Mehwish Khan
To Veil Or Not To Veil
Although I don’t currently observe the hijab in my daily life does not mean I am any less Muslim. I believe that the ban on the hijab is just a way for countries to act on their fears and discriminated against a marginalized group. By banning the hijab the European Union is taking the freedom of expression from Muslim women creating “gendered Islamophobia”. When you think about it the hijab is one dressing modestly and wrapping scarf wrapped around their head. Infact, many religions such as Judaism and Christianity practice modesty and covering their head so what makes Islam so different. I believe this is injustice because being an American no one tells me what and what not to wear. These women in France,
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On the other hand, in classical jurisprudential interpretations often preferred by Muslim conservatives, the hijab is equated with women’s seclusion and confinement” (Hamdan). There is a misconception that the reason the hijab is worn to limit male temptation, but the reality is both men and women have a hijab or veil. Both genders are expected to be modest in front of strangers to avoid the gaze of someone unjust. Men are encouraged to be covered from the navel to the knee, the stomach, chest, and back is highly recommended. Women are also encouraged to be covered from shoulders to the toes, but exceptions are made to mahram men which are men a women is forbidden to marry or are already married to. This includes your father, uncle, son, father in law, grandfather, and husband. Nevertheless, Islam and the importance of the veil has many interpretations like in all other religions. As a matter of fact, literature suggest that the idea of the hijab was oppressive didn’t show up until the 19th century when the British colonials judged the practice as oppressing women. The hijab once used to be worn as a symbol of high …show more content…
It soon became a “ostentatious religious symbol” and a political symbol to the French claiming that Muslims women refused to assimilate (Hamdan). “When times get tough or leaders think they should be, governments tell their people what to wear, or more often, what not to wear” (Jolley) thus the ban on the hijab began to plague France. “Banning any type of freedom usually happens in times of national angst, economic downturn, or crisis”
The author of this essay thinks it is ridiculous that women cannot wear their hijab in certain places around the world. Many people think the hijab is not necessary. However, it is part of what Muslim women believe. She explains in her essay, "So next time you hear about a hijab ban think about your best pair of jeans or your faded t-shirt with the logo of your favorite band" (Fakhraie 461). A hijab is just like every other piece of clothing that covers up the body. It can be part of their religion, or they can wear a hijab just because they like how it
For some women wearing a veil is not something that is forced on them but rather a choice of their own. Martha Nussbaum and Maysan Haydar are both authors that try to explain their reasoning that veiling isn't an oppressive tool used against women. Martha Nussbaum's article “Veiled Threats”, is a political and philosophical take on why banning the burqa is a violation of human rights. On the other hand Maysan Haydar’s article “Don’t Judge a Muslim Girl by Her Covering”, is a more humorous and personal take on why veiling shouldn't be as judged or stereotyped. Though Nussbaum and Haydar have equal goals this essay is being used to understand the main argument, claims and whether or not each article has any weaknesses.
Women have always been thought of as something that needed to be controlled in Muslim culture. Their bodies are a source of shame that must be covered during prayer and also in the public (Mir-Hosseini 2007: 3). Veiling, done by a hijab or chador, is when women either wear a headscarf to cover themselves or they wear a veil that covers their entire body, excluding her hands and eyes (Mir-Hosseini 2007: 1; Mir-Hosseini 2003: 41; Berger 1998: 93; Smith-Hefner 2007: 390-391; Brenner 1996: 674; El Guindi 1999: 6). Veiling is used as a tool for oppression. By having women veil themselves, it enforces the control by the male run and male dominated society (Mir-Hosseini 2007: 7). Also, the punishment for women appearing without a veil transitioned as the concept of veiling was addressed, transitioning from seventy-four lashes, to being arrested and held between ten days and two months for being “immodest” women and offending public morality, or fined 50,000 to 500,000 rials (Mir-Hosseini 2007: 8). The oppression of veiling is perpetuated through the thought that it is a woman’s religious duty to wear one, condemning foreigners and women in society if they refuse. Although it is a tool for oppression, there was resistance the oppression. In ...
The author talks about how this was not something that happen overnight, but has been discussed about from a very long time such a 1989. The views of people that the author chooses to look at are Ernest Cheniere, who raised the statement of banning headscarves in public schools in 1994 and Francois Bayrou minister of education in 1994 who saw muslim headscarves as a way of proselytizing. Then Joan Scotts talks about why the timing played into affect, how racism such as colonial legacies were effected, secularism, individualism of the veil, Muslims being looked as threats, how uncivilized Muslim people were, and sexuality. Joan Scotts goes into detail in all the sub topics and shows how does this affect a common Muslim girl that wears a hijab and how does the French government view
The veil illustrates a women’s love for god, their modesty, and to show Muslim identity. The veil itself is not bad and even today is looked as a women’s choice to wear such clothing. The symbolism behind the hijab is very powerful and beautiful to show love for god and self-identity. The hijab gives women power and choice; Although, many women adopted the hijab since they will be treated better in their society. In the article “Reinventing the Veil” by Leila Ahmed, she wrote, “Changing dress sometimes empowered them in relation to their parents… expanded job and marriage possibilities… and ability to move freely in public space.” The idea that women must wear the hijab to be equal to men to demining to women. Some parts of the Islam society look as women differently depending on whether they wear the hijab, but the hijab should only be the woman’s choice and not something women have to wear to be able to walk freely and acquire jobs that men have. The western world looks at this and instantly looks down on the Islam world even when the whole society doesn’t look down on women for their choice on wearing the
... middle of paper ... ... The Qur’an does not say that a woman should be encased in a heavy garment from head to toe, but that both men and women alike should dress modestly. The burqa ban is a violation of religious freedom, limiting the expression of Muslims in France.
