Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Sweden's Muslim minister turns on veil
The Sunday Times ^ | October 22, 2006 | Helena Frith Powell

Posted on 10/22/2006 1:35:45 AM PDT by MadIvan

THE latest media darling of Scandinavian politics is not only black, beautiful and Muslim; she is also firmly against the wearing of the veil.

Nyamko Sabuni, 37, has caused a storm as Sweden’s new integration and equality minister by arguing that all girls should be checked for evidence of female circumcision; arranged marriages should be criminalised; religious schools should receive no state funding; and immigrants should learn Swedish and find a job.

Supporters of the centre-right government that came to power last month believe that her bold rejection of cultural diversity may make her a force for change across Europe. Her critics are calling her a hardliner and even an Islamophobe.

“I am neither,” she said in an interview. “My aim is to integrate immigrants. One is to ensure they grow up just as any other child in Sweden would.”

Sabuni believes all immigrants must try to become proficient in Swedish — just as she did when she arrived from Africa aged 12 — rather than alienating locals.

“Language and jobs are the two most crucial things for integration,” she said. “If you want to become a Swedish citizen, we think you should have some basic knowledge of Swedish.”

An elegant, vivacious woman who uses subtle make-up and wears soft clothes in pastel shades and tight woollen sweaters, she argues for a total ban on veils being worn by girls under the age of consent, which is 15 in Sweden.

“Nowhere in the Koran does it state that a child should wear a veil; it stops them being children. By putting a veil on a girl you are immediately saying to the outside world that she is sexually mature and has to be covered. It’s wrong,” she said.

Sabuni was born in Burundi. Her father was a political dissident who was in prison during much of her early childhood. In 1980 he was granted asylum in Sweden. The next year his wife and six children joined him and they settled near Stockholm.

Sabuni read law at Uppsala University, Sweden’s equivalent of Oxbridge, and became a public relations consultant. Her husband, who works in the travel industry and runs their home in Stockholm, took paternity leave when their twin boys, now five, were born.

In Sweden she is best known for her suggestion that adolescent girls should have compulsory examinations to make sure they have not been subjected to genital mutilation. “It would enable us to prosecute people carrying out the practice,” she said.

According to Sabuni, many politicians have shied away from talking about the need for assimilation rather than multi-culturalism: “I am one of the few who dares to speak out. Sadly, some members of the Muslim community feel picked on.”

Muslim groups in Sweden are already organising a petition to have her removed from government. “I regret that Muslims feel I am a threat to them,” she said. “Everybody has a right to practise their religion, but I will never accept religious oppression. And I represent the whole of society, not just the Muslims.”

Despite her ascendancy in her adopted country, Sabuni says that Sweden, where immigrants — half of them Muslims — make up nearly 12% of the population, has been only moderately successful at integration: “We have a whole underclass of people who don’t have jobs, who don’t speak the language and who are living on the fringes of society.”

Although fighting discrimination is one of her stated aims, she effectively closed down a Centre Against Racism last week by withdrawing its £400,000 state funding. By chance, the centre was run by her uncle.

“It didn’t achieve its aims,” she said bluntly. “It simply didn’t do what it set out to do, so I had to pull the plug. My uncle is a good and a competent man, but a whole institute can’t be run by one man. He understands that I have to do my job.”

Other ministers appointed by Fredrik Reinfeldt, the prime minister, are more concerned about their jobs. Since he took over on September 17, two ministers have resigned in a series of minor scandals involving unpaid television licences and black-market domestic help, and two more are under pressure to go.

Should Reinfeldt’s government fall, Sabuni would be willing to step into his shoes. On a TV show three years ago she declared that she would become Sweden’s first female prime minister. “I stand by that,” she said. “It’s not something I think about on a daily basis but, if I’m in politics, the ultimate aim has to be to become prime minister.”

Anders Jonsson, a political commentator on the liberal newspaper Expressen, says there is no doubt Sabuni is one to watch. “She is a tough cookie and incredibly ambitious,” he said. “But I think it’s good that a black woman is raising these issues and she has proved that she is prepared to take tough decisions in order to get things done.”


TOPICS: Extended News; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: apostatemuslims; eurabia; hijab; islam; rop; sweden; veil
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041 next last
Message to Sweden: "Welcome to the party, pal".

Regards, Ivan

1 posted on 10/22/2006 1:35:46 AM PDT by MadIvan
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Mrs Ivan; odds; DCPatriot; Texican; Watery Tart; Deetes; Barset; fanfan; LadyofShalott; Tolik; ...

Ping!


2 posted on 10/22/2006 1:36:04 AM PDT by MadIvan (I aim to misbehave.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MadIvan

MINO. Moslem in name only.


3 posted on 10/22/2006 1:41:19 AM PDT by Nateman
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MadIvan
she argues for a total ban on veils being worn by girls under the age of consent, which is 15 in Sweden.
Sort of reminds me of sled dogs in the villages in Alaska. For the first six months of their lives they run totally free, bounding across the tundra and frolicking in the sun (I was there in the summer) with yelps of joy. Then, at age 6 months, they get stuck on a 3 foot chain. And that's it. For the rest of their lives. Except for when they're out working, pulling a sled.

