1. Religion and Marriage Human Rights

2. Session Outcomes  Consider some of the tension between religious rights and human rights.  Look at the issue of forced marriages

3. Universal Declaration of Human Rights  Article 16. (1) Men and Women of full age without any limitation due to race, nationality or religion, have the right to marry and to found a family. They are entitled to equal rights as to marriage, during marriage and at its dissolution. (2) Marriage shall be entered into only with the free and full consent of the intending spouses. (3) The family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by society and the State.  Article 18. Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom whether alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion of belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.

4. The key problem  Religious opinions call for a restriction on someone else’s human rights (or claims for human rights).  Right to practice your religion is restricted by the state.  When religions are offended

5. UK  54-year-old nurse facing disciplinary action for wearing her confirmation cross, forced to take redeployment;  Camden, London, a Christian group was banned from displaying a notice in libraries and community centres advertising a talk on climate change because it mentioned Christianity and God.  Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/henryporter/2009/sep/23/free- speech-religion-offencehttp://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/henryporter/2009/sep/23/free- speech-religion-offence

6. The Last Temptation of Christ  1988 film directed by Martin Scorsese (based on a book by Nikos Kazantzakis)  It depicted scenes of Jesus imagining having sex with Mary Magdalene  The Catholic Church tried to have the film banned under blasphemy laws  It is still banned in Chile

7. Life of Brian – Monty Python  1979 – Many local authorities banned it from being screened  Told the satirical story of Brian (Cohen) – born on the same night as Jesus and mistaken for the Messiah  Ends with the song ‘Always Look on the Bright Side of Life’ being sung on the cross

8. Danish Cartoons  2005: The Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten published a number of cartoons of the prophet Muhammad  Many Muslims regard it as blasphemous for pictorial representations of the prophet to be made  Protests (many violent) were made asking for the banning of publication of these cartoons and calls were made for Muslims to boycott Danish goods  British newspapers refused to publish the cartoons after attacks on newspaper offices around the world

9. Other key events  Rushdie Affair 1989  British Muslim community gain public attention due the events  blasphemy vs freedom of speech  Call for banning ignored in the British context  Behzti play 2004, which brought attention to the Sikh community

10. The Vatican on same sex partnerships:  ‘There are absolutely no grounds for considering homosexual unions to be in any way similar or even remotely analogous to God's plan for marriage and family’  ‘To vote in favour of a law so harmful to the common good is gravely immoral’  ‘Marriage is holy, while homosexual acts go against the natural moral law.’  Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/3108349.stm http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/3108349.stm

11. French Schools  France has a ‘secular schools’ policy  They say that schools should be a secular zone – no religion is practiced (i.e. like in assemblies), and no visible signs of religion may be worn  Headscarves are banned, as is wearing of the turban, crucifixes or any other piece of jewellery/clothing with a religious connotation

12. Is this breaking human rights  Does the right to religion also imply that we may display our commitment to that religion in a manner of our choosing?  Is the French School system an abuse of human rights?  Do we have a right not to be offended?

13.  http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/newsn ight/9455334.stm http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/newsn ight/9455334.stm  http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/newsn ight/8118735.stm http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/newsn ight/8118735.stm Film on banning the of religious dress

14. Key social issue involved in these debates  Women roles and rights  Islampbhobia  Patriarchy  Religion public and private debate  Multiculturalism  Secularism

15. Forced Marriage  ‘A forced marriage is a marriage conducted without valid consent of one or both parties, and some form of duress is involved. This could be emotional pressure – for example, parents may insist that rejection of this marriage partner would bring shame to the family; or arrangements for marriage might be made (perhaps abroad) without intended bride being told the purpose of the trip.’ (Women Aid) Also affects people with learning difficulties can not give consent (Forced  ‘There is a difference between forced marriage and the tradition of arranged marriages. In arranged marriages the families of both spouses take a leading role in arranging the marriage but the individuals concerned are given a free choice whether or not to accept the arrangement’

16. Ctd.  It has been to disproportionately affect women  It is a form of violence towards women.  Relates to honour and honour based violence.  Patriarchy  Affects the LGBT communities  Also linked with marriage of children  https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/141 823/Stats_2012.pdf https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/141 823/Stats_2012.pdf

17. Groups and Organistaions  Karma Nivana: http://www.karmanirvana.org.uk/ http://www.karmanirvana.org.uk/  Southall Black Sisters:  http://www.southallblacksisters.org.uk/forced- marriage-an-abuse-of-human-rights/ http://www.southallblacksisters.org.uk/forced- marriage-an-abuse-of-human-rights/  Forced Marriage Unit, set up in 2005 and jointly run by the Home Office and Foreign and Commonwealth.  https://www.gov.uk/forced-marriage https://www.gov.uk/forced-marriage

18. Forced Marriage: Recent Stories Should forced marriage be criminalised? http://www.theguardian.com/uk/crime-and-justice-blog/2011/oct/12/forced-marriage-ukcrime Child Marriage in Africa: http://www.theguardian.com/global- development/2013/oct/30/child-marriage-africa-teenage-pregnancy-un http://www.theguardian.com/global- development/2013/oct/30/child-marriage-africa-teenage-pregnancy-un People with mental disabilities : http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/aug/09/mentally-disabled-forced- marriages-parents Hide a spoon: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/aug/15/women-forced-marriage-spoon- underwear