Ukrainian feminist group Femen urged women throughout Europe to stage protests last week in support of a young Tunisian activist named Amina Tyler. Last month, Tyler posted naked images of herself on-line with the words "I own my body; it's not the source of anyone's honour written on her bare chest.
Most reasonable (i.e. grown up) states wouldn't pay much attention at all to such a harmless protest but unfortunately for Amina she lives in a country where the government is infused with religion, in her case Islam. The head of Tunisia's "Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice," (yes there really is such a position!) 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.
Sometimes I think that Women really do hold the key to dismantling the various oppressive (and mostly theocratic) states that still exist in the 21st century. The sooner Women in these countries feel empowered to take some influence and stake in their own lives the better.
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