Thursday, June 19, 2008

Some people just don't get it

Paper: Muslim Women Sidelined at Obama Rally

Go to this website to listen to the NPR broadcast from All Things Considered, June 18, 2008
Two Muslim women who attended Barack Obama's event Monday in Detroit were told they couldn't stand behind the candidate, Politico reported. One was told her head covering was an issue, and another was told by an Obama volunteer that for political reasons they didn't want Muslims appearing with him on TV. Melissa Block talks with Ben Smith, senior political reporter at the Politico.

--------

Obama Camp Apologizes to Muslim Women
Senator Barack Obama’s presidential campaign has apologized for keeping Muslim women wearing headscarves out of a key shot at his Detroit event.
Full text of this article at the linked title above.



Turbans get Sikh students expelled
first part of the article from the Edinburgh News:

THREE Sikh students have been expelled from a French school for refusing to remove turbans. It was the first time Sikhs were forced out under a new French law banning conspicuous religious signs and apparel in the classroom, their lawyer said.

Officials of the Louise Michel high school in Bobigny, near Paris, decided to expel the three teenagers at disciplinary hearings ordered by a court, said lawyer Felix de Belloy.

The ruling was the latest twist in France’s effort to apply a new law banning religious symbols at public schools. The ban, which includes Islamic headscarves, Jewish skullcaps and large Christian crosses, took effect at the start of the school year.

At least eight Muslim girls have been expelled under the law. Islamic headscarves were its main target because of concerns that growing Muslim fundamentalism in France was weakening the nation’s secular roots.

Turbans were not a focus of the debate over the measure, but Sikhs later learned the head covering would also be outlawed.

This story is also available at other posts, including the BBC News/Europe, under the title "Turbans Get French Sikhs Expelled." The BBC site also includes internal and external links to further information on the "Headscarf Debate".



Muslim teen awarded £4,000 over headscarf snub

LONDON (AFP) — An employment tribunal has awarded a Muslim teenager 4,000 pounds after a the owner of a hair salon refused to employ her because she was wearing a headscarf.

The tribunal dismissed a claim of direct discrimination, but found that woman, Bushra Noah, had suffered indirect discrimination and awarded her the settlement for "injury to feelings".

The salon owner said she needed stylists to reflect the "funky, urban" image of her central London salon, and that new hires with conventional hairstyles were asked to re-style it in a more "alternative" way.

In its judgement, the tribunal said it accepted Noah had not been treated differently because of her Muslim headscarf, but that it doubted there was as severe a risk to the business by employing someone wearing a head covering as the owner believed.

No comments: