Bangladesh High Court passes key burka ruling

[LaBong]

BBC News - Bangladesh High Court passes key burka ruling

The High Court of Bangladesh has ruled that no-one can be forced to wear the burka, or full Islamic headdress.

This follows a similar but more limited ruling in August that women could not be forced to wear the burka at work or in schools or colleges.

Correspondents say the move is the latest sign of the judiciary's support for the government's attempts to pursue a more secular agenda.

The governing Awami League prides itself on its secular credentials.

It says that it wants to challenge the power of Islamic conservatives.

The court ruled that "secularism is one of the four principles of the constitution... and no-one can be forced to wear religious attire in the secular state".

 

[Perceptron]

The Entire Sub-continent has a history of Social Hostilities and Government Restrictions on Religious Freedom. I still never forget how Taslima Nasreen was threatened LIVE on TV with Death. And that bastard, Raza Khan wanted to publicly behead her for her works. I do not understand what is wrong with the Subcontinent with Islamic Fundamentalists on one side and Hindu Nationalists on the other.

I just hope with each passing moment, sanity sets in, and removes this curse of Intolerance from our Subcontinent.

 

[LaBong]

^ What is more threatening that law & order bending its way to accommodate bunch of communities 'sensitivity'. I mean where does this end? Free speech necessarily calls for an insensitive/impersonal approach towards everything.

While I'm no fan of Nasrin's writing(barring a few here and there), the fact that our secular state govt couldn't provide her a safe home because of some community's agitation is sad, specially when we have been boasting all along Calcutta's famed liberal approach towards life.

Same happened to Hussain as well.

 

[Tuahaa]

Just to clarify that the Burka isn't compulsory- only covering up is, in Islam.

I doubt 'conservatives' had to do anything, there just isn't anything to 'conserve' if Burqa wasn't forceful from the start.

 

[Perceptron]

^ What is more threatening that law & order bending its way to accommodate bunch of communities 'sensitivity'. I mean where does this end? Free speech necessarily calls for an insensitive/impersonal approach towards everything.

The relationship between an unbiased Judicial decision and the aftermath of that Decision on the religious psyche on the Nation is quite complex, i believe. Ideally, every free and impartial judiciary should be insulated from such nitty-gritties, but Judiciary has to uphold the very laws on which the bedrock of the Judiciary, i.e. the Constitution of India and the Uniform Criminal Code is formed ; And some of these laws suggest rationalization of personal laws of minorities to develop religious and cultural amity.

On top of it, we also do not have a Uniform Civil Law which accounts for the Hindu Marriage Act, the Shariat Act, and the Indian Christian Marriage Act for laws binding upon Individuals. So, the Judiciary has to tread carefully as well as logically at the same time.

Sometime later on, when we have a few decades of peace, and the generations mature, will we see repealing some of the Draconian laws and making for a Uniform Conduct Code. Until then, it is for us to maintain faith and common sense in the Judicial process, however, partisan the judgement sounds.

 

[TopCat]

Court said nobody can force burka on anybody, also said nobody can barr anybody willing to wear it. This status quo must be maintained. BBC here trying to justify the action of France and Europe but the ruling is far from it. It gave preference to personal choice.

 

[TopCat]

The relationship between an unbiased Judicial decision and the aftermath of that Decision on the religious psyche on the Nation is quite complex, i believe. Ideally, every free and impartial judiciary should be insulated from such nitty-gritties, but Judiciary has to uphold the very laws on which the bedrock of the Judiciary, i.e. the Constitution of India and the Uniform Criminal Code is formed ; And some of these laws suggest rationalization of personal laws of minorities to develop religious and cultural amity.

On top of it, we also do not have a Uniform Civil Law which accounts for the Hindu Marriage Act, the Shariat Act, and the Indian Christian Marriage Act for laws binding upon Individuals. So, the Judiciary has to tread carefully as well as logically at the same time.

Sometime later on, when we have a few decades of peace, and the generations mature, will we see repealing some of the Draconian laws and making for a Uniform Conduct Code. Until then, it is for us to maintain faith and common sense in the Judicial process, however, partisan the judgement sounds.

Religion plays a crucial part in the life of Bangladeshi people. So uniform civil code regarding marriage and inheritance can never be applied in this country. This is just a small thing people likes to live with which should not be seen in negative paranoia. Extra marital seex is a serious offence in Islam, so people likes to make sure that their marriage is 100% in accordance with their religion so that they dont get punished every time they get laid with their wife or husband.

