Religion and Women’s Rights do they fit together?

Today different religious groups do have a big impact in politics all over the world

Some examples from Poland Poland Germany Germany Italy Italy England England Turkey Turkey Iraq Iraq Sweden Sweden

Poland 24th of January 2009

Catholic Church in Poland In Poland, abortion is forbidden In Poland, abortion is forbidden Strict rules are suggested concerning in vitrio Strict rules are suggested concerning in vitrio fertilization fertilization Polish Catholic parliamentarists have proposed to ”throw out Darwin from schools” Polish Catholic parliamentarists have proposed to ”throw out Darwin from schools”

Germany ESF September 2008 A Swedish muslim woman and a Palestinian christian woman, both struggling for women’s rights

Attac protest During a preparation meeting before the ESF, European Social Forum, feminists proposed to write in demand of secular states into the ESF declaration. Attac Germany, strongly rejected this demand and they were supported by left radicals from other parts of Europe. German Attac declared that they were financed by the German Church and that the Arch Bishop gave them good promotion in other ways too. They also stressed on that childrens daycare and kindergarten were financed and built up by the Church in Germany. During a preparation meeting before the ESF, European Social Forum, feminists proposed to write in demand of secular states into the ESF declaration. Attac Germany, strongly rejected this demand and they were supported by left radicals from other parts of Europe. German Attac declared that they were financed by the German Church and that the Arch Bishop gave them good promotion in other ways too. They also stressed on that childrens daycare and kindergarten were financed and built up by the Church in Germany.

Rome May 2008 Conference about secularity

Two wise women with different experiences Aida with experience from the war in Sudan and the tradition of female genital mutilation Aida with experience from the war in Sudan and the tradition of female genital mutilation Leyla with experience from her home country Jordan where women threatened by honour- killing are put in jail for years for protection Leyla with experience from her home country Jordan where women threatened by honour- killing are put in jail for years for protection

In Italy the Catholic Church have strong influence They want to forbid abortion They want to forbid abortion They are homophobic They are homophobic They want to introduce funeral ceremonies for aborted embryos They want to introduce funeral ceremonies for aborted embryos

England In England the Arch Bishop of Canterbury have supported the proposal to introduce sharia laws in England In England the Arch Bishop of Canterbury have supported the proposal to introduce sharia laws in England The sharia laws are the family laws of islam and they are very firm and contradict women’s rights and rights to their reproductive health The sharia laws are the family laws of islam and they are very firm and contradict women’s rights and rights to their reproductive health In thirteen English municipalities they are already introduced and put into practice In thirteen English municipalities they are already introduced and put into practice

Two women struggling against sharia laws Soad Bekkouche, French woman with Algerian origin. Living in Paris. Azar Majedi, Iranian women’s activist. Living in London

Turkey In Turkey there is still a civil war going on beween Kurdish and Turkish people. In the rural districts honour- related violence is used by the Turkish military police to harass the Kurdish women and to demoralise the Kurdish people. Many young women escape from their homes to the towns without anything when they have been either “seduced” or raped by the military police in Turkey. In Turkey there is still a civil war going on beween Kurdish and Turkish people. In the rural districts honour- related violence is used by the Turkish military police to harass the Kurdish women and to demoralise the Kurdish people. Many young women escape from their homes to the towns without anything when they have been either “seduced” or raped by the military police in Turkey. Manifestation in Diyarbakir in March 2008 against Honour –related Violence

