No Force in Religion | Acts of protest, Hijab and the State

The upper statement is the translation for a well known verse in Quran, Surat Al-Baqara.

The Photos below have a 12 years difference:

1- The First Photo was in FRANCE on Friday, 1 Oct. 2004 When 15 yr old "Cennet Doganay" decided to "Shave her head" in protest on forcing her to take off her Hijab (Head scarf), under the French law banning all symbols of religious signs in public spaces including schools, also known as "Laicite". Ref. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3708444.stm

 

2- The Next Photo is a participation from a woman on My Stealthy Freedom آزادی یواشکی زنان در ایرانwho took the very same action, only this time in IRAN, a country on the other hand that forced Hijab as a dress code for all the adult females of its nation.

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The Photos are alike yet not alike, you can see, they both shaved their heads in protest (commonly hair is symbolised as a woman's crown and a symbol of her beauty) telling the statement of "If the State and Law don't let me practice my beliefs freely, this won't be tolerated" also paraphrased in the Upper Verse to which those two ladies supposedly affiliate to.

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The History of forcing women to a dress code by the act of law or society or both, is not new, and not exclusive to Islam, Prof. Sahar Amer from the University of Sydney in fact mentioned in her amazingly crafted book What is Veiling? A book by Sahar Amer this dating it back to ancient history. She also mentions The above mention acts of Veiling and Deveiling as a form of a statement in countries where veiling is prohibited or forced.

On the side of #Art, Iran's Marjan Satrapi did a masterpiece comic "Persepolis" (Photo No. 3 discusses the transformation of Iran from Prohibiting wearing the hijab (a.k.a France), to Forcing wearing the Hijab) in an arrogant act of constant manipulation of Female attire and performance.

But Amer also places other artworks that discusses the historical voyeuristic approach of #Orientalist Art in the 19th Century colonialism, and how the women were objectified in a sense that remain prominent till this very moment, due to the same act of cultural hegemony (If you studied Art History, you certainly will remember Photo No. 4 Le Bain Turc by Ingres in 1862)

(The book is a must read on all aspects and fields, politics, art, society etc.) as well as the Statement to be kept in our conscious mind, FORCED PRACTICE IS UNACCEPTABLE

Info on Fiocchi Tear gas used in #Tahrir #Nov19

-Ballistic: Fiocchi 8mm blank cartridge used a hollow ended plastic seal which is intended to rupture on Firing.

Made in Italy, but apparently the company has great deals w/ the US.

-Main Ingredient: Chloroacetophenone (CN) Phenacyl chloride

CN is still supplied to paramilitary and police forces in a small pressurized aerosol can known as “Mace” or tear gas.

-Symptoms This compound irritates the mucous membranes (oral, nasal, conjunctival and tracheobronchial). Sometimes it can give rise to more generalized reactions such as syncope, temporary loss of balance and orientation. More rarely, cutaneous irritating outbreaks have been observed and allergic contact permanent dermatitis.

Effects on:

Eye: Initial irritation typically resolves within 15 to 30 minutes following decontamination. Eye irritation may persist if the eyes are rubbed. Eye redness and accumulation of fluid in the tissues surrounding the eye (periorbital edema) may take 1 to 2 days to resolve.

In details:

• Threshold concentrations: Immediate burning pain, spasmodic blinking (blepharospasm), tear production (lacrimation), eye redness, runny nose (rhinorrhea), coughing, sneezing, and pain, but usually no long term tissue damage.
• Severe: Inflammation of the cornea (keratitis), inflammation of the conjunctiva (conjunctivitis), chemical burns, loss of the outer layer of the cornea (corneal epithelium), sensitivity to light (photophobia), and blurred vision. Partial eye opacity is possible and may be permanent.
• Droplets of liquid or particles in the eyes may be corrosive and produce burns like those of a strong acid.
• Projectile particles may injure any part of the eye causing perforation, which may lead to permanent partial vision loss.

Respiratory tracts: Respiratory adverse health effects, such as accumulation of fluid in the lungs (pulmonary edema), may occur immediately after exposure or can be delayed up to 12 to 24 hours.