 

[Stealth_fighter]

wow...this is the step forward towards the modernization of BD

 

[Skies]

The supreme court of Bangladesh upholds moderate Islam

The supreme court of Bangladesh upholds moderate Islam
The supreme court of Bangladesh in August ruled that women and men cannot be required to wear veils or skullcaps in workplaces or schools -- dealing a blow to Muslim radicals trying to impose Islamic law on the predominantly Muslim country, reports Baptist Press.

In sharp contrast to nearby Pakistan, Bangladesh's political leaders are adopting a vigorous policy of legal action to curb radical Islam, according to Irfan al-Alawi, executive director of the UK-based Islamic Heritage Research Foundation, in an op-ed column published in The Weekly Standard.

The ruling came in response to an attempt to force all females to wear the traditional Muslim veil at a state college, al-Alawi wrote. The court ruled that "wearing religious attire should be the personal choice of the students or the employees."

The Aug. 22 decision followed an April ruling that barred schools from requiring women teachers and administrators to wear face veils or headscarves, al-Alawi wrote. In July, Bangladesh banned books by Abu'l-Ala Maududi, an Indian-born Muslim scholar whose books are the most influential among radical Muslims in Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia. Maududi's followers also reportedly control a leading national Muslim group in the United States, the Islamic Circle of North America.

Since the end of June, Bangladeshi authorities have detained 65 Maududi followers on grounds that their activities are seditious and harmful to Islam, al-Alawi wrote.

"Bangladesh has a woman at the head of its government, who also bears the religious title 'sheikh' -- Hasina Wajed of the secular Awami League, daughter of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman (1920-75), the architect of the country's independence," al-Alawi wrote. "It has a parliamentary system and an energetic, critical media. Its political elite is guiding the country toward reinforcement of democracy and away from Islamic rule. Bangladesh and Bangladeshis of all opinions deserve more attention and encouragement from the rest of the world, Muslim and non-Muslim alike."

 

[roach]

The supreme court of Bangladesh upholds moderate Islam

The supreme court of Bangladesh upholds moderate Islam
The supreme court of Bangladesh in August ruled that women and men cannot be required to wear veils or skullcaps in workplaces or schools -- dealing a blow to Muslim radicals trying to impose Islamic law on the predominantly Muslim country, reports Baptist Press.

In sharp contrast to nearby Pakistan, Bangladesh's political leaders are adopting a vigorous policy of legal action to curb radical Islam, according to Irfan al-Alawi, executive director of the UK-based Islamic Heritage Research Foundation, in an op-ed column published in The Weekly Standard.

The ruling came in response to an attempt to force all females to wear the traditional Muslim veil at a state college, al-Alawi wrote. The court ruled that "wearing religious attire should be the personal choice of the students or the employees."

The Aug. 22 decision followed an April ruling that barred schools from requiring women teachers and administrators to wear face veils or headscarves, al-Alawi wrote. In July, Bangladesh banned books by Abu'l-Ala Maududi, an Indian-born Muslim scholar whose books are the most influential among radical Muslims in Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia. Maududi's followers also reportedly control a leading national Muslim group in the United States, the Islamic Circle of North America.

Since the end of June, Bangladeshi authorities have detained 65 Maududi followers on grounds that their activities are seditious and harmful to Islam, al-Alawi wrote.

"Bangladesh has a woman at the head of its government, who also bears the religious title 'sheikh' -- Hasina Wajed of the secular Awami League, daughter of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman (1920-75), the architect of the country's independence," al-Alawi wrote. "It has a parliamentary system and an energetic, critical media. Its political elite is guiding the country toward reinforcement of democracy and away from Islamic rule. Bangladesh and Bangladeshis of all opinions deserve more attention and encouragement from the rest of the world, Muslim and non-Muslim alike."

An excellent development.
I have the feeling that BD is going to surprise the world with it's development, given the progressive agenda of it's leadership.

 

[KS]

Excellent judgement. .Another step towards a modern Bangladesh.

Hope Indian babus takes a leaf out of BD's book.

 

[Blue Sword]

 

[Illusive]

Hope Indian babus takes a leaf out of BD's book.

Absolutely right, India is very sensitive about its minority. Actually there shouldn't be any term used as Indian minorities in the Indian constitution on basis of religion, all are equal citizen, quota system on basis of religion and caste should be abolished(lot of people misuse it).

Bangladesh has paved the way of being modern in it approach and thinking and India should follow the same approach.

 

[mjnaushad]

No one will be forced to wear burka....But if someone is willing to wear burka they will not be forced to take it off......