MP Defends Muslim Wedding Walkout

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Peter Parka

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MP defends Muslim wedding walkout
A government minister has defended his decision to walk out of a Muslim wedding in east London because he was told he must sit apart from his wife.
Jim Fitzpatrick, food, farming and environment minister, left a ceremony at London Muslim Centre, Whitechapel.
The MP for Poplar and Canning Town told the BBC the segregation showed a degree of intolerance in the East End.
But a spokesman for the centre said the segregation was at the request of the couple getting married.
Mr Fitzpatrick, whose constituency is home to a large Muslim community, blamed the tough stance on the Islamic Forum of Europe (IFE) - a controversial organisation that calls for Sharia law - which is based in the same building.

“ The vast number of my Muslim constituents who've contacted me have expressed sympathy ”
Jim Fitzpatrick MP
He told the BBC's Today: "This is a very exceptional occasion, it's a new occurrence.
"It perhaps demonstrates that there is a degree of intolerance - certainly exclusion rather than inclusion which we are trying to build in the East End."
Mr Fitzpatrick added: "Certainly the vast number of my Muslim constituents who've contacted me have expressed sympathy that I was placed in this predicament."
Mohammad Shakir, a spokesman for the centre, said: "Segregated weddings have always been popular in the Muslim community - the London Muslim Centre has facilitated them for over five years.
"It is part of the attraction for Muslim families so they can celebrate their happy day in a religious atmosphere.
"We have always allowed non-Muslim guests to be seated together without segregation, but this is entirely at the discretion of the families who hire the halls."





Story from BBC NEWS:

Dont really see it as a religious issue to be honest, seems more like the couple being so stupid that they didn't think some people would be offended at not being able to sit with their wives, should have made it clearer before hand. Even so, the whole thing does seem a bit of fuss about nothing, sure it wouldn't hurt the guy to sit apart from his wife for half an hour, I'd personally be glad of the peace. :D
 
It's a personal decision based on your perception. If the reason is explained, you'd then have to decide if you want to honor an innocent tradition, or honor what you view as a sexist tradition, or you view it as intolerant of your tradition of sitting with your wife at important ceremonies. I'd say if you can't honor the tradition, maybe you should leave.

Cultural differences are the culprit. This is not the same kind of thing, but in Minneapolis there were Muslim taxi drivers who were refusing to carry people from the airport who had drinking alcohol in their bags because they felt it was against their religion. So what is the proper action in this case? If the muslims were my employees, I'd tell them if they can't do their job due to religious regions, then they need to find a new job. If they are independent contractors, I'd say it's their choice on who to carry. How about Muslim women who object to uncovering their faces when passing through airport security? Should they conform or be given a free pass? I'd say, if they want to enter the airport, they will have to uncover.
 
Minor Axis said:
It's a personal decision based on your perception. If the reason is explained, you'd then have to decide if you want to honor an a innocent tradition, or honor what you view as a sexist tradition, or you view it as intolerant of your tradition of sitting with your wife at important ceremonies. I'd say if you can't honor the tradition, maybe you should leave.

Cultural differences are the culprit. This is not the same kind of thing, but in Minneapolis there were Muslim taxi drivers who were refusing to carry people from the airport who had drinking alcohol in their bags because they felt it was against their religion. So what is the proper action in this case? If the muslims were my employees, I'd tell them if they can't do their job due to religious regions, then they need to find a new job. If they are independent contractors, I'd say it's their choice on who to carry. How about Muslim women who object to uncovering their faces when passing through airport security? Should they conform or be given a free pass? I'd say, if they want to enter the airport, they will have to uncover.
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Twice in one day I've gotta agree with you. :thumbup
 
maybe the tradition was such that to even put more focus on the marrying couple by not having any current couples together.

heck, it might be one hell of a tradition, because then after wards, the already married couple may get a new appreciation for each other, et cetera and so on and so forth.

i do not see an iota of a problem here.
 
Well a big deal over nothing really, but it is entially up to him to walk out or not if he doesn't agree with it which
is fair enough as to the Islamic Forum of Europe (IFE) - a controversial organisation that calls for Sharia law being in the same building was probly the only reason why it actually got on the news in the first place...
 
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