Feminists Finally Protest Against Islamism?

Amina Tyler

The Atlantic

A photojournalist report, "Femen Stages a 'Topless Jihad,'" in The Atlantic (April 4, 2013) focuses on women going topless in protests across Europe to declare a 'jihad' -- or "struggle" -- against Islamism in demonstrations over the disappearance of a Tunisian, Amina Tyler, who had posted nude photos of her torso online to express her opposition to the Islamist political party currently in power there in the aftermath of the so-called "Arab Spring":

Earlier today, members of Ukrainian feminist group Femen staged protests across Europe as they called for a "topless jihad." The demonstrations were in support of a young Tunisian activist named Amina Tyler. Last month, Tyler posted naked images of herself online, with the words "I own my body; it's not the source of anyone's honor" written on her bare chest. The head of Tunisia's "Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice," reportedly called for Tyler to be stoned to death for her putatively obscene actions, lest they lead to an epidemic. Tyler has since gone quiet, leading some to fear for her safety.

Stoning, of course, is a great virtue, certainly as opposed to the horrible vice of naked breasts! Speaking of which, there's a necessary warning to those who wish to see the report:

[One can click on the link to see] images from Femen's protests today in Sweden, Italy, Ukraine, Belgium, and France. A warning, nearly every photo depicts nudity, and most contain offensive language.

Feminism in the West had long gone silent on Islamist oppression of women -- after being attacked for 'neocolonial' attitudes -- so I think that we should all be happy to see that changing, whatever we might think about nude protests.

The "Femen" -- by the way -- are a Ukrainian Feminist group, so if this is what it takes to wake Western Feminists up, then the Femen are welcome!