Although I guess it's not quite so good for Muslim girls. They don't seem to do much frolicking. They're a lot smarter than sled dogs. They can look ahead and see the dreary life of total slavery and utter servitude that awaits them.

The Religion of Peace and Freedom

4 posted on 10/22/2006 1:47:35 AM PDT by samtheman (The Democrats are Instituting their own Guest Voter Program.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MadIvan

She had best invest in some very smart bodyguards...


5 posted on 10/22/2006 1:54:01 AM PDT by bill1952 ("All that we do is done with an eye towards something else.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: WesternCulture; Charles Henrickson

Ping


6 posted on 10/22/2006 2:02:14 AM PDT by kanawa (Don't go where you're looking, look where you're going.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MadIvan

For all our bombers, ships and troops this is where the war will be won- culturally.


7 posted on 10/22/2006 2:15:48 AM PDT by Prodigal Son
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MadIvan

Ditto!

And I like this gal. It's looking like she walks the walk. Time will tell.


8 posted on 10/22/2006 2:26:22 AM PDT by Jezebelle (Our tax dollars are paying the ACLU to sue the Christ out of us.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: samtheman

Huskies and malamutes were bred to be work dogs. They like to work, and their life comes natural to them.

The same cannot be said for Muslim women, for they are born free, yearn to be free, as we do. It's indoctrination and oppression meted out under the guise of religion that has brainwashed them, not "breeding."


9 posted on 10/22/2006 2:34:04 AM PDT by Jezebelle (Our tax dollars are paying the ACLU to sue the Christ out of us.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Prodigal Son

It looks like the Scandanavians are ahead of us on this front. Let them become a beacon to the rest of Europe.


10 posted on 10/22/2006 2:35:20 AM PDT by Jezebelle (Our tax dollars are paying the ACLU to sue the Christ out of us.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: MadIvan; All
Nyamko Sabuni, 37, has caused a storm as Sweden’s new integration and equality minister by arguing that all girls should be checked for evidence of female circumcision; arranged marriages should be criminalised; religious schools should receive no state funding; and immigrants should learn Swedish and find a job.

How do you say "Hallelujah!" in Swedish?

11 posted on 10/22/2006 2:45:43 AM PDT by aculeus
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MadIvan
Nyamko Sabuni

12 posted on 10/22/2006 3:10:12 AM PDT by SkyPilot
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MadIvan

It is a lost cause. Sharia will come to all of western Europe soon. Their non-Moho populations are unsustainable and they are disappearing. If they could all become dictatorships and reuire all fertile women to have 4 children and not allow abortions for the next 50 years and at the same time rustle up whateveer military they still have and expel ALL mohos, imported or indigenous, Europe might survive. Won't happen. Suicide is a sacred right, national suicde, especially.


13 posted on 10/22/2006 5:05:58 AM PDT by ThanhPhero (di hanh huong den La Vang)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MadIvan
On a TV show three years ago she declared that she would become Sweden’s first female prime minister. “I stand by that,” she said. “It’s not something I think about on a daily basis but, if I’m in politics, the ultimate aim has to be to become prime minister.”

That kind of honesty is really refreshing in a politician, but so what. There is no indication that Sweden is any more ready than any other western democracy to make the tough decisions that are necessary to protect it's heritage and way of life.

14 posted on 10/22/2006 5:22:35 AM PDT by Northern Alliance
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MadIvan; All

Nor did the British Muslims get the deeper point of Muslims in general (male or female) being VEILED from the west.


15 posted on 10/22/2006 5:26:00 AM PDT by PRePublic
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MadIvan

Good news. Problems recognized and practical solutions suggested.


16 posted on 10/22/2006 5:27:16 AM PDT by Tribune7
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MadIvan; ninenot; sittnick; steve50; Hegemony Cricket; Willie Green; Wolfie; ex-snook; FITZ; ...
Nyamko Sabuni, 37, has caused a storm as Sweden’s new integration and equality minister by arguing that all girls should be checked for evidence of female circumcision; arranged marriages should be criminalised; religious schools should receive no state funding; and immigrants should learn Swedish and find a job.

Supporters of the centre-right government that came to power last month believe that her bold rejection of cultural diversity may make her a force for change across Europe.

Wow, female circumcision, arranged marriages and not having a job are the essence of cultural diversity!

17 posted on 10/22/2006 6:52:20 AM PDT by A. Pole (Milosevic: "And when they behead your own people [...] then you will know what this was all about.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Prodigal Son

Exactly !!!!


18 posted on 10/22/2006 6:57:43 AM PDT by Dustbunny (The BIBLE - Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: Prodigal Son

**For all our bombers, ships and troops this is where the war will be won- culturally.**

Exactly. And too many people on this board think otherwise. They cheerlead for invasions of Somalia, Syria, Iran then ignore the Commander in Chief when he hosts Ramadan dinners at the White House while (still) proclaiming Islam is Peace.


19 posted on 10/22/2006 6:58:24 AM PDT by ivy (Ivy's ex bf)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: ThanhPhero
Sharia will come to all of western Europe soon

They will try. It might bring a war.

20 posted on 10/22/2006 7:53:25 AM PDT by Nachum
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson