One might expect the worst with a title like that, but the current holder of that office, thanks to a recently—elected conservative governemnt in Sweden, is quite a surprise. The Times of London describes her as,

not only black, beautiful and Muslim; she is also firmly against the wearing of the veil.

Nyamko Sabuni, 37, has caused a storm as Sweden's new integration and equality minister by arguing that all girls should be checked for evidence of female circumcision; arranged marriages should be criminalised; religious schools should receive no state funding; and immigrants should learn Swedish and find a job.

I find it particularly interesting that the veil has become an object of contention in Sweden, France, the UK, and possibly elsewhere. The veil is not a theological requirement, but rather a custom of some Islamic countries, and it has been associated with the rise of extremist Islamism. It most definitely prevents women wearing them from fully integrating into local cultures. Quite frankly, I am offended by veiled women as symbols of oppression as Saudis claim to be by miniskirted females.

Thomas Lifson  10 24 06