Sad to see the lengths secularised Muslims (if that's not a contradiction in terms) will go to ape after secular society and its values.
Sixteen reasons why I object to this dangerous cover-up
A dress code for Muslim women when in public institutions would free up our faith from the grip of fanatics and reintegrate us into our country
Years ago, I warned that the simple headscarf (hijab) was but the first step to full fabric incarceration. I was mocked and disparaged then by Muslim adherents, as well as many on the left. To them, such challenges to cultural practices validate bigotry and threaten liberties. Their laudable concern makes criticism impossibly difficult. Now they are everywhere, ravens, in burka (long cloaks) and niqab (face veils), their little girls scarved and in cumbersome long coats (in training, I am told) for that big day when they too can go into prisons of black polyester. They will be smiling, one mother of four daughters said to me. Or they may be crying, I said, and nobody will see either.
Here is a list of my main objections
1. While modesty is required of Muslim men and women and men are asked to "lower their gazes", there is no injunction to hide the hair, and the verses on coverings have different interpretations. The Prophet's wives were veiled to stop harassers and supplicants. Saudis use big money to push their fanatically anti-woman Islam in this country. Each niqab is one more win in that assault on hearts and minds.
2. Iranian, Afghan, Saudi and other Muslim women are beaten and tortured for the smallest sartorial transgression. European Muslims donning the niqab are giving succour to the oppressors in those countries.
3. They say it stops molestation and is a mark of respect. Oh yeah? So tell me why there are appalling levels of rape and violence in Muslim lands. And by implication do we, European women who don't cover, therefore deserve molestation?
4. It is a form of female apartheid, of selected segregation tacitly saying non-veiled women are pollutants. There is such a thing as society and we connect with our faces. A veiled female withholds herself from that contact and reads our faces, thus gaining power over the rest of us.
5. "Choice" cannot be the only consideration. And anyway, there is no evidence that all the women are making rational, independent decisions. As with forced marriages, they can't refuse. Some are blackmailed and others obey because they are too scared to say what they really want. Some are convinced they will go to hell if they show themselves. Some bloody choice.
6. It sexualises girls and women in the same way as "erotic" garb does and is just as obscene.
7. When a woman is fully shrouded, how do we know if she is a victim of domestic violence?
8. God gave women femininity and individuality. Why should we bury those gifts? How grotesque to ask a women to parcel herself up and be opened up by only her husband.
9. What an insult this is to Muslim men – the accusation that they will jump any woman not protected with a cloth. Are we to assume that sexuality snakes around every male-female contact, even between a surgeon and patient, bank clerk and customer, teacher and pupil?
10. When on hajj in Mecca, men and unveiled women pray together. The Saudis want to change that.
11. The niqab is pre-Islamic, was worn byupper-class Byzantine women to keep away from riff-raff.
12. Muslim women in the 1920s and 1930s threw off these garments to claim freedom – my mother's generation. Their struggles are dishonoured by brainwashed females.
13. Veil supporters say they are going back to the original Islamic texts and lives. But they don't ride camels, and have mobile phones and computers. So they can embrace modernity but refuse to on this.
14. These women who fight for their rights to veil do not fight for the rights of those of us who won't.
15. They say it is free will, but in three private Muslim schools in Britain, girls have to wear niqab and are punished for not obeying. The same is true in many families and communities.
16. Most importantly, all these cloth casingsaccept that females are dangerous and evil, that their presence only creates inner and outer havoc in men and public spaces. All religions believe that to some extent. Feminists must fight these prejudices.
Will her diatribe halt Muslim women from wearing Hijab or Niqaab? Is it meant to elicit a response? I think this is how she butters her breads, we're not obliged to dignify it or contribute to it, she's clearly catering to a particular type of audience and we're not it! ..
very true. She most likely wrote those opinions for the benefits of those who pay her.
It is the same here in Indonesia, the liberal/secular muslim "intellectuals" who frequently write/speak in public spheres where they condone unlimited interfaith marriages, approve homosexualities, saying that all beliefs are the same, qur'an and sunnah must be interpreted in current conditions etc are usually funded by various western organizations/governments.
Will her diatribe halt Muslim women from wearing Hijab or Niqaab? Is it meant to elicit a response? I think this is how she butters her breads, we're not obliged to dignify it or contribute to it, she's clearly catering to a particular type of audience and we're not it! ..
I have to disagree, if we dont answer then it gives the impression that we have no defence for the positions we hold.
I agree that most of these diatribes are little more than 'baiting', however the flip side is that some of the arguments made by the opposition do have substance. Its important to understand these arguments so that we can answer them, as brother Hamza has done.
Even the other side needs to hear the truth for it maybe that once they see the truth that Allah opens their heart. Bare in mind that many reverts of today were the biggest enemies and haters of Islam until their hearts were unsealed so surely we must continue to give dawah as Allah has prescribed in the Quran in the most beautiful and best of ways using wisdom and tact for whos speech could be better that those who invite in the way of Allah.
