When culture is condemned, humanity falters

HOW much longer must we endure societies that police identity instead of protecting it?

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Muslims are harassed for the garments they wear; Hindus are mocked for the sacred threads on their wrists or letting off fireworks during Diwali, and Africans are condemned for rituals that have carried meaning for centuries.

These are not crimes. They are expressions of faith, culture and belonging. True progress is not measured by world class sports stadia, skyscrapers or technology, but by whether people can walk freely in their faith and culture without fear of ridicule.

Last week a woman approached a table of Muslim women wearing the niqab, the veil that covers the face.

According to the person who video-recorded the incident at a Pretoria restaurant, the confrontation was unprovoked.