Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2002-03-12-Speech-2-134"
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"en.20020312.7.2-134"2
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"Afghanistan, a country where, during the Taliban’s reign of terror, women were not allowed to leave their homes, were not allowed to work or receive education, is the most poignant example of a country where fundamentalists, backed by their delusions, oppressed women. However, on a smaller scale too, there are women across the world who are being oppressed, abused or discriminated against in the name of religion.
In many Islamic countries, girls are genitally maimed, although this is not mentioned anywhere in the Koran. In fact, the Koran prohibits this practice. This is no longer religion, but fundamentalism.
Some fellow MEPs labour under the misapprehension that I, along with other MEPs, denounce any religious interference in politics. This is incorrect. We welcome the fact that people are involved in European politics. This comes about via industry, environmental organisations and the unions. Needless to say, religions will also lobby for their interests and their ideals. The fact that churches defend their political agendas here among MEPs is a credit to our institution. I am therefore delighted with the Vatican’s attention to this report, as documented in the authoritative Spanish newspaper, El Pais, among others. As a first step towards an open dialogue with the Vatican, I should like to say the following in response to their criticism: we simply want women to be able to decide for themselves whether, and if so when, they want to bear children.
The report also focuses on the difficult position of women in developing countries and of lesbians. These are real problems which would be solved far better if politicians were to join forces with churches. Cooperation always leads to better results. Our joint fight against capital punishment or poverty is a good case in point. Would it not be wonderful if, on the road to yet more cooperation, we could start an open dialogue with regard to the Vatican’s position on condoms? Last year, 2.6 million people died of AIDS in Africa. If the Vatican stops the ban on condoms, we might be able to rescue a percentage of these people.
Let us therefore enter into this open dialogue so that we can together fight fundamentalism at some stage in future, on the understanding that each take up their own responsibilities. I should like to thank the rapporteur and the fellow MEPs with whom we have cooperated."@en1
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