Category Archives: Secularism

The Bangladesh Supreme Court has restored the Constitution to the spirit of the original secular version of 1972, prior to its “tampering” by a series of military dictatorships.

The Supreme Court of Bangladesh has reinstated the measure banning Islamic parties. In a document of 184 pages presented July 26 last, the Court has demolished the Fifth Amendment of the 1979Constitution, including provisions that allowed the rise of Islamic parties in parliament during military regimes (1975 – 1979, 1982 – 1990). The measure, introduced for the first time in January, has been blocked for six months because of an appeal process demanded by Islamic leaders.

Using the Supreme Court ruling as its initiative, the Bangladesh government has banned religious political parties:

Shafiq Ahmed, Minister of Justice, said the measure will be a blow to the extremist parties that can no longer use religion to political ends.

My opinion piece has been published in the Times:

I grew up in a liberal household in the Middle East where religious practice was never forced on me. But when I was 17 I made the choice to wear the hijab (headscarf), in the belief that this was a religious obligation and symbol of modesty. At times, I even wore the niqab, a veil of thin chiffon cloth that covers the face.

I knew that the niqab wasn’t a religious obligation, unlike the hijab, but I wore it in markets and malls — any place where I wanted to be hidden from the prying eyes of men. Although it was restrictive — it’s difficult to manoeuvre in busy shops, to eat or cross the road — that didn’t bother me. When I wore it, I felt comfortable knowing that my face would not be known, that I would not be leered at by men. And I certainly did not feel out of place. Many women around me wore it, too, not because it was a legal requirement or because of family pressure, but out of choice.

This is a cross-post by Ted Jeory

A PANEL of 13 “faith advisers” appointed by former Labour Communities Secretary John Denham is to be scrapped by the new coalition Government. His Tory successor Eric Pickles wants to move away from a “cronies-based” approach to faith issues and instead tackle problems by direct “face-to-face” contact with ordinary people themselves.

Within days of becoming minister, Mr Pickles ordered a review of the panel which was set up by Labour in January. I’ve been told by a senior Government source that the unpaid panel is “highly unlikely” to meet again.

The panel has met twice, the last time in March. Although a spokesman for the Department of Communities and Local Government (CLG) said its membership and remit was “under review”, sources close to Mr Pickles said: “It’s unlikely to meet again. We’re going to end this habit of Labour appointing its mates and then kicking issues into the long grass. We very much want to engage with faith groups, but we’re going to do it face to face and not through panels.”

Thousands of people marched in Beirut in a bid to promote secularism in Lebanon’s sectarian political system.

Said one protester: “All the time you are asked which religion you belong to, but we want to be considered as only Lebanese,” she said. “Secularism is about every religion. It unites everyone but we need to forget whatever religion we are.”

The march was organized over the Internet by five Lebanese who together formed the grassroots group Laique Pride. They had hoped for 2,000 participants in the march, a figure easily surpassed as hundreds turned out in the sun.

Slogans such as “Civil marriage, not civil war” and “What about freedom of opinion?” could be read from huge placards in between Lebanese flags. Dozens of protesters wore white T-shirts with “What’s my religion?” on the front and “None of your business” on the back.