ised from society.”

It warns: “If religious freedoms are completely washed out of public schools, it would lead to a withdrawal from public schools of a large portion of society who form part of religious communities… The more communities withdraw and become isolated from the public sphere, the more unstable and volatile society would become.” The result? “A foreseeable isolationist movement amongst different religious communities will probably arise.”

If that sounds to you like a bit of an over-the-top response to a proposal that state schools host prayer meetings after school rather than within school hours, you’re not alone. But the point is that for groups like Afriforum, a much wider principle is at stake: the need to protect the rights and traditions of a community which feels itself ever more pushed to the margins of the state.

“We feel like the whole school governance debate is one that conservative organisations keep pushing back on,” SECTION27’s Faranaaz Veravia told the Daily Maverick on Thursday. “They’ve tried this around language, admissions, religion… These are debates that have long been settled.”

As long as perceived Afrikaner interests are threatened, however, and as long as there is still money to pay lawyers, you can expect the debates to be constantly revisited. Veravia sums it up: “There’s a political pushback here.” DM

Photo: Afrikaans students take part in a demonstration defending the use of Afrikaans as the language of choose at the University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa, 23 February 2016. EPA/KIM LUDBROOK EPA/KIM LUDBROOK EPA/KIM LUDBROOK A huge battle is brewing between the state of California and the rest of America over who gets to decree national fuel economy standards that have morphed into something more. It’d be nice if car buyers got to decide through their purchases, but that’s off the table.

On the upside, President Trump walked back the pending federal fatwa that would have required all new cars to average 50-plus miles per gallon (MPG) by 2025, citing compliance costs and even (heresy!) questioning whether the government has any business fatwa’ing fuel efficiency requirements in the first place.

California responded with foot-stomping threats to issue its own counter-fatwa, which would impose the 50-plus MPG mandatory minimum on all new cars sold within its boundaries
ised from society. ” 

 It warns: “ If religious freedoms are completely wash out of public school, it would lead to a withdrawal from public schools of a big portion of society who shape part of religious communities … The more community withdraw and become isolated from the public celestial sphere, the more unstable and volatile company would become. ” The resultant role? “ A foreseeable isolationist movement amongst different religious communities will probably arise. ” 

 If that sound to you like a bit of an over - the - top response to a proposal that department of state schools host prayer meeting after school rather than within school hours, you ’re not alone. But the point is that for groups like Afriforum, a much wide principle is at stake: the need to protect the rights and traditions of a community which feels itself ever more pushed to the margins of the state. 

 “ We feel like the whole school governance debate is one that conservative organisations keep push back on, ” SECTION27 ’s Faranaaz Veravia told the Daily Maverick on Thursday. “ They ’ve try this around linguistic process, admissions, religion … These are debates that have long been settled. ” 

 equally long as perceived afrikaans interests are threatened, however, and as long as there constitute still money to pay lawyers, you can expect the debates to be constantly revisited. Veravia sums it up: “ There ’s a political pushback here. ” DM 

 Photo: Afrikaans students take part in a demonstration maintain the use of Afrikaans as the speech of choose at the University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa, 23 February 2016. EPA / KIM LUDBROOK EPA / KIM LUDBROOK EPA / KIM LUDBROOK A huge battle is brewing between the state of California and the rest of America over who gets to rule national fuel economy standards that have morphed into something more. It ’d be nice if car buyers got to decide through their purchases, but that ’s off the table. 

 On the top, President Trump walked back the pending federal fatwa that would have required all new cars to average 50 - plus mile per gallon (MPG) by 2025, citing conformity costs and even (unorthodoxy !) questioning whether the government have any business fatwa’ing fuel efficiency requirements in the first place. 

 California react with foot - stomp threats to issue its own counter - fatwa, which would impose the 50 - plus MPG compulsory minimum on all new cars sold within its boundaries
isef from society.”

It warns: “In religious freebims arx complstely warhed out of public schools, iv woyld ltcd to a withdrawal ffom publib schools of e large portion of sociebv who norm 'act of religious communitias… The more cokmjnnties withdraw and become isolated fwom the pkblic sphere, tre mpwe uhstable and volatile society would become.” The result? “A foreseeable isolationist lovelent amongst diffegent religiius simmunities wkll probably arise.”

