“Liberalism, above all, means emancipation - emancipation from one’s fears, his inadequacies, from prejudice, from discrimination”
–Hubert H. Humphrey – 1911-1978.
Liberalists argue not for entrenchment of western values, neither do they believe that people should be condemned on ethnic and religious practices. They propagate values like tolerance and acceptance and encourage man to see an unprejudiced picture of all those around them. Liberalism permits us to worship our God, hold firmly to our values and to lead a life under our own terms. No values are superior or inferior, they are all equal. Liberalism is the brain child of the Westerners who believe in the very idea of ‘live and let live’ so it comes as a shocking revelation for us when they deviate from this principle. France, a so called western liberal state, has over the years made many attacks at the liberty of ethnic communities. Only recently in Paris, a restaurant refused to serve Muslim women, labelling all Muslims as terrorist. The French government has never discouraged its locals from exhibiting such behaviour towards minority communities. Its burkini ban has only exacerbated the situation making it nearly impossible for Muslims to live in peace. Muslim women are becoming the most disadvantaged group in the world. Before the west preaches liberalism any further, they should assess their own actions in light of its core values.