My name is Amirah Bashir and I'm young Persian woman living in the town of Ottawa, Province of Ontario. I was born in the City of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, but raised in Canada's capital region. There's a lot of talk about religion, society and secularism these days. I was raised Muslim but I wouldn't call myself a religious person. The last time I went to a mosque, George W. Bush was still President of the U.S. and nobody had even heard of Barack Obama. Personally, I don't think religion and politics should mix. Secularism is the best form of governmental policy ever invented. Arabs and others simply don't get it but ultimately, democracy, women's rights and religious freedom are what's best for humanity.
A lot of westerners hesitate to stand up to radicals living in their midst because they don't want to be accused of racism or some form of bigotry. That is such bullshit. Western societies treat Muslims far more civilly than the other way around. In Saudi Arabia, the land of my birth, no Christian can erect a church but Muslims can build their mosques anywhere. If that isn't a double standard, I don't know what is. I am a firm opponent of Sharia Law, and I don't think women should wear burkas in public. Ninety nine percent of the time, they're forced to wear it by their families. No matter what they tell you. Trust me, I know these things. Western governments need to watch out otherwise people living in Europe, New Zealand, North America and Australia will find themselves overrun by intolerant bigots who hate all other religions and ways of life.
My parents, Muhammad and Aminah Bashir won't have anything to do with me because I don't follow the rules of Islam. Sorry, mom and dad. I don't want to marry an old Arab guy just because you told me to. And I sure as hell don't want to move back to Saudi Arabia where I would be forced to wear a damn burka for the rest of my days. Why? Simply because of Arab male insecurity. You see, Arab men are behind the anti-woman sentiment which currently grips the entire Muslim world. They are deathly afraid of female sexuality and female power. They've brainwashed Muslim women into thinking wearing the burka and the hijab makes them pristine and pure. It's not about Allah's will, piety or chastity. It's about Arab male insecurity, which they've passed down to all Muslim men. Whatever they like, they claim to be the will of Allah. Whatever they fear or hate, they declare haram or impure and forbidden. It's all very convenient, isn't it? I'm glad I walked away from the dumb rules of the religion. Now, I still believe in God but I don't believe in mosques. I don't believe in Imams. Oh, and I don't believe in churches and pastors, synagogues and rabbis. Men use religion to control women. It's the oldest trick in the book. The bastards need to go fuck themselves if you ask me.
I presently study Criminology at Carleton University, hands-down the best school in metropolitan Ottawa. The University of Ottawa is way too archaic for my taste. I live in the East End of Ottawa, not far from the Saint Laurent Shopping Center. Since my folks live in the town of London, Ontario, I never run into them. Just between you and me, I honestly couldn't be happier. Finally, I get to do what I want. I feel like my life belongs to me. I live with my girlfriend Cynthia Gutierrez Joseph and we are quite happy together. Cynthia and I met during a Christmas party last year. I was invited by my friend Mona Wahid, a Lebanese Christian woman I met at Carleton University a couple of years back.
