The Islamic game changed when Imaam Isa hit the scene. However, when Black Muslims and Islam are mentioned, Imaam Isa is rarely acknowledged. Since people seem to have forgotten about our living Man of the Hour let me refresh your memory…

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Imagine being an Islamic woman and receiving a fine for wearing your traditional full body and face attire in public. Sound bizarre? Well if you are a Muslim woman in France this may very well be your future.

A 335 to 1 decision of the French House of Parliament has found the traditional burqa (covers body and part of face) and niqab (covers face but not eyes)* worn by Islamic women to be unlawful apparel. This decision is backed by 82% of supportive French citizens who are in agreement with the anticipated new law. However, before this proposal is to offically become law, it must first be approved by the French Senate.

"Given the damage it produces on those rules which allow the life in community, ensure the dignity of the person and equality between sexes," said the French government, "this practice, even if it is voluntary, cannot be tolerated in any public place."

 

According to Amnesty International, if put into law, this ban will be a violation of freedom of expression rights, as the burqa and niqab are an expression of Islamic women's beliefs. The French Council of the State has also spoken out warning the French government that this ban may conflict with the French constitution and international human rights.

Only about 6% or 3.5 million people in France are Muslim, according to data gathered by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life.** With such a small population of Muslims in France, it is probable that any attempt made by the French Islamic community to fight the passing of this law, will fail.

 Since the French government (Parliament and Senate) have no obligation to listen to Amnesty International or the French Council of State, it is likely that French Islam will soon have a drastic change of face. Should a woman be found wearing illegal clothing in public, she will be fined 150 Euros or $190 American dollars. If anyone is found forcing a woman to wear such clothing, which the French government states is a form of enslavement, they will be fined 15,000 Euros or $19,000 American dollars.

There has been little to no known comments from the French Islamic community…

Is this ban really necessary? Should it be considered a violation of human rights? Should Muslims across the nation, particularly in America, fight this proposed ban? What do you think?


~Mz.Jonezy

*the hijab, which covers the hair and neck as well as the chador which covers only the body, will still be allowed.

**France does not keep count of the religious beliefs of their citizens in an effort to remain secular

information gathered from CNN.com (click for article)

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Recently, I’ve been thinking a lot about religion. Perhaps my current mind state can be attributed to the overabundance of bible quotes posted on Facebook or Florida Evans’ continual reverence to the Lord when addressing her family’s financial woes (yes, I am a die-hard Good Times fan). Whatever the reason, religion has been very heavy on my mind lately.

In my lifetime I have been asked about my personal relationship with god and/or my local church more times than I care to remember. It is usually assumed that a person, particularly a black person who was raised in the, ‘hood’, is a Christian. At the point in which said person declares, ‘no, I am not Christian’, the next assumption arises; ‘oh, so you a Muslim?’

As a person who falls in the category of ‘neither Christian nor Muslim’, you can just about imagine society’s uncomfortable relationship with me (read: I must be a weirdo).

How can a person not be a Christian or a Muslim?!?!?! This can’t be!

Wait, they must be Jewish…

            No.

Buddhist?

            Nope.

A Scientologist?

            No.

Well then what are you?!

 Hello, I am non-religious, nice to meet you.

Such has been my life. Now, for all of you who love the Lord and find that church is just about the only place to worship him, you may not want to read any further…unless you have an open mind and a sense of humor.

On to my top 10…

Reason #10:

            Church is not interesting to me. Actually, it is quite (dare I say) boring….

Reason #9:

            I’m broke and church is not free. I cannot afford to put money in any of the brass/wicker/plastic bowls, which are usually circulated at least 3 times around the church in a matter of 1 hour. I can’t do it, I’m hungry and my gas tank is on ‘E’...

Reason #8:

            I am cool with me. Also, I am cool with my family. There are enough of us and our craziness therefore I DO NOT NEED an extended church family to irk me and be all up in my business, in the name of the lord. No thank you…

Reason #7

            I like to chill on Sundays and churches are not exactly what I would like to call ‘chill spots’…

Reason #6

            I ask too many questions and, if I am not mistaken, the #1 unwritten church rule is: do not EVER ask questions in church before, during, or after Pastor’s sermon unless;

a) you are asking about the health of somebody’s momma,

b) you are asking an excessively hyper child if he/she would like to get slapped into next week (in the name of Jesus), or

c) you are asking the usher for a pen so that you can sign your offering check…

Reason #5

            I can’t sit still for more than 20 minutes…

Reason #4:

            A church is merely a building; a building that does not take precedence over my bed on a Sunday morning…

Reason # 3:

            Very large crucifixes scare me (small ones are quite bizarre as well)...

Reason #2:

            I do not know church protocol. I don’t know when to sing, when to clap, when to pray, when to stand, when to sit, or what to say while the preacher is taking a breath between words. Is there some kind of church etiquette book that I should be aware of?

AND FOR THE #1 REASON THAT I DO NOT GO TO CHURCH….

            IT IS TOO LOUD!!! Churches are full of people who cannot sing but who sing anyway. Why would I want to voluntarily sit in a building and listen to people who cannot sing? Furthermore, church sound systems are terrible. Just terrible. And to make up for the terrible-ness of their sound systems, they put them on full blast as if that is going to make them sound any better. No, that just gives me a headache and makes my eyes twitch.

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