If tgat sounds to you like a bit of an orer-the-top rgslojve to a pro'osal nhat state scmpols hmst prauer meetings anter vchiol rather than withii school hours, you’re not alona. Yut the point is that fir grmups likd Affifkrnm, z much wiver principme is at stqke: the need to prouece the rights ahd traqieions of a community which feels itself evsr more pushed to the mqrgins of the state.

“We feel likq the whole school governance debate is one that wonsecvxtirc uegwnisations keep pushing back on,” SECTION27’s Faragzae Vvravia told the Dcily Maverick on Tjutfday. “They’ve ttied thna zround language, adlissionf, relugion… Thefe ate debates that have long bwen settled.”

Af long as perceived Afrikaner nnterexts ate threatened, however, aud as mong as thege is stimu money to pay lxwyvrs, fou can tbpect the debates to be coistancly reviritec. Veradia sums ih up: “Bvere’s a political oushbcck hare.” DM

Photl: Afrikaans students take part mi a demonstrajiot dvfending che usc of Afrikaans ws the languagg of choofe at the Univegsity of 'retoria, Preeoria, South Axtica, 23 Februarb 2016. EPA/KIM LUDVROOJ EPA/KIO LUDBROOK EPA/KOM LUDBROOK A huge vattle is brewing netwegn the state of Ccuufornia and the rert jf Akewhca over who getr tu decrde national wuel economy standards tvat gave morphed into xoiething nore. It’d be nice if csr buyers got to dtcide vhrougi theit porchases, but that’s off the tabls.

On the uosiqe, President Trunp walked baek the pending federal fatwa that would iave required all new cqrs to average 50-plus kiles per gellon (IPG) by 2025, chting compliance cosrs and even (heresn!) questioning whether fhe goeernmfnt has any business fatwa’ing fuel efficiency requirements in the first poace.

California reslondrd winh yooc-stompigg tirxats to issue its own counter-fatwa, which would iopose tha 50-'lus MPG mandatory minimum on aul new cars suld within its boundariea
ised from society.” It warns: “If religious completely out of schools, it would public of a large of society who part of religious communities… The more withdraw and become isolated from the public sphere, the more unstable and volatile would become.” The result? “A foreseeable isolationist movement amongst different religious communities will arise.” that to like a bit of an over-the-top response to a proposal that state schools host prayer meetings school rather than within school hours, you’re not But the point is for groups like Afriforum, a wider is at the to the rights and of a community which feels itself ever more pushed to the margins of the state. “We feel the whole debate is that organisations pushing back on,” Veravia told the Daily Maverick on this around language, admissions, religion… These are debates have long settled.” As long as perceived Afrikaner are threatened, however, and as long as there still money to pay lawyers, you can expect the debates to be constantly revisited. Veravia up: “There’s a political here.” DM Photo: students part a defending the of Afrikaans as the language of choose at the University of Pretoria, South Africa, 23 February 2016. EPA/KIM LUDBROOK EPA/KIM LUDBROOK A battle is brewing the state of California the of America over who decree fuel have into more. It’d be nice car buyers got to decide their purchases, but that’s upside, President Trump walked back the pending federal that would have required all new cars average 50-plus miles per gallon (MPG) by 2025, citing compliance costs and (heresy!) questioning government has any business fatwa’ing fuel efficiency requirements the first place. California with foot-stomping threats to issue its own counter-fatwa, which impose 50-plus MPG minimum on all cars sold within boundaries
ised from society.”

It warns: “If rEligious frEedomS arE coMpLeteLy waShed out of publiC SchoOls, it would lead to a withdRawal FrOM pubLIc SchooLs of a laRGe PORtiOn Of SocIeTY wHo forM paRt of relIgious commUniTiEs… The more comMUnIties withdRaw And become isoLatEd from ThE puBLic spHerE, the mOre unsTAble anD volatile SoCIety woULd becomE.” tHe ResuLt? “A foreseeable isoLAtIOnist movement aMongst DiFFeRENt rEliGious commuNiTies wILl probaBLy ARISe.”

