“The majority of the left in France believe that the hijab is an assault on women’s rights. This position quickly moves into the prejudice that Muslim women in France are more oppressed than non-Muslim women, that the experience of women in, say, Saudi Arabia is merely an extreme case of an oppression which is inherent in Islam.

“Muslim and Arab men are then presented as the major source of women’s oppression and contrasted with the progressive white values of Republican France. So opposition to religious practices on the basis of progressive values can easily turn into a thinly disguised form of racism – and often does.”

In an interview with Socialist Alternative, John Mullen of France’s Nouveau Parti Anticapitaliste explains the resignation from the NPA of 12 activists, including former NPA candidate Ilham Moussaïd.

Twelve activists from Olivier Besancenot’s New Anticapitalist Party (NPA) have walked out on the party in protest.

“The numerous acts of defiance and hostility against us have become intolerable and it was time to put an end to the stigma and the witch hunt.” This is what twelve activists from Avignon have written in an internal statement to explain their departure from Olivier Besancenot’s Anti-Capitalist Party. Among them is Ilham Moussaïd, the recent regional candidate who wears a headscarf.

Her candidacy caused a split within the party due to her wearing of a headscarf and the ongoing debate regarding the veil. She is a practicing Muslim and identifies herself as a pro-choice feminist.

Since that election, the headscarf issue has remained unresolved. Outvoted in a recent internal vote, the activists chose to leave. “We did not want the next Congress to be confrontational. We want to allow for a calm debate. Some were afraid of us, but we did not want to Islamicize the party,” said Abdul Zahir, who had not previously made a public statement.

His statement alludes to the fact that some other members of the party accuse Ilham Moussaïd and others of seeking to Islamicize the NPA.

“Some people are torn between anti-capitalism and the political representation of Muslims, which is not the NPA project. We are a feminist party, emancipatory and secular. The representation of the party should be too,” argued Pierre-François Grond, member of the national executive.

Ingrid Hayes – a national political board member and open opponent of the headscarf who calls it a “sign of oppression of women” – warned: “We’re not an atheist party. But religion divides rather than unite.

She said the debate is progressing. “Their departure is linked to the debate and turmoil that rocked our organization following the candidacy of Ilham Moussaid – a debate on the question of religion, feminism, secularism. That debate will be decided at the national convention,” she added.

Abdul Zahir regretted “the expectation of a conference (which seems never to happen) to decide if we have our place in this party. This is neither right nor worthy of a mass revolutionary party.”

Islam Today, 28 November 2010