Two topless activists from FEMEN, the notorious hardline international feminist organization, ages 25 and 31 and both from Islamic families, this Saturday appeared at a controversial Muslim conference.
They ran on stage in front of two imams reportedly discussing whether it is right to beat a woman or not, screaming “No one can enslave me, no one can possess me, I am my own prophet!" A slogan also written on their naked chests. FEMEN claims its female activists were protesting against “womanophobia” and violence against women they say is widespread among Muslims, as stated in an online release.
“FEMEN is calling for mass opposition against the uprising of those womanophobe integrisms and for a strong answer from our institutions. Womanophobia is illegal. Sexism is a kind of racism. Modern slavery is a crime. Let’s condemn them together, and let’s remind them without ever losing any ounce of strength: No one can enslave me, no one can possess me, I am my own prophet!” The FEMEN France message on Facebook said, calling the two feminists “our topless jihadists”.
Nos djihadistes topless sont apparues à la tribune devant Nader Abou Anas et Mehdi Kebir, les disciples misogynes d’Allah
— FEMEN (@Femen_France) 12 сентября 2015 г.
Thereafter, both partly nude women were dragged off by security personnel and, as it can clearly be seen on the video of the incident, were slapped and kicked by an unidentified man. The activists were later detained by police and released later that night. The organizers of the salon announced their plan to file a lawsuit against the activists who interrupted the event.
The 3rd Muslim Salon held in Pontoise in Val-d’Oise north of Paris over the weekend, has been dedicated to the role of women in Islam and comprised of different workshops on cooking and dressing along with a series of thematic lectures.
“Being victims of a anti-Muslim attack from the media earlier this week, it is necessary that the [Islamic] community pulls together and mobilizes,” a message on the salon’s Facebook page states.
A petition on Change.org created days before the event that was encouraging to ban the salon and gathered some 8000 signatures claims the imams leading the event, Nader Abou Anas and Mehdi Kebir, are misogynic fundamentalists, who justify marital rape and other forms of gender violence.
Nader Abou Anas: "The husband has a need [sex] if his wife refuses him, she will be cursed by the angels all night." https://t.co/UU5i6tA1A0
— dilâra (@DilaraGurcu) 13 сентября 2015 г.