In France’s “burqa ban” alone, even before the ban, women who wear the veil is extremely rare. In a Muslim population of 1.7 million, roughly 2000 women wear the veil, most of which are converts who voluntarily adopted the use of the veil (Taylor). The French government argued that the veil bans are necessary to ensure the concept of “living together”(Janmohamed). This justification alone is focused to those who are persecuting marginalization, instead of those who are suffering its effects. Why? French borders are suffering from terror attacks during the past decade and this may just be a knee-jerk reaction from the previous attacks, but such actions shouldn’t be justifiable because there are many alternative to go about this problem. It is not so far-fetched that people are now becoming anxious of terror attacks, but we must remember that the muslim community are victims too. It’s like an insult to injury because instead of curing the effects of the prejudicial Islamophobia, we are making it look like it is not okay for women to have the choice the full veil for reasons linked to their beliefs which is protected by the law (European). Taking that right away from them will only light a fire to a whole new range of ways that law will be used against a minority. Think about it, if we started banning the use of veils, what’s next? Are we also gonna ban the use of scarves and hoodies? Both have similar purposes and can be used to veil an individual, but since it’s widely accepted, it will cause more public concern, doesn’t
While people in the west think that women in Islam are oppressed, they do not know that Islam liberated women from oppression. There are many people who have opinions about the religion of Islam, but mostly about the women who follow it. Westerners have this idea that women in Islam are disrespected, mistreated and oppressed. In actuality, these allegations are incorrect. Women in Islam have rights and are not oppressed. The veil is widely misunderstood and many do not know what it represents. In many ways, men and women are equal as much as they are not; and this is in every religion.
There are many different views towards Muslim choice of clothing especially wearing the veil. “I wear it believing it is necessary, but someone else can be wearing it believing that she is doing something extra” said Hamna Ahmed. One of the many reasons a Muslim can be wearing the veil are their own personal decisions too. Hamna has been wearing it for seven years now, despite her mother and three of her four sisters staying uncovered. Socially this causes an issue with the meaning of the veil and conflict with other groups. With many different consumptions of religion, what it means, what is considered to be practicing and what is not can lead to negative misunderstandings. Ultimately the decisions are up to the individuals although; there is likely to be misinterpretation between the meaningfulness of religion to family and society. On an even bigger scale of things this could also impact society and it...
Most of these things it is possible to see through the analysis of the situation that exists in practice and analysis of several court cases. In France, for years women with Hijab encounter problems, both in education and in ...
Hijab is a choice that some women or girls make for their own security, for more privacy, or because it makes them feel comfortable and confident about themselves. It should be a choice though, and as it is not proven to us that it is obligatory, countries such as Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Pakistan should remove their laws that insist every girl puts the veil on. Freedom of choice should be given in these countries. It is not required in Islam so it shouldn’t be forced on anyone anywhere. In addition to this, Islam’s beauty is it’s freedom, the choice it provides you with, let it not be ruined.
“Women’s rights in Islam” is great controversial topic going on nowadays. The world is colored with different cultures and religions. Most people come up with different thoughts for other religion’s people by just having one look on them. Veil is obsession for some people, whereas, being bald is freedom in some people’s point of view. There are lots of misconceptions about women’s rights in Islam among non muslims. If women are covering their body or if they like to stay at home, people think that they don’t have any freedom in this religion and women are obsessed. But this is not reality. A person cannot point out anything wrong and blame other’s religion just because of his own confusion. He needs to study thoroughly and then come up with opposing viewpoints. Therefore, the misconception about women’s rights in Islam should be removed because women have equal rights, veil is for their protection, and they have freedom of speech and expression.
Wearing the burqa and veil by Muslim women in France has become a controversial topic. The burqa and veil are recognized in France as a conflicti...
In the Islamic faith, Muslim women are required to dress modestly by God. In the Qur’an, God speaks directly to all Muslim women and says “...guard their private parts and not expose their adornment except that which [necessarily] appears thereof and to wrap [a portion of] their headcovers over their chests and not expose their adornment (The Qur’an 24:31)”. Muslim women have to wear a hijab, or a head covering, when they are in public places and when they are around men who are not close relatives. In fact, countries like Saudi Arabia and Qatar have a mandatory dress code enforced. Muslim women in these countries have to wear a hijab and an abaya, or a full-length, loose fitting garment on top of their clothes. Although God requires Muslim women to dress modestly and Saudi Arabia and Qatar have a dress code, it is entirely their choice on what they would like to wear.
The hijab is a very important and powerful Muslim symbol that is worn by billions of Muslim women all over the world. Many wear the hijab as a symbol of faith, while others wear it to protect themselves from society’s expectations of women. Some people think that banning the use of the hijab in public is a violation of freedom of religion and freedom of expression. However, others think the banning of the hijab is a necessary precaution. The wearing of the Muslim hijab should be banned in public because it is impractical, Muslims use it to separate themselves from society, and it is a security risk.