Huff Post: One shouldn’t be too surprised over the endless pursuit of issues regarding Muslim women by our leaders. Considering how our society strongly stands for freedom of expression, justice and plurality, it’s ironic that the very thing which Muslim women use to express their identity and liberty – the hijab – is the exact reason they are highlighted so much more.
It’s almost as if they say, ‘these Muslim women aren’t conforming to our ways of freedom, liberty and sexuality, they must be stopped and brought under our idea of freedom!’ Of course, this xenophobic assault on Muslim women is done under the pretext of security and liberty.
Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, who I wish all politicians would emulate (I’ll have to hold my breath for that) expounded the folly of Western animosity against the Hijab saying, ‘It is a cruel joke to claim you are liberating people from oppression by dictating in law what they can and cannot wear.’ If only Cameron and the many other European countries opposing the Hijab would pay attention. It’s little surprise. If we’d go to war on the pretext of freedom, liberty and democracy, using that as an excuse for anything else is fair game.
Perhaps Muslim women should themselves be asked, whether they choose to wear the Hijab or someone else forces them to. I’ve not known many women who have their dress sense dictated to them and certainly shouldn’t be by the state far less than by their own family.
Categories: Religious Values, The Muslim Times, Women In islam, Women Rights
It is very unfortunate that women are oppressed in certain cultures; however, Islam does not encourage such oppression. Like you stated, women do choose to wear the hijab as it is a form of protection. I myself being a Muslim, wear a hijab because it makes me feel confident and protected from all worldly evils. I have never been forced by my parents or anyone to wear it; I wear it by choice. The government and society need to educate themselves about the hijab before they place ridiculous bans that restrict Muslims from freely practicing their religion. This is the only way that the Western culture will begin to accept the hijab and Islamic practices.