RECENTLY, distasteful comments about Islamic women were uttered by Working People’s Alliance (WPA) executive member Rhonda Layne. No one should rush to summarily dismiss them, but should, rather, assess the far-reaching implications these women can have for those who make up this section of the Guyanese society.
The mixing of religion and politics has always been a highly controversial issue. Many who have held high office have stayed on the side of caution, and maintained that there is a need for the two issues to be separate.

According to Millard Fillmore, who served as the 13th President of the United States from 1850–1853, “Church and State should be separate, not only in form, but fact; religion and politics should not be mingled.” In other words, he is saying that religion should be kept out of politics. The recent happenings in Guyana have confirmed that there is some wisdom in what Fillmore has said.

People see religion as their peace; their safe space. They follow the principles as part of their efforts to elevate their spirituality, and to live life on earth the way God wants or expects them to.

The WPA is treading in dangerous waters; they have been doing so for some time now, and it has, seemingly, gotten worse.
People’s religion and their religious values are not fair game, especially in the political realm. In fact, these are off-limits, and should never be degraded in political commentary.
Politicians are the glue that holds society together. As such, they have a responsibility to their supporters to engage in responsible behaviour through their actions and words. Anything outside of that will cause conflict and division.

During her remarks at the Cuffy 250 Committee Forum, Layne disparaged Islamic women, implying that their religion oppresses them.
“In a Muslim’s life, a woman is only there to be a home-maker, a child bearer, and everything that is against the women,” she said.

She speaks as an outsider, and is clearly unaware of the principles that the believers of Islam follow. On this basis, she has no authority to give such views; she has clearly crossed the line, and should be compelled to apologise first and foremost to our Muslim brothers and sisters, and then to all Guyanese.

This dangerous and misinformed narrative about Muslim women and their religion should not be ignored or buried. If not addressed now, it is likely to happen again, and when it does, it will cause greater harm.

Guyana is a multi-religious society, where every religion and their followers ought to be respected.

While our laws give one the right to freely express themselves, it must not be abused. We must never use this right to belittle, intimidate or ridicule anyone; it is not right.
The WPA’s members continue to dig a deeper hole for themselves. All right-thinking Guyanese should condemn the Party’s continuous attempts to dismantle the efforts of the Dr. Irfaan Ali government to heal and bring this nation together.