1. While modesty is required of Muslim men and women and men are asked to "lower their gazes", there is no injunction to hide the hair, and the verses on coverings have different interpretations. The Prophet's wives were veiled to stop harassers and supplicants. Saudis use big money to push their fanatically anti-woman Islam in this country. Each niqab is one more win in that assault on hearts and minds.
if she had actually read the Quran she would have noticed the ayah refers to The Prophets sallallahu alayhi wasallams wives daughters AND the women of believers.
2. Iranian, Afghan, Saudi and other Muslim women are beaten and tortured for the smallest sartorial transgression. European Muslims donning the niqab are giving succour to the oppressors in those countries
.
all around the world women are abused for various reasons. The niqab is not the reason and claiming women are TORTURED for this is baseless
3. They say it stops molestation and is a mark of respect. Oh yeah? So tell me why there are appalling levels of rape and violence in Muslim lands. And by implication do we, European women who don't cover, therefore deserve molestation?
she totally doesnt understand prevention is better than cure. Nowhere is it allowed to molest anyone uncovered
4. It is a form of female apartheid, of selected segregation tacitly saying non-veiled women are pollutants. There is such a thing as society and we connect with our faces. A veiled female withholds herself from that contact and reads our faces, thus gaining power over the rest of us.
well put a veil on then!
5. "Choice" cannot be the only consideration. And anyway, there is no evidence that all the women are making rational, independent decisions. As with forced marriages, they can't refuse. Some are blackmailed and others obey because they are too scared to say what they really want. Some are convinced they will go to hell if they show themselves. Some bloody choice
.
again this can be put in different situations, does she speak against them too?
6. It sexualises girls and women in the same way as "erotic" garb does and is just as obscene.
ermm. ok.
7. When a woman is fully shrouded, how do we know if she is a victim of domestic violence?
alot of women in the west are victims of domestic violence and have been for years. is she able to spot a victim of domestic violence just by seeing her facE?
8. God gave women femininity and individuality. Why should we bury those gifts? How grotesque to ask a women to parcel herself up and be opened up by only her husband.
we can look at it the other way- Allah gave women bodies as treasures, not something to flaunt to everyone. To a level she herself 'parcels' up unless she has no problem getting naked for anyone.
9. What an insult this is to Muslim men – the accusation that they will jump any woman not protected with a cloth. Are we to assume that sexuality snakes around every male-female contact, even between a surgeon and patient, bank clerk and customer, teacher and pupil?
again thats stupid. its not an insult. as a woman can she spot a potential rapist? no?
well islam values our women too much to let the risk of being raped happen and protects us
its not just about molestation. its also preservation of society. how many inappropriate relations do we see between the sexes in the workplace, at school etc.
10. When on hajj in Mecca, men and unveiled women pray together. The Saudis want to change that.
i assumed she means in ihram?
In ihram a man is only permitted to wear 2 pieces of cloth-something not normal for everyday
sexual relations are prohibited, as are any marriage talks
whats her point?
11. The niqab is pre-Islamic, was worn byupper-class Byzantine women to keep away from riff-raff.
sure it may have been a cultural practice before islam. but islam made it a religious practice
12. Muslim women in the 1920s and 1930s threw off these garments to claim freedom – my mother's generation. Their struggles are dishonoured by brainwashed females.
how is it dishonoured? because some women wanted to unveil we should be grateful to them?
in that case THEY are the ones who dishonoured the women before them
13. Veil supporters say they are going back to the original Islamic texts and lives. But they don't ride camels, and have mobile phones and computers. So they can embrace modernity but refuse to on this.
again the stupid woman doesnt know the difference between RELIGIOUS innovations and technology that has nothing to do with religion
14. These women who fight for their rights to veil do not fight for the rights of those of us who won't.
you fight for what you believe in. and women only have to fight for our rights to veil because people wont back off and leave muslim women alone
15. They say it is free will, but in three private Muslim schools in Britain, girls have to wear niqab and are punished for not obeying. The same is true in many families and communities.
this is looking at uniforms. if the parents send their kids to a school where they know thats part of the uniform then they made that agreement.
16. Most importantly, all these cloth casings accept that females are dangerous and evil, that their presence only creates inner and outer havoc in men and public spaces. All religions believe that to some extent. Feminists must fight these prejudices.
nope. females are to be protected and honoured and the veil gives this.
I have no problem with people who dont want to wear the veils themselvs. but stop accusing and bringing down those who do want to wear it!
Our Lord! Verily, we have heard the call of one calling to Faith: 'Believe in your Lord,' and we have believed.
Our Lord! Forgive us our sins and expiate from us our evil deeds, and make us die (in the state of righteousness) along with Al-Abrar
7. When a woman is fully shrouded, how do we know if she is a victim of domestic
violence?
This has to be the most stupidest thing I've heard...
I was looking at myself talking to myself and I realized this conversation...I was having with myself looking at myself was a conversation with myself that I needed to have with myself.
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Oh dear - another rant about the Niqaab (OP)
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