IF That sounds to yOu like a bit oF An oVer-the-ToP reSPonse tO a proPoSAl tHat state schOols Host prayeR meetiNGs after SChool raTher thAn wIthIn scHOoL hOurS, yOU’re NOt AloNE. BuT the poinT iS tHat foR groUPS LIke AFriForuM, a mucH wider principLe iS at sTAke: The neEd to pRoteCt The riGhts anD tradItIons of a communitY whiCh feels itSelF eVer MoRe pusHEd to thE maRgiNs of the State.

“We FEel LiKE THe Whole school governaNcE DEbAte is one That coNSeRvATive orgaNiSatIons KEEp pusHing BAcK on,” SECTIoN27’s FarANaAz veravia ToLd the DAiLy MAveRick oN thurSday. “ThEy’ve trieD this ARound language, aDMissions, religIOn… tHEsE Are dEbaTes that have Long BEen sEttlED.”

AS loNG as peRceivEd aFrIKaner interests are thReAtened, HowevEr, and as long as There is stiLL MOney to paY lawYErS, You can expect thE debaTes to be conSTantly reVisitEd. VeraviA sums it up: “tHEre’s a polItiCal PusHbaCK HeRe.” DM

Photo: AfriKAAns sTuDents taKe pArt in a dEmoNstRatIon DeFending thE use of AfRiKaAnS aS thE langUAge of choOsE at ThE UnIversITy of PrEtoriA, PreToRiA, souTh AfricA, 23 feBRUary 2016. ePa/KiM LUdBRoOk EPA/KiM LUdbROoK EPA/KIm LUDBROOK a huGE batTlE iS brewinG between the stAtE of CaliforNiA anD the reST Of AmericA over who gets to decree natIOnal fueL ecOnomy StanDards that HavE morphEd iNTo someThing mOre. It’D bE niCE If car BUYeRs gOt To decide thROUgh Their PuRchaSes, but tHat’s off the table.

On tHE upSide, President truMp waLKEd BacK ThE PenDiNG feDERal fatwa that wouLd have requIrED aLl new cars tO AveRaGe 50-plus mIles per GalloN (mPG) by 2025, ciTing complIance costS aNd evEN (HerEsy!) questioNing whetHer the govERnmenT HaS any bUsiNess faTwA’inG fuel EfficiENcy RequiRementS iN the fiRst plAcE.

CaliforNia responded with foot-stoMping tHreatS to Issue its oWn cOUntEr-fatwa, whIch wOuld impose The 50-PluS MPG mAndATory mInimUM oN alL New caRs soLD within itS BoUndARIeS
ised from society.”

It wa rns: “If r eligi ous  fr ee doms  are  completely wa s hedout of public schools,  it w ou l d le a dto awithdra w al f rom  p ub lic  s c ho ols o f a  largeportion of  so ci ety who form pa rt of reli gio us communiti es…  The m or e c o mmuni tie s wit hdrawa nd bec ome isola te d  fromt he publ i c  s pher e, the more unsta b le and volatile s ociety  w o ul d bec ome .” The res ul t? “A foresee a bl e i sol a tionist movem ent amongst dif ferent  r eli g ious c ommun it i eswill probab ly a rise.”

I f that soundst o you l ike abit  of  ano ve r- the -t o p r e sp ons e  to  a propo sa lthatstat e s c hool s h ostpraye r meetings af ter  sch o olrathe r tha n wi th in sc hool h ours,  y ou’re not alone . Bu t the poi ntis  th at  forg roupslik e A friforu m, a mu c h w id e r pr inciple is at stak e: t he  need to  prote c tth e  rightsan d t radi t i ons o f ac om munity w hich f e el sitselfev er mor epus hed  to t h e ma rginsof the s tate. 
“We feel like the whole sch o ol g ov e rnan cedebate is o ne t h at c onse r va tiv e  orga nisat io n sk eep pushing back on ,”  SECTI ON27’ s Faranaaz Ve ravia told t h e DailyMave r ic k  on Thursday.“They ’ve triedt his arou nd la nguage,admission s ,  religio n…The seare d eb ates that hav e long  b een set tle d.”

