How far do they go?

Posted in Pete's blog on ,

A few weeks ago one of my comrades reacted with amused disbelief when she heard that the SWP's Marxism had set aside a prayer room for devout Muslim attendees.
I read today that this was not true.
There were in fact 2 prayer rooms, one for men and one for women.
A few years ago when gender segregation was enforced at a Birmingham Stop the War meeting, there was somewhat of an outcry. At the time the SWP responded that they had no right to dictate policy on gender integration to Muslim organisations that wanted to oppose the war. A crap argument I know but allowing the SWP to sidestep the argument that they were practicising the segregation of women.
But the prayer rooms at Marxism were organised by whom?
It is clearly too much to expect of the SWP that they challenge the socially crippling demand of repeated prayer throughout the day.
Is it also too much that they challenge the practice that women be allowed to pray in the same room as men. It appears the answer to that is also 'yes'.
Got me wondering for SWPers, how far is it right to conciliate with a right wing religious agenda?
Gender segregation, OK as long as it is religious?
How about persecuting gays? Is that also OK if it is religious?

The AWL, Labour and the Left

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