One might expect the worst with a title like that, but the current holder of that office, thanks to a recently—elected conservative governemnt in Sweden, is quite a surprise. The Times of London describes her as, not only black, beautiful and Muslim; she is also firmly against the wearing of the veil. Nyamko Sabuni, 37, has caused a storm as Sweden's new integration and equality minister by arguing that all girls should be checked for evidence of female circumcision; arranged marriages should be criminalised; religious schools should receive no state funding; and immigrants should learn Swedish and find a job. I find it particularly interesting that the veil has become an object of contention in Sweden, France, the UK, and possibly elsewhere. The veil is not a theological requirement, but rather a custom of some Islamic countries, and it has been associated with the rise of extremist Islamism. It most definitely prevents women wearing them from fully integrating into local...(Read Full Post)