Introduction Gita Hazani, General Director of Mosaica Dear Readers,
France is currently in the process of formulating legislation to ban the wearing of the niqab (the full-face veil worn by Muslim women) in public institutions and transport. Women who will not abide by the law risk being denied the public services provided by that institution. The parliamentary committee promoting the legislation on the subject recommends putting forward an educational campaign for the period prior to the legislation's completion. The initiators and supporters of the ban claim that the wearing of the niqab opposes the French Republic's values pertaining to women's dignity and freedom. On the other hand, it seems that the legislation initiators have disregarded or overlooked the fact that the niqab ban contradicts two basic principles: freedom of expression and a person's freedom to choose which attire to wear in public. If an anonymous survey could be conducted among women wearing niqabs, it would be fascinating to learn how many of them support or oppose it. Furthermore, European states should conduct an in-depth examination, out of national responsibility, of the sources of social anxiety regarding the attire of religious symbols in public (schools and other institutions) and whether this issue should not be examined within the framework of systemic, structured, methodical and long-term dialogue processes among the religious communities. Speaking of structured dialogue processes, we are happy to announce that we have recently launched a new dialogue program “Women between East and West”, and the fifth group of educators in the Jerusalem Inter-Religious Educational Leadership Program. We are happy to enclose in this issue: “Inter-Religious Dialogue: A Personal Perspective”: Commentary by Mr. Fawzi Abu Ghosh, Principal of Amal Boys School, Atarot, and Graduate of Mosaica's Jerusalem Program. In this article, Fawzi brings his personal perspective on the meaning of dialogue as he experienced in Mosaica's Jerusalem Program.
Wishing you an enjoyable reading, Gita Hazani |