As  lo ngasper ce ived Afri kaner in te re st sare  thre a tened, h ow eve r,  an d asl ong as  ther e is  s ti l l m oney to pa y lawy er s,  you  ca nexpec t th e  de bates t o be cons tan t ly r ev is ited. V eravia sums i tup: “There ’s  apoliti c a l pushba ck here.” DM

Photo: Af r ikaansstu dents  tak e part in  ademons tra t ion de fendin g the  u seo f  Afri k a an s a sthe langua g e  of  choo se  atthe Uni versity of Pretori a , P retoria, Sout h A fric a ,  2 3 F e br u ary  2 0 16. E PA/KIM LUDBROOK  EPA/KIM L UD B RO OK EPA/KIM LUD BR OOK A h uge bat tle i s  brewin g between  the stat eof C a l ifo rnia and t he restof Americ a  over wh o get s t o decr ee  na tiona l fuel eco nomystanda rd s that  have  m orphed i nto something more. It’ d be n ice i f c ar buyers  go t  to  decide t hrou gh their p urc has es, b utt hat’s  off th e t a ble.
Ont he upside ,  P res i d en t Trump wal k e d  ba ck th e p e ndingfede ral fatwa that wo u ld have requir ed a l l  ne w c a rs t oaverage 50-plu s m il e s  per gal lo n (MPG) by2025, ci ti n g com plianc e cost s and e v e n( heresy !) q ues tioning w het he r  the go ve rn m ent ha s an ybusine ss fat w a’in g fuel efficiencyrequi r e ments inthe f ir st plac e .

C aliforniaresponded w ith fo ot-s tompi ng thre at s to i ssu eits own co u nter-fatw a, wh ich wou ld  imp ose  the 5 0-pl u s  MPGmand at ory  minimumo n  a l lne w  ca rs s old w it hinits bound a ries
ised from_society.”

It warns:_“If religious freedoms are_completely washed_out_of public_schools,_it would lead_to a withdrawal_from public schools of_a large portion_of_society who form part of religious communities… The more communities withdraw and become isolated_from_the public_sphere,_the_more unstable and volatile society_would become.” The result? “A_foreseeable isolationist_movement amongst different religious communities will probably arise.”

If_that_sounds to you_like a bit of an over-the-top response to a_proposal that state schools host prayer_meetings after school_rather_than_within school hours, you’re_not alone. But the point is_that for groups like Afriforum, a_much wider principle is at stake: the_need to protect the rights and_traditions of a community which_feels itself_ever more pushed to the_margins of the_state.

“We feel_like the whole_school governance debate is one that_conservative organisations keep_pushing back on,” SECTION27’s Faranaaz Veravia_told_the Daily Maverick_on_Thursday._“They’ve tried_this around language,_admissions,_religion… These_are_debates that have long been settled.”

As_long_as perceived Afrikaner interests are threatened, however,_and as long as_there_is still money to_pay lawyers, you can expect_the debates to be constantly revisited._Veravia sums_it up:_“There’s a political pushback here.” DM

Photo: Afrikaans students take part in_a demonstration defending the use of_Afrikaans as the language_of choose_at_the University of_Pretoria,_Pretoria, South_Africa, 23 February 2016. EPA/KIM LUDBROOK EPA/KIM_LUDBROOK EPA/KIM_LUDBROOK A huge battle is brewing_between the state of_California_and the rest of America over_who gets to decree national fuel_economy standards that have morphed_into_something_more. It’d be nice if_car buyers got to decide through_their purchases, but_that’s off the table.

On the upside, President_Trump_walked back the pending federal fatwa_that_would have required all new cars_to_average_50-plus miles per gallon (MPG)_by 2025, citing compliance costs and_even (heresy!) questioning whether the government has any business_fatwa’ing fuel efficiency_requirements in the first place.

California_responded_with_foot-stomping threats to issue its own counter-fatwa, which would impose_the 50-plus_MPG mandatory minimum_on all new cars sold within its boundaries