'Niqab Rage'

Chrysalis, you have written, "If a community wants to practice a certain code that does not infringe the rights of others... they have a right to, and should."  It sounds to me as though you think Islamic Law should supercede a nations laws.  Is this correct??  For example, do you feel that the followers of Islam in the United States should be able to take more than one wife???  After all, they are only affecting other members of Islam.  Or, as another example, do you feel that apostates should be dealt with according to Islamic Law???  

Matt Browne wrote: What this teacher did is totally unacceptable. But modern Muslims

That "but" says it all... 

We need 21st century thinking to deal with 21st century challenges. We don't want people who seem stuck in 7th century thinking have any political power in Europe.

What exactly is 21st century thinking? Thinking is a relative term. And what is 7th century thinking?

What this lady did by attacking a woman wearing a niqab (that to her represented 'islamism' whatever that is) ; will that be considered 21st century thinking or 7th century thinking ?

Sharia law has no place in Europe.

Says you. Shariah law has a place anywhere in the world as long as there are muslims in that community who want to practice it. It should not be a concern for Non-Muslims since it does not infringe on their rights or interests in anyway. And that applies to any sort of religious law. Whether it be Christian or Judaic law. If a community wants to practice a certain code that does not infringe the rights of others... they have a right to, and should.

What this teacher did is totally unacceptable. But modern Muslims capable of critical thinking need to understand the worries in Europe. Islamism (political Islam) poses a real threat to modern European societies. We need 21st century thinking to deal with 21st century challenges. We don't want people who seem stuck in 7th century thinking have any political power in Europe. Sharia law has no place in Europe. We want to preserve our democratic values and the Age of Enlightenment. And we hope that more moderate Muslim speak up and help us keep both militant and non-militant Islamists in check. Many see veils and headscarves as a political symbol of rising Islamism.

In this situation: yes.