Demonstrators take part in a protest against Quebec’s proposed Values Charter in Montreal on Saturday Sept. 14, 2013.
The Montreal Gazette: by Ryan Remiorz
Whether someone is forcing you to wear hijab or forcing you to take it off, they are essentially doing the same thing. They are taking away your freedom!
I find it amusing how critics of hijab are always saying that it is a symbol of oppression and misogyny. I also find it amusing how those same critics want to “save” or “free” me from said oppression and misogyny, by defining what MY freedom should be.
I am told to take off my hijab if I want a job, an education. Essentially, if I want to be a contributing member of society, I must take off my hijab; if not, I must live a life of isolation, not contributing to society, not adding to it, forever living like a shadow in the confines of my own home.
Is that not oppression?
“We are freeing you,” they say “We are saving you!” they say, “Take off your hijab,” they say, “and we will give you all the freedoms you desire.”
Categories: Americas, Canada, Hijab, Muslim Women's Right, Rights of Women
Both Islam and Christianity (and Judaism too) have modest dress code and head covering for women.Its just that only few Christians women (nuns) these days follow their religious guidelines where as a large majority of Muslim women follow their religious guidelines.
Islam does not prescribe any punishment for not covering head or observing Purdah. It is a choice and personal understanding of faith.
It seems ridiculous for governments to suggest what one should and shouldn’t wear.
The Minister Jeremy Browne calls for a national debate on the niqab, yet we have been debating this for over ten years now — if not more. And every time we discuss the niqab, it usually comes with a diet of bigoted commentary about our faith and the place of Islam in Britain. There are few people who wear the niqab, and they should be allowed to wear this veil if they freely decide to do so. All Islamic junctions make provision for necessity and exceptional circumstances. Nevertheless, this is a personal choice. In Britain, we cherish our right to freedom of religion. I would like to remind those who call for a ban to heed the warning of minister Damian Green who said that introducing such a ban would be ‘un-British’. To do so would involve embarking on a slippery slope where the freedom to wear religious attire of all faiths would be at risk.”
Comparing the experience of other countries, Talat Ahmed added: “In Canada, the state of Quebec is attempting to follow France by introducing the ban as well. But the higher virtues of freedom are being demonstrated in Anglophone Canada where a hospital has bravely taken out a recruitment ad featuring a smiling hijabi young woman captioned: ‘“We don’t care what’s on your head, we care what’s in it.’”
On the question of whether the niqab is an Islamic requirement, Talat Ahmed said: “We recognise that there are different theological approaches to the niqab. Some consider this to be an essential part of their faith, while others do not. Even amongst those who do consider the niqab to be an ultimate expression of their faith, there are some who emphasise the need to be practical when there is an essential need to show ones face — for example, for reasons of security. Even amongst members of the Muslim Council of Britain, there are different views on the niqab, and how Muslim women who wear such attire, can make a positive contribution to society. Islamic practices allow for certain exceptions, and in the spirit of being reasonable. That debate will continue, but it must be done and led by Muslim women, who freely decide to wear, or not wear the niqab or hijab.”
The Daily Mail, Independent, the Daily Telegraph, the Sun and Guardian all featured opinion pieces questioning the logic behind the decision with some writers expressing outright Islamophobic and racist views. Birmingham Metropolitan College’s decision last week to reverse its ban on the veil was met with outcry and condemnation in many of this weekend’s newspapers with some politicians and columnists taking umbrage at the policy reversal. I have interviewed about 10 niqabis for a research project this year and all of them chose to veil, they are not forced into it. Some veil against the wish of their family. They engage meaningfully in communities, doing charity, teaching, volunteering. They go out of their way to interact with people. They are ok taking off the niqab in security situations e.g. airport. They are not Saudi-funded fundamentalists. They treat the UK as home. I do not see why they are to be forced to take off their veils, and it would be nicer on the eye to see more niqabs instead of horrible folds and rolls of flesh on Friday and Saturday nights in my city. Just an opinion. I hope the UK sobers up about this and finds other things to worry about.
IA
http://www.londonschoolofislamics.org.uk