'Negative attitude towards the equality and status of women'

Firstly his concept of what constitutes a “Nazi” seems to be rather dubious but all too often is used to describe situations involving foreign nationals being refused anything.

The Swiss authority does however have a valid point when considering their decision. From available information it was reported that the couple seeking citizenship refused to participate in any interactive response when questioned by a female member of the immigration team. Courtesy handshakeswith a female were also refused.

The response from the couple indicates their negative attitude towards the equality and status of women. These perceived values could also indicate a concern for the couple’s ability to accept integration into Swiss society. Regardless of any excuses one may have for this draconian concept it should not be tolerated. Switzerland has the right to award or refuse citizenship as it chooses.

Jan Pederson

Sheffield, S12

Prices are set to rise

Along with gas and electric, food prices are set to rise.

Will the government help pensioners on basic pensions to combat them? Of course not, the “rich” pensioners on £127 will be expected to absorb them. Never mind, we can look forward to a £3 rise in April.

T Walker

Sheffield, S13

Farewell to Rev Carl

Thursday August 16, 2018 saw the laying to rest of the Rev Carl Chapman, assistant Priest at St Polycarps, Malin Bridge.

I first met Carl all those years ago in the halcon days of the Sixties when the sun always shone(!), in the days when stabbings, shootings and human flotsam on our streets was a rarity.

He was a youth club leader at Wadsley Parish Church and memories of happy days on a still recognisable Wadsley Common come crowding back.

Some men look like overgrown choirboys in a clerical surplice. Not Carl, he didn’t have to wear a uniform to indicate what he stood for, an inate love of humanity. That shows in his face as you can see. He liked a pint and it’s a pity we didn’t have that one we talked about having some time ago. Some folk get a ‘gong’ for their services to the community Carl deserved more than that and he got it through the respect admiration and dare I say it the love of his family and friends and the community. If there were more like him it would be less of a troubled world.

Ron Clayton

Malin Bridge, S6

Is this what you really want?

Did men and women of our country give their efforts and in many cases their lives during the past century, campaigning in apparent vain for the right to UK freedom of speech and women’s equality with men?

I ask this question following the current alleged political and racial misdemeanour of Boris Johnson when he referred to women wearing the burka as looking like “letter boxes” or “bank robbers.”

For expressing a personal opinion he has now been castigated by a large section of the Muslim community, the Equal Rights Commission, and members of Parliament of all parties.

In his favour, Boris has received the support of a leading imam and other political colleagues, and a polled majority of the British public is now agreeing with his right to freedom of speech in that he should not be punished for making his statement. 60 per centof people said that free speech is under threat.

As an elderly English patriot, I am at that stage of life where I am prepared to speak my mind about a subject, providing my comments are deemed fair and constructive – and damn the consequences of facing the possible wrath of any offended parties.

In this respect I would like to share my thoughts with your readers about the wearing of the Burka and the women and men who wear it.

It has been reported on many occasions that wearing of the garment has a religious connotation and that they have to wear it.

Imams and Muslim citizens have pointed out that there is no mention of this in their Holy Koran and other wearers have said that they wear the burka by preference.

In our modern society where everyone should be judged alike and live by the laws and traditions of our country, if I entered a bank, public building, court of law, wearing a mask or balaclava I would cause alarm to the people therein, I would be asked to remove it or more probably the alarm button would be pressed. Followers of Islam are currently allowed to wear the burka when visiting these establishments.

In some cases male wearers have avoided arrest for suspected terrorism offences by dressing as women.

We have come a long way since the days of the suffragettes and are the better for it.

To me it is a backward step, if instead of an integrated community where everyone should be treated the same, we now have unrest and a feeling of the minority being favourably treated by the government and establishment to the detriment of the vast majority.

Do female followers of Islam have any feelings of emancipation in their married lives? To be subservient to one’s husband, having to walk behind him, to be subject to his will and easy divorce, and having to spend their public lives, by choice or otherwise, clothed head to foot in a Burka – is this what you really want?

I feel sure that Star readers will be very interested in any response from Sheffield’s female Muslim community, expressing their personal views on the burka and their perceived “women’s liberation”.

Cyril Olsen

Busk Meadow, Sheffield, S5

In the real world

When is Jeremy Corbyn going to join the real world. I don’t think they have been aquainted yet.

Jayne Grayson

Sheffield, S35