http://edition.cnn.com/2014/05/29/world/asia/myanmar-interfaith-marriage-laws/index.html?hpt=ias_mid
Monks in Myanmar proposed a law that would ban interfaith marriages from happening. They say they want to do this to "protect race and religion and encourage peace", but others say it is a direct attack to get muslims out of the country, as they account for 5% of the country's population. Thin Thin Aung, a member of the Women's League of Burma, says that in addition to attacking Muslims, the law also attacks women's rights because it infringes on their freedom to marry whomever they chose. The law requires suitors to be the same religion as their fiancé and obtain written consent (or convert then do so), bans polygamy, and jails anyone who marries into a buddhist family who is not buddhist for 10 years. All in the name of peace.
The president's spokesperson says the bill is just a draft and isn't being enforced, just suggested and it is set to have it's own day in court later on this month.
I think this is stupid. If they want to really encourage peace, they should encourage interracial/ interfaith marriages.
I agree. Things like these are usually plainly prejudiced underneath, and the people creating these laws know it, but are using silly excuses that don't fool anyone. I'm surprised that monks came up with this, because they are supposed to be the epitomes of peace and yet they are being completely hypocritical.
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