Syrian rebel fatwa bans croissants as a symbol of Western colonial oppression
A sharia committee in the rebel-held region of the Syrian city of Aleppo has banned croissants as symbols of “colonial” oppression. Syria is a former French colony, so some there apparently associate this culinary symbol of Frenchness with France and with imperialism more generally. They specifically targeted croissants, al-Arabiya reports, because the pastry’s “crescent shape celebrates European victory over Muslims.”
Go ahead, laugh — a fatwa against croissants might seem ridiculous, particularly in a time and place where bread shortages can be common. But there’s a serious side to the edict. Rebel-held regions of Aleppo are increasingly dominated by extremist elements, further marginalizing more moderate rebel groups and putting some Syrians at the groups’ mercy. In some areas, hardline Islamist groups have moved off the battlefield and begun setting up administrative councils and other governing and charitable bodies.
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In recent weeks, sharia committees in the area have also banned make-up and tight clothes for women and threatened a year in jail for anyone who fails to fast during Ramadan.
The much-repeated legend that seems to be behind the anti-croissant fatwa — that a baker in Budapest invented the treat after the city repelled an Ottoman invasion — has been debunked by food historians several times over. Most agree the bread migrated to France by way of Austria in the early 1800s. And while France did rule Syria for a period before World War II, Austria obviously never did. Then again, Syrian extremists aren’t exactly known for their nuance.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2013/07/31/syrian-rebel-fatwa-bans-croissants-as-a-symbol-of-western-colonial-oppression/