In details:

• Mild to moderate: Runny nose (rhinorrhea), coughing, sneezing, chest tightness, vocal cord spasm causing difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, and a choking feeling, burning sensation and pain of the nose and mouth, noisy breathing such as wheezing, salivation, metallic taste, nausea, vomiting (emesis).
• Severe: Fluid build-up in the lungs (pulmonary edema) up to 12 to 24 hours after exposure, immediate or delayed narrowing of the large airways (bronchospasm), inflammation and consolidation of the airspaces in the lung (bronchopneumonia).
• Pain, fear, and panic may result in agitation, fainting (syncope), increased heart rate (tachycardia), and/or mildly elevated blood pressure (hypertension).

Skin: Adverse effects to the skin occurring within 24 hours of exposure can be severe and may include redness, blistering, and broken blisters, with variable amounts of skin loss.

• Mild to moderate: Irritation and pain. Moisture from humidity, sweat, or decontaminating water, may temporarily increase irritation and pain.
• Severe: Delayed redness (erythema), blistering (vesication), and denuded areas.

FIRST AID Treatment

• GENERAL INFORMATION: Initial treatment is primarily supportive. Most patient/victims require no medical attention and casualties are rare. In cases of inhalation, patient/victims with mild to moderate exposures generally improve rapidly following removal from the source of exposure and require no additional treatment. Patient/victims with more severe exposures require hospital admission for observation of lung injury or accumulation of fluid in the lungs (pulmonary edema) and skin injury.

• ANTIDOTE: There is no antidote for chloroacetophenone (CN) toxicity.

• EYE:
• Immediately remove the patient/victim from the source of exposure.
• Effects are normally self-limiting and do not require treatment.
• For large particles or droplets in the eye, immediately wash eyes with large amounts of tepid water for at least 15 minutes.
• Check eyes for the presence of particles of agent or pieces of tear gas canister. (Serious damage can occur if these are left in the eye.) Consider use of an eye cage to prevent direct pressure on the eye.
• If large particles or droplets of agents are found, treatment for corrosive materials may be required.
• Ophthalmic corticosteroid ointment may be applied after complete decontamination.
• Seek medical attention immediately.

• INGESTION:
• Immediately remove the patient/victim from the source of exposure.
• Ensure that the patient/victim has an unobstructed airway.
• Do not induce vomiting (emesis).
• Seek medical attention immediately.

• INHALATION:
• Immediately remove the patient/victim from the source of exposure.
• Evaluate respiratory function and pulse.
• Ensure that the patient/victim has an unobstructed airway.
• If shortness of breath occurs or breathing is difficult (dyspnea), administer oxygen.
• Assist ventilation as required. Always use a barrier or bag-valve-mask device.
• If breathing has ceased (apnea), provide artificial respiration.
• Monitor for vocal cords closing and preventing air from entering the lungs (laryngospasm), and treat it if it occurs.
• Monitor the patient/victim for signs of accumulation of fluid in the lungs (pulmonary edema), such as difficulty breathing or shortness of breath (dyspnea) and chest tightness.
• Seek medical attention immediately.

• SKIN:
• Immediately remove the patient/victim from the source of exposure.
• See the Decontamination section for patient/victim decontamination procedures.
• Early reddening (erythema) and a stinging sensation are transient and do not require treatment.
• Seek medical attention immediately.

More Info n Reference:

Ballistic

Chemical

Symptoms and First aid:

-The Doc. on Google Doc.

Once Called- Children of Uganda

Ugandan Child Soldiers: Voices of the Lost from Vicky Collins on Vimeo.
Former child soldiers from Joseph Kony's Lord's Resistance Army in Uganda tell their compelling stories of life in captivity. From Worldvision's Children of War Rehabilitation Center in Gulu, Uganda they speak of their abductions, being forced to fight, the brutality they witnessed and of lost innocence.
Producer: Vicky Collins
Photographer: Paul Hillman
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Brief History on the Northern Uganda Crisis:


Since 1986, conflict has raged between the rebel Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) and the government of Uganda, causing widespread insecurity and humanitarian crises in northern Uganda and the neighboring countries of South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and the Central African Republic.
At the height of the conflict, (2002-2005), more than 1.8 million people — or 80 percent of the northern Uganda population — were forced to flee their homes and live in squalid displacement camps. An estimated 1,000 individuals died each week in the camps each week. In recent years, northern Uganda has become a more secure region and some families are slowly returning home, but sustained peace continues to elude the people of northern Uganda and the surrounding region.
 >Click here for more info