The Valley Girl: Banning the Ban

Several weeks ago, I was furious to discover that Shirin Ebadi, Nobel Peace Prize winning Iranian judge, lawyer, and activist was banned from speaking in Malaysia.

According to a report by The Nutgraph.com, the Malaysian Ministry of Foreign Affairs had instructed the dialogue organisers to retract their invitation to Ebadi on the account that it was "unwise" to invite her due to her promoting a "Western agenda." The ministry in question also cited "preserving good bilateral relations with Iran" as a reason for the withdrawal of her invitation. The event was to be organised by the Bangkok-based International Peace Foundation, along with UM (Universiti Malaya), UIA (Universiti Islam Antarabangsa) and ASLI (Asian Strategic Leadership Institute).

Am I the only one who finds this utterly ludicrous? This is a woman has won a Nobel Peace Prize, and we BAN her from speaking? Ebadi, if I may be able to gush, has been through thick and thin in the pursuit of justice in conservative (I could think of worst words to use, but I shall not, since we're trying to preserve bilateral ties) and religious Iran. Her position as a judge was relinquished after the Iranian revolution and she was relegated to the position of an office worker soon after. Can you imagine, a judge, becoming a secretary – simply because she was a woman? She and other female judges were vocal about their removal and continued to fight against injustice for women, Iranian intellectuals and children. Rightly so, as Islam is the embodiment of justice for both men and women, if my reading of the Quran is right.

But, these sorts of withdrawals of invitation and interferences by the hidden hand (okay, maybe not so hidden) of the state in dialogue seems to be a regular occurrence in our nation. Maybe some of you aren't as infuriated because you don't know Ebadi and what she represents. But, there have been other instances that you might recognise. I recall the recent brouhaha over Avril Lavigne, and the back and forth that gained us a ticker and top news story on the international news sites and reports. Needless to say, it was downright embarrassing. You'd be reading about some new technology in China and out would pop that mortifying ticker: "Avril Lavigne concert banned in Malaysia”. '"Too sexy' says Muslim opposition group." It even made MTV news! I kid you not!

Let's recall other examples - Mariah Carey who wore the same tank top and jeans for us. Gwen Stefani was also forced to cover-up. The Pussycat Dolls’ "risque" act got the organisers of the show fined all the way up to the heavens. The smart ones, like Beyonce and Christina Aguilera just didn't bother to show up.

Now Shirin Ebadi is not showing up either. What she could have shared with us, about justice, equality for all men (and women), against tyranny and oppression – are all things we are never going to hear about. What makes it worse, is that this is something we so desperately need to hear in our current political climate.

It doesn't stop there. Books are banned constantly in Malaysia. The pursuit of knowledge seems to be frowned upon, and much of these incidents on banning, books or otherwise, continue to be state-sanctioned. It makes one wonder why we continue to allow this. I don't mean to be rude, but some random Jabatan guy is telling me what to read now? That really gets my goat. It really does. (By the way, the Spongebob Squarepants book is banned too!$&@&*!)

A few years ago, historian, academic and former Catholic nun, Karen Armstrong was allowed to speak on certain books while she came here. Why? Some of her books were banned, while some were not. Her most notable contribution to this banned book list is her lucid, enlightening and extremely well-written biography of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). It is an easy read, and explains the religion and the Prophet well-enough for non-believers (and believers) to understand the Islam that the Prophet embodied. The irony of course, is that Armstrong gets flak from the right-wing Christians in the West for being an apologist for Islam!

There is much to be learnt from Ebadi, Armstrong and their works and perhaps even from those on the ban list. There is much fun to be had in the music of Stefani, Lavigne, Carey and many more. If it offends some sections of our society, shouldn't we be allowed to make the decision of attending or not attending these concerts? Why are our civil liberties continually being impinged on? I've watched rap concerts, rock concerts, and techno raves from the privacy of my own home and at concert venues, and I do not feel the need to dress like Lavigne or Stefani.

In some ways, our nation bears a great semblance to the democracy our forefathers entrusted to us, and in some ways it does not. It's time we pay greater attention to the latter, and push for a right to change, least of all, to just be heard.

Michelle Gunaselan is still fuming from missing out on Ebadi's talk. If you wish to calm her down, send her subliminal thoughts of happiness and real life Guinness pints. She can be contacted at meeshlet@gmail.com