Here is a brief email exchange I had with a representative of the Women’s Equality Party. I had replied to a promotion email and asked their view on sharia councils.
Sent: 04 May 2016 09:36
To: [email protected]; [email protected]
Hi Anne Marie,
Thank you for your message. The Women’s Equality Party is a non-partisan political party and the issue of Sharia councils is a partisan one so we do not have a party line. That said, we are proposing specialist support services for those who have been forced into marriage or suffered FGM or honour-based violence. You can read more about this on page 22 of our policy document here:
Best wishes,
Eleanor, on behalf of the WE team
From: Anne Marie Waters
Sent: 04 May 2016 10:33
To: [email protected]
I’m sorry but that’s absurd. This is a matter of fundamental importance for women’s basic rights, much less equality. Its admirable that you want to support people forced in to marriage etc, but wouldn’t prevention be better? That involves some serious courage.
It is clear to me that you will focus on uncontroversial matters while ignoring unimaginable cruelty to women right under your nose.
Such a shame. Feminism has really become a joke.
Thank you though for replying. I appreciate that.