John Oakley speaks out on the denial from Muslim leaders about the death of Aqsa Parvez. “John Oakley on the death of Aqsa Parvez: Denial is not an option,” by Marni Soupcoff in the National Post (thanks to all who sent this in):
To all those Muslims bent out of shape over the characterization of the murder of a sixteen year old Mississauga girl as an “honour killing”, chill. Your complaint of collective character assassination by an irresponsible media bent on sensationalism is a little rich; kind of a case of “methinks thou doth protest too much.” No one is on a witch hunt here trying to demonize an entire faith, but rather to get to the bottom of what seems to be a nasty little secret within a certain segment of the community; women are treated as second-class citizens. If that is, in fact, at the root of violence and abuse meted out by some Muslim men, it’s high time to take ownership and confront the elephant in the room. Those of us who are Catholics were made to feel guilt by association over the scandal of some brothers abusing young boys, even when the vast majority of priests were exemplary models of their calling. The Church had to deal with it. Now it’s your turn. Denial is not an option.