Iraq In Iraq the NGO:s take responsibility for the peace building while the oil money goes to corruption and crime In Iraq the NGO:s take responsibility for the peace building while the oil money goes to corruption and crime The government has been put together by the occupying USA and consists of a group of different religious communities continuing the oppression of women. The women in the government are much underrepresented and strong and critical women are harassed and killed. Recently a communist women’s activist was beheaded in her own home. Other women are slaughtered in the streets if they go for work or do not wear veil – regardless of religious belief. The government has been put together by the occupying USA and consists of a group of different religious communities continuing the oppression of women. The women in the government are much underrepresented and strong and critical women are harassed and killed. Recently a communist women’s activist was beheaded in her own home. Other women are slaughtered in the streets if they go for work or do not wear veil – regardless of religious belief. A rumour questioning your dignity as a woman is enough to be beaten, harassed, tortured or killed. A rumour questioning your dignity as a woman is enough to be beaten, harassed, tortured or killed. Kit from Sweden and Khanim from Iraq both struggling against Honour –related violence

Well, how about Sweden..? In Sweden we are not allowed to speak about that the honour-related violence has its roots in Religious Fundamentalism Religious Fundamentalismand Conservative Tradition Conservative Tradition

Further on… The Christian Social Democrats, the so called Social Democrat Brotherhood Association, have close connections to the Muslim Brotherhood Association which partly has connections to islamists in Egypt The Christian Social Democrats, the so called Social Democrat Brotherhood Association, have close connections to the Muslim Brotherhood Association which partly has connections to islamists in Egypt Several Swedish members of the Parliament have membership or close connections to parishes which plead for prohibition to abortion and/or support religious schools Several Swedish members of the Parliament have membership or close connections to parishes which plead for prohibition to abortion and/or support religious schools

In ”the most equal country in the world” Examination of a non-existing hymen (but we are told...) still are done by health care Examination of a non-existing hymen (but we are told...) still are done by health care Or they ”reconstruct” it in public health care or expensive in private clinics Or they ”reconstruct” it in public health care or expensive in private clinics Maintain a myth of a virginity from the religious texts and plead for sex within the marriage Maintain a myth of a virginity from the religious texts and plead for sex within the marriage And collaborate in a structural control of women’s sexuality and support and substain heteronormativity And collaborate in a structural control of women’s sexuality and support and substain heteronormativity Allow the religious parishes to perform forced marriages and child marriage, followed by rape, in the Swedish society Allow the religious parishes to perform forced marriages and child marriage, followed by rape, in the Swedish society

The control of sexuality Is the main purpose in honour-related violence Is the main purpose in honour-related violence Is a threat against women’s lives and health all over the world Is a threat against women’s lives and health all over the world Is a threat against women’s rights Is a threat against women’s rights Is a threat against women’s right to reproductive health Is a threat against women’s right to reproductive health Is a threat against equality Is a threat against equality Is a threat against democracy Is a threat against democracy

What about reality? Women have sex out of marriage Women have sex out of marriage -even with life danger Women do abortions when they get pregnant Women do abortions when they get pregnant - legal or illegal - legal or illegal Women use contraceptives while men do not take responsibility for their sexuality Women use contraceptives while men do not take responsibility for their sexuality - legal or illegal Homo and bisexuals and transexual persons say yes to love all over the world, with danger for life Homo and bisexuals and transexual persons say yes to love all over the world, with danger for life - legal or illegal

What can we do? Write into the international conventions women’s right to their sexuality Write into the international conventions women’s right to their sexuality Civil legislation without religious interference, not least concerning implementation of the women’s right to reproductive health Civil legislation without religious interference, not least concerning implementation of the women’s right to reproductive health Make the states become seculare states (Sweden included)where religion is suborded human rights, women´s rights and children’s rights Make the states become seculare states (Sweden included)where religion is suborded human rights, women´s rights and children’s rights Upgrade and revalue women’s rights for asylum Upgrade and revalue women’s rights for asylum Medical research based on science Medical research based on science Legislation against forced marriage and child marriage Legislation against forced marriage and child marriage Compulsory school free from confessions Compulsory school free from confessions Obligatory information on sexual matters Obligatory information on sexual matters And finally-the seculare state is the best way to support freedom of expression and beliefs And finally-the seculare state is the best way to support freedom of expression and beliefs

We can use our democratics rights Meeting in the European Council Committee concerning honour–related violence in June 2008 Paris, France.