Comments on: U! S! A!….U! S! A! (American University in Turkey Defies Hijab Ban) http://muslimmatters.org/2007/11/01/u-s-au-s-a/ Discourses in the Intellectual Traditions, Political Situation, and Social Ethics of Muslim Life Wed, 23 May 2012 07:02:52 +0000 hourly 1 By: buddhika thambugala http://muslimmatters.org/2007/11/01/u-s-au-s-a/#comment-21309 buddhika thambugala Wed, 18 Jun 2008 15:14:29 +0000 http://muslimmatters.org/2007/11/01/u-s-au-s-a/#comment-21309 secularism should have its limits. neither secularism nor religion has right to limit personal freedom. islam fundamentalists in iran have made scarves compulsory in public, while the so-called "secular" fundamentalists in turkey have banned it at public. americans, whose idols are based on freedom and equity shouldnt be bent by either extremisms. so their decision not to ban scarf is highly appreciated by any freedom loving person in the world regardless of race or religion. besides, secularism is something that should come from depth of heart not from force of law. classic example is the u.s society with 10% non-religious population. secularism should have its limits. neither secularism nor religion has right to limit personal freedom. islam fundamentalists in iran have made scarves compulsory in public, while the so-called “secular” fundamentalists in turkey have banned it at public. americans, whose idols are based on freedom and equity shouldnt be bent by either extremisms. so their decision not to ban scarf is highly appreciated by any freedom loving person in the world regardless of race or religion. besides, secularism is something that should come from depth of heart not from force of law. classic example is the u.s society with 10% non-religious population.

]]> By: muslimmatters.org » The Forgotten Hijab Ban: “I just couldn’t take it off another time!” http://muslimmatters.org/2007/11/01/u-s-au-s-a/#comment-15407 muslimmatters.org » The Forgotten Hijab Ban: “I just couldn’t take it off another time!” Fri, 14 Mar 2008 14:00:19 +0000 http://muslimmatters.org/2007/11/01/u-s-au-s-a/#comment-15407 [...] U! S! A!….U! S! A! (American University in Turkey Defies Hijab Ban) [...] [...] U! S! A!….U! S! A! (American University in Turkey Defies Hijab Ban) [...]

]]> By: Sequoia http://muslimmatters.org/2007/11/01/u-s-au-s-a/#comment-9811 Sequoia Thu, 22 Nov 2007 15:56:51 +0000 http://muslimmatters.org/2007/11/01/u-s-au-s-a/#comment-9811 Here is an update on the torture and murder of three Turkish christian missionaries in eastern Turkey http://www.turkishdailynews.com.tr/article.php?enewsid=89265 Most people not familiar with Turkey would view case only through religious terms. Muslims torturing and killing 3 Christian missionaries. But that is simplyifing the situation in Turkey. The rising feeling of nationalsim is the main motivation in this case, not the religion of the missionaries. Turks (and by this I mean nationalists) have a particular understanding of what it means to be a Turk and view others with suspicion. The missionaries in this case aren't hated beacause they are Christian, but rather they are thought to be of a 5th column. This I believe is related to the hijab issue because I do feel there are many Turks who are practicing Muslims, but do fear the rise of Arab influence within their political and social world. The hijab becomes a symbol of this to many Turks. To many of us, this seems contradictory, but it is a prevelant notion. Here is an update on the torture and murder of three Turkish christian missionaries in eastern Turkey

http://www.turkishdailynews.com.tr/article.php?enewsid=89265

Most people not familiar with Turkey would view case only through religious terms. Muslims torturing and killing 3 Christian missionaries. But that is simplyifing the situation in Turkey. The rising feeling of nationalsim is the main motivation in this case, not the religion of the missionaries. Turks (and by this I mean nationalists) have a particular understanding of what it means to be a Turk and view others with suspicion. The missionaries in this case aren’t hated beacause they are Christian, but rather they are thought to be of a 5th column.
This I believe is related to the hijab issue because I do feel there are many Turks who are practicing Muslims, but do fear the rise of Arab influence within their political and social world. The hijab becomes a symbol of this to many Turks. To many of us, this seems contradictory, but it is a prevelant notion.

