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Religious harmony declaration calls for greater social cohesion among Singaporeans
Channel NewsAsia (10.06.2003)/ HRWF Int. (11.06.2003) - Website: http://www.hrwf.net - Email: info@hrwf.net - The Government has unveiled the Declaration on Religious Harmony which calls on Singaporeans to safeguard the country's religious harmony for peace, progress and prosperity.
It was the Jemaah Islamiyah arrests that prompted Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong to moot the idea of a code on Religious Harmony.
But after several months of discussion among religious leaders, the code evolved to a pledge, and finally a declaration.
The declaration, which aims to ensure religion is not abused to create conflict or threaten Singapore's harmony, recognises that the State is secular, and urges Singaporeans to promote social cohesion.
It also calls for respect of each other's freedom of religion, while growing the common space between races and religions, and fostering inter-religious communications.
Bishop John Chew, National Council of Churches, said: "The declaration definitely was good and helps each other to be more aware and more sensitive - so though we never had it before. But the fact that all the religious organisations could come together to work it out, sit down, hammer it out - it's really the process that would stand us in good stead."
E Sukumar, Chairman, Hindu Advisory Board, said: "We'll have to work doubly hard to get this across to the community, at places of worship, organisations, community and social bodies, and of course schools - through which dissemination activities will have to be stepped up."
Come Racial Harmony Week next month - the declaration will be read and incorporated into activities at the different places of worship islandwide.
It will also serve as a reminder for Singaporeans to foster deeper ties and understanding with other communities too.
Describing it as an "important document", the Prime Minister said the declaration will describe how Singaporeans practise their respective religions to promote inter-community confidence.
But does it not lack teeth?
Mr Chan Soo Sen, Minister of State, Community Development and Sports, who spearheaded the declaration says teeth are not necessary.
He said: "It's just like spitting - nearly everybody believes spitting is bad and we want to do is to encourage people to go for positive behaviour as well as remind them not to go into negative behaviour. This is essentially what this declaration is all about. Let's keep this particular good behaviour, good spirits and so there's no need to use the teeth."
After all, he pointed out there are already teeth in the Internal Security and Religious Harmony Acts.
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Code on Religious Harmony likely to be submitted to Government by end March
Channel NewsAsia (10.02.2003)/ HRWF Int. (12.02.2003) - Website: http://www.hrwf.net - Email: info@hrwf.net - The final draft of Singapore's Code on Religious Harmony should be ready by the end of this month, and is expected to be submitted to the Government by end March.
And chairman of the committee overseeing it, Minister of State Chan Soo Sen, says he also has plans for a permanent liaison committee comprising representatives from the major religious groups.
It will be a platform for future discussions and will not replicate the work of the Inter-Religious Organisation.
"We already have this network while working out the draft. It would be a waste if we just dismantle the whole network," said Mr Chan, who was officiating at the Indian harvest festival.
Mr Chan said he'll meet the major religious groups again to get their input for the final draft of the Code on Religious Harmony before submitting it to the government by the end of March.
The Code is aimed at promoting greater inter-religious confidence among Singaporeans and to prevent religion from being a source of conflict here.
Singaporean withdraws daughter from school to protest headscarf ban
by Yeoh En-Lai
AP (07.01.2003) / HRWF Int. (09.01.2003) - Website: http://www.hrwf.net - Email: info@hrwf.net -The parents of an 11-year-old girl who was told to leave school for wearing a banned traditional Islamic headscarf said Tuesday they would educate her at home in protest against the Singaporean government.
Azhar Ali accused authorities of denying his daughter, Nur Ashikeen Azhar, the freedom to practice her religion after Eunos Primary School officials sent her home twice last week for wearing the traditional scarf, known as a tudung or hijab.
He said he would not let them turn her away a third time.
"I know what they are going to say when she shows up in a tudung, so why bother?" Azhar said. "It is pointless."
The government of multiethnic Singapore banned headscarves from schools out of fear the scarves brought religious differences into the classroom.
Azhar, a deputy youth chief for the opposition Singapore Malay National Organization, said he will write both the school and the education ministry, asking them to overturn the ban.
The ministry said in an e-mailed reply to questions from The Associated Press that Nur Ashikeen had not been suspended. The ministry hopes that her father will change his mind and send her back to school wearing the prescribed school uniform, the statement said.
But Azhar said he was adamant it was the ministry that should alter its stance.
About 15 percent of Singapore's population is Muslim. The ban only applies to schools many Muslim women, including government employees, wear headscarves to work.
The debate over headscarves in schools flared up last year after four girls were told to stop wearing them. Three withdrew from school while the fourth returned without her scarf.
One of the three girls was sent to a religious school in Melbourne, Australia, while the other two are being schooled at home.
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