Annotated Bibliography - The Portrayal of the Burqa Ban in the Media

Schlesinger, P. (1993). Islam, postmodernity and the media: an interview with Akbar S. Ahmed. Media, Culture & Society, 15(1), 29-42. doi 10.1177/016344393015001003

Philip Schlesinger wrote this article while working in the Department of Film and Media Studies at University of Stirling, Scotland.  He conducts an interview with Pakistani anthropologist Akbar S. Ahmed.  Schlesinger is interested in Ahmed’s research into the media and postermodernity when it comes to Western perceptions of Muslims and vice versa.  Ahmed argues that the media and globalisation are making it impossible for groups in society to isolate themselves and live a traditional lifestyle.  Ahmed relates this to an East-West division that is built on thousands of years of history and social relations.  Schlesinger probes the argument put forward in Ahmed’s research about film and television media and their role in postmodernity in the Muslim world.  Ahmed essentially argues that postmodernity is culturally contextual, for Muslims it has to do with the changing world order after the Cold War.  He stresses that the global aspect of Western media is intruding on traditional values and providing Muslims with misleading images of Western society and causing tension.  Ahmed suggests that reconciliation between Western and Muslim cultures needs to be based on respect, cooperation and celebration of differences.  Schlesinger conducts the interview with respect to Ahmed’s views but does attempt to highlight his cultural bias and prejudices.

Barns, G. (2010, May 7). Cory Bernardi’s sinister plot to ban the burqa. Crikey. Retrieved from: http://www.crikey.com.au/2010/05/07/corey-bernardis-sinister-plot-to-ban-the-burqa/

Greg Barns has written something close to an editorial but with a heavy analysis of social and political commentary and Australian law.  Barns assesses the comments by South Australian Liberal Senator Cory Bernardi who made a claim that the burqa should be banned in Australia.  Senator Bernardi made this claim after an incident in Sydney when a thief used a burqa as a disguise.  Senator Bernardi links the wearing of the burqa to repression of women by Muslim society as well as criminality in Western society.  Barns writes that Senator Bernardi’s call for banning the burqa is more ‘sinister’ than claims from other countries.  He makes this assertion within the framework of racial vilification laws in Australia.  While these laws vary from state to state, Barns reviews each state and claims that Bernardi is in breach of racial vilification laws in Queensland, Tasmania and Victoria.  Barns claims that Senator Bernardi cannot defend himself against these laws by arguing that his comments were in good faith, as linking the burqa to oppression and criminality are deemed irrational.  Barns accuses Senator Bernardi of breaching these laws as he has incited ‘serious contempt’ for Australian Muslims.  This piece comes across as opinionated as Barns claims that Senator Bernardi’s comments are the most sinister ever made on the topic.  This statement is put forward before the legal and social justificatory framework.  This piece highlights that there is not a celebration of differences between Muslims and Australians.

French face veil ban comes into force (2011, April 11). Al Jazeera. Retrieved from: http://www.aljazeera.com/news/europe/2011/04/20114117646677858.html

This article was written after the French government implemented controversial laws that banned citizens from wearing face veils in public.  The writer highlights the immediate civil disobedience campaign against these laws by stating that two women, wearing niqab veils, were arrested.  However, according to French authorities, they were arrested for participating in an unauthorised demonstration.  The article includes comments from a variety of sources.  The French government said that the ban is due to male oppression of women.  Muslim leaders in France state that they are neither for or against the banning of face veils, as wearing these garments is a cultural, rather than religious practice.  Protestors claim that the ban is against their European and human rights.  The author analyses the reasoning behind the French government’s decision to ban face veils.  According to official rhetoric, it is to promote France’s secular values and educate the people about the responsibilities of French citizenship.  However, some human rights groups argue that it was a move by former French President Nicholas Sarkozy to win votes from far-right voters.  Al Jazeera is known for delivering news from a non-Western perspective and relies heavily on non-governmental sources in this piece, although it still does provide a balanced argument.  This piece highlights that there is not much respect between Western and Muslim culture and that differences are not being celebrated.

Human rights chief slams burqa ban. (2010, March 8). SBS World News Australia. Retrieved from: http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/1209342/Human-rights-chief-slams-burqa-ban      

This article discusses international and customary law regarding several countries’ attempts to ban the wearing of burqas.  This article consults human rights commissioner for the Council of Europe, Thomsas Hammarberg, to discuss the social, legal and normative dimensions and implications of banning the burqa in European society.  According to Hammarberg, banning face veils would be an ‘unreasonable’ invasion of personal privacy and would not liberate oppressed women.  He argues that banning the burqa and other face veils would in fact do the opposite of what the supporters are trying to promote, it would actually lead to further alienation and segregation of society.  Hammarberg not only relies on this social and normative argument, but also on the basis of international and European law.  He states that banning the burqa would be against the European Convention of Human Rights depending on the context of the banning laws.  Hammarberg then analyses the situation in France where he denounces their approach and calls it undemocratic considering the circumstances.  SBS is known for presenting a multicultural view on current affairs and has often been criticised for having a left-wing bias.  This article calls for respect and cooperation between Western and Muslim cultures and to celebrate the differences.