]]> By: Sequoia http://muslimmatters.org/2007/11/01/u-s-au-s-a/#comment-9340 Sequoia Mon, 12 Nov 2007 01:19:25 +0000 http://muslimmatters.org/2007/11/01/u-s-au-s-a/#comment-9340 One more thing....I don't think outsiders ever get a true idea of the complexity of Turkey. Many right-wing blogs pointed to the torture and subsequent murder of three Christians in Turkey as more veidence of muslim intolerence and bigotry. Likewise with the murder of a priest in Trabazon as well as Hrant Dink the journalist. But I believe this is completely missing the point of the motivation of the Turkish psyche. Turks are always suspicious of outsiders and have dutifully followed Ataturk's Turkishification. Armenians aren't despised beacuse they are christian, but rather that they "stabbed the Turkish nation in the back". So there is great mistrust amoungst missionaries beacuse they are also viewd as sort of a fifth column. I bring this up, because I do feel it relates to the hijab issue. Rightly or wrongly, Turks feel a threat of gaining arab influence of arab (or some view Wahhabi) . Now there is no doubt that there are many secular/athiest Turks who do oppose the hijab beacuse they are against religion. But there are also many who oppose the hijab beacuse they feel it threatens Turkish identity. Turkish thought is not always coherent to the outsider. It is a widely held belief that AKP is an American puppet (in cooperation with KSA) to weaken turkish identity and the Ataturk legacy. One more thing….I don’t think outsiders ever get a true idea of the complexity of Turkey. Many right-wing blogs pointed to the torture and subsequent murder of three Christians in Turkey as more veidence of muslim intolerence and bigotry. Likewise with the murder of a priest in Trabazon as well as Hrant Dink the journalist. But I believe this is completely missing the point of the motivation of the Turkish psyche. Turks are always suspicious of outsiders and have dutifully followed Ataturk’s Turkishification. Armenians aren’t despised beacuse they are christian, but rather that they “stabbed the Turkish nation in the back”. So there is great mistrust amoungst missionaries beacuse they are also viewd as sort of a fifth column. I bring this up, because I do feel it relates to the hijab issue. Rightly or wrongly, Turks feel a threat of gaining arab influence of arab (or some view Wahhabi) . Now there is no doubt that there are many secular/athiest Turks who do oppose the hijab beacuse they are against religion. But there are also many who oppose the hijab beacuse they feel it threatens Turkish identity. Turkish thought is not always coherent to the outsider. It is a widely held belief that AKP is an American puppet (in cooperation with KSA) to weaken turkish identity and the Ataturk legacy.

]]> By: Sequoia http://muslimmatters.org/2007/11/01/u-s-au-s-a/#comment-9325 Sequoia Sun, 11 Nov 2007 20:53:18 +0000 http://muslimmatters.org/2007/11/01/u-s-au-s-a/#comment-9325 SA - well there are American instititions there (Uskudar American, fr example, eventhough it is a high school) which do enforce the hijab ban. And also, I think you are confusing the Bush Administrtion policies with many AMerican instituitions who do value religious freedom. I believe in this case, the university is taking the right stand to not by hypocritical in its policies. SA – well there are American instititions there (Uskudar American, fr example, eventhough it is a high school) which do enforce the hijab ban. And also, I think you are confusing the Bush Administrtion policies with many AMerican instituitions who do value religious freedom. I believe in this case, the university is taking the right stand to not by hypocritical in its policies.

]]> By: sa http://muslimmatters.org/2007/11/01/u-s-au-s-a/#comment-9287 sa Sat, 10 Nov 2007 07:42:54 +0000 http://muslimmatters.org/2007/11/01/u-s-au-s-a/#comment-9287 This is sad... An institution has to open by non-Muslims in a Muslim country before Muslim women can go to school with hijab. It would be great if now the secular turks thought "ok we see how ignorant we've been, let's fix ourselves", but they're not thinking that. Now Muslims still look backwards and the non-Muslim Americans are the saviors yet again... It's embarrassing...WE should be the ones opening the schools that defy the hijab bans- not them. WE should be watching out for our sisters- not them If I were those sisters, ALLAH, I'd be embarrassed that after years of not being able to go to school in a Muslim country, the first place I can go to school at was opened by non-Muslims, and it was because they understood the laws of the government were too ridiculous to follow. I would be wishing that I didn't have to resort to that..I'd be wishing that it was my brothers and sisters who opened the school and allowed me to attend wearing Hijab while facing a govt. ban and that awful awful publicity... which brings me to another point... Why would an American establishment go to all this trouble and get this issue riled up? They don't care about hijab bans...they do care for fame and a nice slap on the face to the Muslims. "Hi there, I'm America and I'm here to give you your freedom!" I don't know...maybe I'm being to harsh on us... Peace This is sad…

An institution has to open by non-Muslims in a Muslim country before Muslim women can go to school with hijab.
It would be great if now the secular turks thought “ok we see how ignorant we’ve been, let’s fix ourselves”, but they’re not thinking that.
Now Muslims still look backwards and the non-Muslim Americans are the saviors yet again…
It’s embarrassing…WE should be the ones opening the schools that defy the hijab bans- not them. WE should be watching out for our sisters- not them

If I were those sisters, ALLAH, I’d be embarrassed that after years of not being able to go to school in a Muslim country, the first place I can go to school at was opened by non-Muslims, and it was because they understood the laws of the government were too ridiculous to follow. I would be wishing that I didn’t have to resort to that..I’d be wishing that it was my brothers and sisters who opened the school and allowed me to attend wearing Hijab while facing a govt. ban and that awful awful publicity…

which brings me to another point…
Why would an American establishment go to all this trouble and get this issue riled up? They don’t care about hijab bans…they do care for fame and a nice slap on the face to the Muslims.
“Hi there, I’m America and I’m here to give you your freedom!”

