoldfeng said...

This upstandingDiablo 3 Gold firmness, occurrence, traction force in addition to off shoot help it become favored from theRS Gold production.

Unknown said...

壮阳药犀利士
犀利士cialis台湾专卖
壮阳药犀利士
犀利士
犀利士专卖
犀利士壮阳药哪里买
犀利士 威而钢 乐威壮
壮阳药专卖店
壮阳药
犀利士
犀利士cialis专卖店
犀利士
壮阳药品哪里买
犀利士
犀利士cialis
犀利士专卖
犀利士
壮阳药
犀利士药局
威而钢
犀利士
犀利士哪里买
壮阳药
壮阳药哪里买
威而钢
乐威壮

Admin said...

https://cosmocarparts.com
https://cosmocarparts.com/brand/toyota/mira/
https://cosmocarparts.com/brand/daihatsu/move/
https://cosmocarparts.com/brand/honda/civic/
https://cosmocarparts.com/brand/honda/life/
https://cosmocarparts.com/brand/honda/n-one/
https://cosmocarparts.com/brand/honda/n-wagon/

Admin said...

http://crosscars.co.uk/streatham-minicab-booking
http://crosscars.co.uk/Balham-Taxi
http://crosscars.co.uk/Collierswood-Minicab
https://gmat.pk/
http://quotehawks.com/
http://www.getmobileprice.com
https://hussaincaters.com/
https://musainterior.com
http://thenethawks.com/mobile-app-development-companies-in-pakistan/
https://aiwah.pk/