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| Freedom II |
Three months ago in Jerusalem, Pediatrician Dr Channa Maayan "bit
her tongue" when told a male colleague would have to accept for her an
award for her publication and work advancing knowledge on hereditary diseases
common to Jews. The acting Israeli Health Minister decreed the event would be
conducted under strict ultra orthodox conditions. Women and men in the
audience, male and female guests were segregated, no women were allowed on
stage.
For a secular democracy such an occurrence lead by a member of parliament
is a disaster. The New York
Times article goes on to state many have not kept quiet
(Dr Maayan would have been unprepared all she could have done is leave) and the
backlash internally within Israel is building
momentum but will it be able to resist what is a strong and increasingly
belligerent religious orthodoxy? Recently in January 2012 at a conference on
“Innovations in Gynecology/Obstetrics and Halacha [Jewish law]” all women were
banned from speaking and the audience segregated on gender. In addition there
are "rules for playing Kosher Music" and a "black list of non-Kosher music" controlled by a religious committee.
These very public examples of ultra orthodox interference in Israeli
public and political life demonstrate Israel is a secular democracy under
stress from internal religious fundamentalism.
Concessions have been made by successive Israeli governments to
either, at worst, simply win votes from this growing community sector or, at
best, to demonstrate an altruistic tolerance. Which is not an exclusive
Israeli mistake as even in Williamsburg, Brooklyn Hasidic leaders complaining women
who ride bikes represent a "safety
and religious hazard" were appeased. If mostly as an attempt to be inclusive and tolerant it
seems it, appeasement and concession isn't a success particularly as the examples above demonstrate it requires that the human rights of others are detrimentally affected. In Israel not only is this ultra-orthodox section of the community
becoming more intolerant of its internal neighbors it is doing so whilst
ignoring the external equally intolerant religious forces attempting to
annihilate them and their fellow countrymen and women. As a community within
Israel they are purportedly an overrepresented drain on the social welfare
system. Though the women generally do work, amongst males there is high
unemployment as they are permitted by their community and their state to focus
upon study of the Torah rather than gainful employment, joining the army,
learning other skills or pursuing education other than for advancing their
religion and knowledge of it. The only productivity of note from the community
it seems is it's high birth rate, which, if nothing else changes will only
increase the stress on the already stretched social sector a worrisome fact for
the future of Israel.
It begs the question what is wrong with religions where it is the case
that for it to be practiced human dignity, freedom and advancement, must be
subsumed and suffer reversals? Separation of religion and state is the
cornerstone of successful secular democracy. Without it we would be required to
weigh all matters in the context of all religious edicts/laws/conventions.
Orthodox Judaism and Islam particularly have problems operating within
a secular democratic context, one that separates the Church and State. Each it
seems desire or demand they have access to their own religious courts. Each
particularly are at pains to control female believers (and those who simply
cannot escape) by strictly regulating their conduct within the community
confines and outside it. Female believers are 'confined'; in dress, education,
work, social connections, marriage, sexual activity and procreation functions, behavior
and social position all aspects are controlled and monitored
with zeal. It is a zeal supported by the religious texts which focus upon
the female as a sexual possession, a commodity as a wife, booty in war or
acquisition to trade family reputation or wealth upon(1). Whether we
reside by fortune in a secular democracy or not this is profoundly illegitimate
to be continued and considered acceptable 'cultural' or religious practice. It
is a denial of an individual's right to free-expression, free-association and
self-determination. These are human rights abuses so we do not bite our
tongues, as these abuses should never be tolerated within any secular
democracy.
If freedom is the first casualty of religious rule then soon to follow
is dignity, then imagination and finally concept of mind in the Platonic sense.
Human nature embraces spirituality in our thoughts, concepts and metaphors
(imagination) and we use reason with which to find structure and meaning within
our physical world and attempt to understand the unknown. This is what religious
law rejects.
Crazy religious zealots bent on the implementation of religious law
have little regard for human advancement and are destroyers of human dignity,
just ask the 8 year old Israeli girl harassed and spat upon by Ultra Orthodox male Jews because they found
her child's attire religiously offensive. Other women had reported similar
treatment for a few years now but the child's report produced the overdue
community outcry.
So, perhaps the paragraph above should begin …"If female
freedom is the first casualty of religious rule…".
As the referenced articles demonstrate Ultra Orthodox Jews ban women
from public participation, denounce them publicly for religious transgression,
and further to this enforce segregation within and without the synagogue. It is
the imposition of Halacha or Halakha, Jewish law, upon a society built
around secular democratic principles. Similarly Islam is intent upon
its own religious laws taking precedence with a push to introduce Sharia
Law into UK family courts. Equitable pluralist secular rule of law, where all
rights regardless of gender are weighed, is viewed as inferior if not
blasphemous. Males have greater worth than females is what this religious
message very loudly declares.
Remaining silent for fear of backlash or causing offence isn't an
option, biting your tongue to demonstrate tolerance of another way when it
impinges upon your own rights and freedoms isn't an option.
Women and men who enjoy freedom and human dignity with equal justice
must be outspoken in defense of it, as they are free to do so.
Notes:
1. Torah (Old Testament) Deuteronomy:
20.10-18; 21.10-13; 25.5-10; 31.17-18…
Koran: The Merciful 55.46-58, 44.54-56; The Cow
2.223, 2.228; The Believers 23.1-3; The Confederate Tribes
33.49-51
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