I don’t know…maybe I’m being to harsh on us…

Peace

]]> By: Sequoia http://muslimmatters.org/2007/11/01/u-s-au-s-a/#comment-9156 Sequoia Thu, 08 Nov 2007 06:18:45 +0000 http://muslimmatters.org/2007/11/01/u-s-au-s-a/#comment-9156 Another disturbing recent event has been the increase in call to war from the secularists/ultra-nationalists. Ever since before the latest early election, CHP and other secular-nationalist parties have pushed the PKK conflict to the front pages in an attempt to show that AKP is soft on terrorism. The nationalists got the party soo worked up that even the military had to issue the public to be cautious and refrain from over emotion. Another disturbing recent event has been the increase in call to war from the secularists/ultra-nationalists. Ever since before the latest early election, CHP and other secular-nationalist parties have pushed the PKK conflict to the front pages in an attempt to show that AKP is soft on terrorism. The nationalists got the party soo worked up that even the military had to issue the public to be cautious and refrain from over emotion.

]]> By: Ahmed http://muslimmatters.org/2007/11/01/u-s-au-s-a/#comment-9150 Ahmed Thu, 08 Nov 2007 01:56:44 +0000 http://muslimmatters.org/2007/11/01/u-s-au-s-a/#comment-9150 Many thank for American Uni, and shame on you Turkish Sec. ...You won't be considered European nor Moslems and just keep missing around in between till something happens and mob you from the country Many thank for American Uni, and shame on you Turkish Sec. …You won’t be considered European nor Moslems and just keep missing around in between till something happens and mob you from the country

]]> By: Mujahideen Ryder http://muslimmatters.org/2007/11/01/u-s-au-s-a/#comment-9015 Mujahideen Ryder Sun, 04 Nov 2007 17:37:01 +0000 http://muslimmatters.org/2007/11/01/u-s-au-s-a/#comment-9015 MashaAllah! Allah hu Akbar! Thank you Alfred University! MashaAllah! Allah hu Akbar!

Thank you Alfred University!

]]> By: Sequoia http://muslimmatters.org/2007/11/01/u-s-au-s-a/#comment-8972 Sequoia Fri, 02 Nov 2007 05:45:04 +0000 http://muslimmatters.org/2007/11/01/u-s-au-s-a/#comment-8972 This is a great step taken by Alfred university. The secular/ultra nationalists have long opporessed those women who wish to wear the hijab. When I lived in Turkey, an interesting thing I often heard in discussions about this topic was that the people who were oppossed to the hijab were as much opposed to it on cultural grounds as they are religiously. A rising tide of nationalism is sweeping through the country and many ulra secularized Turks feel the hijab is a threat to arab-ize their country. It is not uncommon to hear that there is "no problem" with the traditional Anatolian headscarf that older women wear. Listen to the complaints aganst the predident Gul's wife....usually in some reference to her looking "arab". Its also interesting to note that the AK party in Turkey is looked at by these same "secular/nationalists" as an American puppet. Abdullah Gul is refered to as ABD'ullah (with ABD as the Turkish abbreviation to USA). In any case...there is no doubbt that everywhere people should be allowed to follow their religion..and this is a very welcoming sign. This is a great step taken by Alfred university. The secular/ultra nationalists have long opporessed those women who wish to wear the hijab. When I lived in Turkey, an interesting thing I often heard in discussions about this topic was that the people who were oppossed to the hijab were as much opposed to it on cultural grounds as they are religiously. A rising tide of nationalism is sweeping through the country and many ulra secularized Turks feel the hijab is a threat to arab-ize their country. It is not uncommon to hear that there is “no problem” with the traditional Anatolian headscarf that older women wear. Listen to the complaints aganst the predident Gul’s wife….usually in some reference to her looking “arab”.

Its also interesting to note that the AK party in Turkey is looked at by these same “secular/nationalists” as an American puppet. Abdullah Gul is refered to as ABD’ullah (with ABD as the Turkish abbreviation to USA). In any case…there is no doubbt that everywhere people should be allowed to follow their religion..and this is a very welcoming sign.

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