Muslim women’s rights

The French minister for women’s rights, Laurence Rossignol, has faced criticism for comparing Muslim women who choose to wear veils to “negroes” who supported slavery in America during a radio interview last week.

According to the Guardian Rossignol said:

Of course, there are women who make the choice … there were also … American negroes who were in favour of slavery.”

After the backlash she apologised for her racial slur used for Black Americans, but continued to defend her views about Muslim women. Her racist comments only add to the rising trend of Islamophobia in Europe, especially in France where veiling is heavily scrutinised.

There is no logic behind restricting what women are allowed to wear and calling it women’s rights. Muslim women should not be forced wear a veil, but they also should not be prohibited from wearing any form of clothing. It is racist and sexist to tell a Muslim woman she supports oppression by choosing what she wants to wear.

Rossignol’s comments reinforce the idea that Muslim women are helpless and need Western intervention to save them. This ignores the individual agency of Muslim women and their ability to make their own choices.

The refugee crisis and concerns about immigration have greatly influenced much of Europe causing xenophobia and Islamophobia to take hold. But ignorance about other cultures leads to discrimination and Muslim women have faced the brunt of this under the guise of “women’s rights”.

Shaista Aziz said it best in an article she penned for the Guardian:

It's time for the Muslim mansplainers*, many so called liberal, white feminists and other members of the "save Muslim women" circus to step out of Muslim women's wardrobes and let us, Muslim women, decide how we choose to dress.”

*Mansplain - To explain something to someone, typically a man to woman, in a manner regarded as condescending or patronizing.

Mary Schlichte