Policy Dialogue on Europe's Muslim women: under cover and under pressure?
16/03/2010
The integration of European Muslims is the subject of intense debate across the European Union and within Europe's Muslim community. Discussions get especially intense and often acrimonious - when it comes to the integration of Europe's Muslim women, with many policymakers and politicians denouncing the decision by some women to wear headscarves and burqas and the prevailing perception of Muslim women as victims of a repressive religion.
Europe's Muslim women are undoubtedly pulled in many directions: by traditions which often dictate conservative dress codes and conduct, strong familial and cultural obligations but also pressure from the wider community to be seen as visibly liberated, modern and empowered. The debate and the stereotypes ignore, however, the more complex economic, social and cultural challenges facing millions of European Muslim women as they struggle to become fully-fledged, active citizens of the countries they live in.
To address these issues, as part of the British Council's Our Shared Europe project, we will hear from a panel of guest speakers, including Malika Hamidi, Director General of the European Muslim Network, Wassyla Tamzila, former Director of Women's Rights at UNESCO and author of "Une femme en colère", Sajjad Karim, Member of the European Parliament, and Lorella Zanardo, an Italian Journalist and author of "Il Corpe delle donne". The debate will be moderated by Shada Islam, EPC Senior Programme Executive.
Plaats en tijdstip
Stanhope Hotel
9 rue de Commerce
1000
Brussels
10.00-12.00
