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| Europe | ||
| Terrorism in France | ||
| 2004-01-10 | ||
| When President Jacques Chirac delivered his televised speech about the hijab in France, I believed there would be an immediate Jihad against France. Me too I anticipated a wide array of jihadist offensives against Paris. My primary analytical reason was the strategic importance of the scarf to Islamic fundamentalists worldwide. According to religious radicals, the long scarf — which is supposed to cover the hair, and in some cases, the faces of Muslim women — is not just a tradition, but a religious duty called fard dinee. Per fundamentalist clerics, women have to cover. And by way of extension, those who do are complying with the will of Allah. Sort of like, keeping them pregnant and barefoot When women wear the scarf, Islamic fundamentalists consider it a pillar of their influence. They can deploy their statistical power and project it as a maker or breaker of their growth. If the hijab were used increasingly, the Islamists would feel on the ascent. If its use decreases, particularly by orders of a secular government, like France, the jihadists have no choice but to wage war. Not that they need much reason to be outraged Mr. Chirac projected a political trade. He would oppose the United States on Iraq, shield Saddam’s regime until the last day, stand firmly by the Palestinian Authority against Israel and continue to endorse Syria’s control of Lebanon. In return, he expected an "Arab understanding" of France’s domestic needs regarding secularism. He failed. Islamists don’t make concession. They say jump, you say how high? AKA dimmitude Although Paris refused to cooperate with Washington, and with others on uprooting the al Qaeda’s networks, the Sunni radicals did not grant Mr. Chirac a hijab removal license either. To the contrary, they punished the French "infidels" for their scarf sin. On the other side of the fundamentalist aisle, the French government tried hard to court the Shiite Jihadists, but in vain. The master of the Elysee attended a Beirut-Francophone summit, shook the hand of Hezbollah’s commander, and constantly identified the pro-Iranian organization as a freedom-fighting force. He would have expected a respite from Tehran, when the "hijab affair" was settled by his speech. Not at all: The spokespersons for the Iranian President Mohammad Khatami blasted the French president for his "anti-Islamic" war.
Seems like schadenfreude all over again But the worse may be happening now. A press release issued this week by an al Qaeda affiliate out of Yemen claimed responsibility for the "downing of the airplane" with hundreds of French passengers and lost over Egypt. The claiming party, a man with an Egyptian accent, said he represents Ansar al Haq, an off-shoot of bin Laden’s organization. But worse is that the man threatened more strikes if "Paris continues with its anti-hijab policy." Regardless of the veracity of the claim, one thing is sure. Those who would take the scarf crisis to mass destruction exist. And France will have to make the mother of all choices. But we can’t expect them to make it any time soon. France is a nation of "thinkers" after all, not doers. They will need to think and think and.....tick ..tick... | ||
| Posted by:tipper |
| #5 Has this actually happened yet? I mean has someone wearing a hijab been told to remove it yet? |
| Posted by: Tony (UK) 2004-1-10 5:33:37 PM |
| #4 When you lie down with dogs.... |
| Posted by: CrazyFool 2004-1-10 4:45:16 PM |
| #3 It still makes me smile at times. |
| Posted by: raptor 2004-1-10 4:24:32 PM |
| #2 chirac in english means shitrack |
| Posted by: Jon Shep 2004-1-10 2:55:20 PM |
| #1 If people weren't losing their lives because of Chiracs mistake this might be something to grin about and say "I told you so". |
| Posted by: Charles 2004-1-10 12:57:37 PM |