this time around could be the perceived gender inequality issues between the western and eastern religions. Having said that, women have only received their rights in the western society very recently, and the inequalities were definitely supported by the Christian faith. In fact there are some Christian churches that do not allow women to become priests. They may not support chastising the wife anymore – did in the past, but they certainly don't rush with equal status either.

If it is a question of physical abuse on the woman only, where does this paranoia about the veils come into it then? And lets face it, these instances of Muslim men

There is an interesting case of the interpretation of religious tolerance playing itself out in Germany. A young woman, German Moroccan, had filed for divorce in the Frankfurt court last October. In her application she had requested a waiver of the one-year waiting period, which is required in German law, as she felt a quick divorce might stop her husband from beating her up and threatening to kill her.

In January this year, her attorney received a fax from the judge saying that she was not prepared to grant this immediate divorce on the grounds that the Koran allowed a husband to beat his wife. It's a supposed right, which is the subject of intense debate among Muslims themselves. The woman's attorney has taken this judgement to the media and the judge in question has since been excused from the case, citing a conflict of interest. It has been causing a small stir in the German parliament where the debate has been about human rights and religious considerations.

The question of religious tolerance is again raising its head in the UK. Schools will be able to ban pupils from wearing full-face veils in the UK. Of course the UK government is really sitting on the fence here. The final decision will rest with the school. The government knows this is a hot topic and won't really stick its neck out too much.

Religious freedom and tolerance in any country is quite a large issue. In effect, the real problems in the above instances stem from the fact that some immigrants, sometimes-illegal ones, have moved into European countries with strong religious leanings. Their religious and cultural beliefs, which confirm their identity to them, are quite different to the ones practiced in the host country. Add to that some global terrorist atrocities performed in the name of this religion, and the issues of integration into their new homelands can become more problematic.

Religious tolerance, however, has always had to be fought hard for. Whether a dissenter was burnt at the stake, or tortured during the inquisition, beheaded during the crusades or suffered any one of numerous ways of being punished, mankind has not taken to religious differences kindly. Eventually the religions based on Christianity have learnt to more or less tolerate one another. Placing religions next to each other, where the main prophet is not the same entity is proving to be the next challenge.

But even the question of different prophets might not be the underlying stumbling block to acceptance. Possibly, what could be a more important reason for the reluctance to tolerate each other this time around could be the perceived gender inequality issues between the western and eastern religions. Having said that, women have only received their rights in the western society very recently, and the inequalities were definitely supported by the Christian faith. In fact there are some Christian churches that do not allow women to become priests. They may not support chastising the wife anymore – did in the past, but they certainly don't rush with equal status either.

If it is a question of physical abuse on the woman only, where does this paranoia about the veils come into it then? And lets face it, these instances of Muslim men

f intense debate among Muslims themselves. The woman's attorney has taken this judgement to the media and the judge in question has since been excused from the case, citing a conflict of interest. It has been causing a small stir in the German parliament where the debate has been about human rights and religious considerations.

The question of religious tolerance is again raising its head in the UK. Schools will be able to ban pupils from wearing full-face veils in the UK. Of course the UK government is really sitting on the fence here. The final decision will rest with the school. The government knows this is a hot topic and won't really stick its neck out too much.

Religious freedom and tolerance in any country is quite a large issue. In effect, the real problems in the above instances stem from the fact that some immigrants, sometimes-illegal ones, have moved into European countries with strong religious leanings. Their religious and cultural beliefs, which confirm their identity to them, are quite different to the ones practiced in the host country. Add to that some global terrorist atrocities performed in the name of this religion, and the issues of integration into their new homelands can become more problematic.

Religious tolerance, however, has always had to be fought hard for. Whether a dissenter was burnt at the stake, or tortured during the inquisition, beheaded during the crusades or suffered any one of numerous ways of being punished, mankind has not taken to religious differences kindly. Eventually the religions based on Christianity have learnt to more or less tolerate one another. Placing religions next to each other, where the main prophet is not the same entity is proving to be the next challenge.

But even the question of different prophets might not be the underlying stumbling block to acceptance. Possibly, what could be a more important reason for the reluctance to tolerate each other this time around could be the perceived gender inequality issues between the western and eastern religions. Having said that, women have only received their rights in the western society very recently, and the inequalities were definitely supported by the Christian faith. In fact there are some Christian churches that do not allow women to become priests. They may not support chastising the wife anymore – did in the past, but they certainly don't rush with equal status either.

If it is a question of physical abuse on the woman only, where does this paranoia about the veils come into it then? And lets face it, these instances of Muslim men

stick its neck out too much.

Religious freedom and tolerance in any country is quite a large issue. In effect, the real problems in the above instances stem from the fact that some immigrants, sometimes-illegal ones, have moved into European countries with strong religious leanings. Their religious and cultural beliefs, which confirm their identity to them, are quite different to the ones practiced in the host country. Add to that some global terrorist atrocities performed in the name of this religion, and the issues of integration into their new homelands can become more problematic.

Religious tolerance, however, has always had to be fought hard for. Whether a dissenter was burnt at the stake, or tortured during the inquisition, beheaded during the crusades or suffered any one of numerous ways of being punished, mankind has not taken to religious differences kindly. Eventually the religions based on Christianity have learnt to more or less tolerate one another. Placing religions next to each other, where the main prophet is not the same entity is proving to be the next challenge.

But even the question of different prophets might not be the underlying stumbling block to acceptance. Possibly, what could be a more important reason for the reluctance to tolerate each other this time around could be the perceived gender inequality issues between the western and eastern religions. Having said that, women have only received their rights in the western society very recently, and the inequalities were definitely supported by the Christian faith. In fact there are some Christian churches that do not allow women to become priests. They may not support chastising the wife anymore – did in the past, but they certainly don't rush with equal status either.

If it is a question of physical abuse on the woman only, where does this paranoia about the veils come into it then? And lets face it, these instances of Muslim men

fought hard for. Whether a dissenter was burnt at the stake, or tortured during the inquisition, beheaded during the crusades or suffered any one of numerous ways of being punished, mankind has not taken to religious differences kindly. Eventually the religions based on Christianity have learnt to more or less tolerate one another. Placing religions next to each other, where the main prophet is not the same entity is proving to be the next challenge.

But even the question of different prophets might not be the underlying stumbling block to acceptance. Possibly, what could be a more important reason for the reluctance to tolerate each other this time around could be the perceived gender inequality issues between the western and eastern religions. Having said that, women have only received their rights in the western society very recently, and the inequalities were definitely supported by the Christian faith. In fact there are some Christian churches that do not allow women to become priests. They may not support chastising the wife anymore – did in the past, but they certainly don't rush with equal status either.

If it is a question of physical abuse on the woman only, where does this paranoia about the veils come into it then? And lets face it, these instances of Muslim men

this time around could be the perceived gender inequality issues between the western and eastern religions. Having said that, women have only received their rights in the western society very recently, and the inequalities were definitely supported by the Christian faith. In fact there are some Christian churches that do not allow women to become priests. They may not support chastising the wife anymore – did in the past, but they certainly don't rush with equal status either.

If it is a question of physical abuse on the woman only, where does this paranoia about the veils come into it then? And lets face it, these instances of Muslim men beating up their wives, are certainly mirrored in homes where other religions are practiced. France was an early adopter of the banning of veils at schools. So the UK is not alone in this issue. Is it purely a clash of cultures then? A fear of beliefs unknown? Not an easy question to answer.