Ban the Burqa

[girlpower]

Op-Ed Contributor

By MONA ELTAHAWY
Published: July 2, 2009
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/03/op...d96&ei=5087%0A
NEW YORK — I am a Muslim, I am a feminist and I detest the full-body veil, known as a niqab or burqa. It erases women from society and has nothing to do with Islam but everything to do with the hatred for women at the heart of the extremist ideology that preaches it.

We must not sacrifice women at the altar of political correctness or in the name of fighting a growingly powerful right wing that Muslims face in countries where they live as a minority.

As disagreeable as I often find French President Nicolas Sarkozy, he was right when he said recently, “The burqa is not a religious sign, it is a sign of the subjugation, of the submission of women. I want to say solemnly that it will not be welcome on our territory.” It should not be welcome anywhere, I would add.

Yet his words have inspired attempts to defend the indefensible — the erasure of women.

Some have argued that Sarkozy’s right-leaning, anti-Muslim bias was behind his opposition to the burqa. But I would remind them of comments in 2006 by the then-British House of Commons leader Jack Straw, who said the burqa prevents communication. He was right, and he was hardly a right-winger — and yet he too was attacked for daring to speak out against the burqa.

The racism and discrimination that Muslim minorities face in many countries — such as France, which has the largest Muslim community in Europe, and Britain, where two members of the xenophobic British National Party were shamefully elected to the European Parliament — are very real.

But the best way to support Muslim women would be to say we oppose both racist Islamophobes and the burqa. We’ve been silent on too many things out of fear we’ll arm the right wing.

The best way to debunk the burqa as an expression of Muslim faith is to listen to Muslims who oppose it. At the time of Mr. Straw’s comments, a controversy erupted when a university dean in Egypt warned students they would not be able to stay at college dorms unless they removed their burqa. The dean cited security grounds, saying that men disguised as women in burqa could slip into the female dorms.

Soad Saleh, a professor of Islamic law and former dean of the women’s faculty of Islamic studies at Al-Azhar University — hardly a liberal, said the burqa had nothing to do with Islam. It was but an old Bedouin tradition.

It is sad to see a strange ambivalence toward the burqa from many of my fellow Muslims and others who claim to support us. They will take on everything — the right wing, Islamophobia, Mr. Straw, Mr. Sarkozy — rather than come out and plainly state that the burqa is an affront to Muslim women.

I blame such reluctance on the success of the ultra-conservative Salafi ideology — practiced most famously in Saudi Arabia — in leaving its imprimatur on Islam globally by persuading too many Muslims that it is the purest and highest form of our faith.

It’s one thing to argue about the burqa in a country like Saudi Arabia — where I lived for six years and where women are treated like children — but it is utterly dispiriting to have those same arguments in a country where women’s rights have long been enshrined. When I first saw a woman in a burqa in Copenhagen I was horrified.

I wore a headscarf for nine years. An argument I had on the Cairo subway with a woman who wore a burqa helped seal for good my refusal to defend it. Dressed in black from head to toe, the woman asked me why I did not wear the burqa. I pointed to my headscarf and asked her “Is this not enough?”

“If you wanted a piece of candy, would you choose an unwrapped piece or one that came in a wrapper?” she asked.

“I am not candy,” I answered. “Women are not candy.”

I have since heard arguments made for the burqa in which the woman is portrayed as a diamond ring or a precious stone that needs to be hidden to prove her “worth.” Unless we challenge it, the burqa — and by extension the erasure of women — becomes the pinnacle of piety.

It is not about comparing burqas to bikinis, as some claim. I used to compare my headscarf to a miniskirt, the two being essentially two sides to the same coin of a woman’s body. The burqa is something else altogether: A woman who wears it is erased.

A bizarre political correctness has tied the tongues of those who would normally rally to women’s rights. One blogger, a woman, lamented that “Sarkozy’s anti-burqa stance deprives women of identity.” It’s precisely the opposite: It’s the burqa that deprives a woman of identity.

Why do women in Muslim-minority communities wear the burqa? Sarkozy touched on one reason when he admitted his country’s integration model wasn’t working any more because it doesn’t give immigrants and their French-born children a fair chance.

But the Muslim community must ask itself the same question: Why the silence as some of our women fade into black either as a form of identity politics, a protest against the state or out of acquiescence to Salafism?

As a Muslim woman and a feminist I would ban the burqa.

Mona Eltahawy is an Egyptian-born commentator on Arab and Muslim issues.

[Timbit]

eh
i usually like mona eltahawy but don't agree with her on this one
i'm not a fan of it either, but i do think women should have the choice to wear it if they want, just like they should have the choice to wear anything else they please

[sumi]

Mini Skirts, Yes. Burqas, No?

If France had a humane, democratic record in its treatment of Muslim immigrants, one might be bemused by Pres. Sarkozy's attempt to suppress the burqa. But the opposite is true. Arab immigrants are treated as second-class citizens, and the rightist politicians, including Sarkozy, are happy to keep them down. As a form of hyper-patriotism, controlling the dress of Muslim women is obviously unfair. Pres. Obama was right to criticize the policy.

Doesn't it seem strange that women in France have the right to wear mini skirts but not burqas? Both costumes are about sexuality, or if that seems too judgmental, both are about the issue of modesty. In the Arab world this is a religious issue, and it's not as though the Christian world is totally free of that perspective -- as far as I know, a woman will not be permitted inside the Vatican without covering her head. A secular society has no business making decisions based on religion, and that means in either direction. If God is neutral toward the mini skirt, he is neutral toward the burqa and chador, or the wig and head covering of orthodox Jewish women.

As for the argument that the burqa stands for the abasement of women, that is certainly true under the Taliban in Afghanistan. But the abasement revolves around forcing women to dress a certain way, taking away their free choice. Isn't France doing the same thing? In the name if fighting abasement, they are actually imposing another sort.

Finally, there is the simmering social resentment that occurs when a Muslim woman stands out in the crowd by her dress. In decades past, she stood out in an exotic and even appealing way. Since 9/11, Muslim dress is interpreted as a hostile statement. It's time we each become more mindful. The hostility is our own, a projection we impose on the innocent. Let Muslim women be as free to choose as any Western girl with tattoos and piercings. Beauty in this case is in the eyes of the wearer.

Published in the Washington Post
Deepak Chopra: Mini Skirts, Yes. Burqas, No?

Burka Ban | The Daily Show | Comedy Central

Burka Ban | The Daily Show | Comedy Central

[ChotooMotoo]

I say we ban girlpowers face

[girlpower]

sumiyia said

Mini Skirts, Yes. Burqas, No?

If France had a humane, democratic record in its treatment of Muslim immigrants, one might be bemused by Pres. Sarkozy's attempt to suppress the burqa. But the opposite is true. Arab immigrants are treated as second-class citizens, and the rightist politicians, including Sarkozy, are happy to keep them down. As a form of hyper-patriotism, controlling the dress of Muslim women is obviously unfair. Pres. Obama was right to criticize the policy.

Doesn't it seem strange that women in France have the right to wear mini skirts but not burqas? Both costumes are about sexuality, or if that seems too judgmental, both are about the issue of modesty. In the Arab world this is a religious issue, and it's not as though the Christian world is totally free of that perspective -- as far as I know, a woman will not be permitted inside the Vatican without covering her head. A secular society has no business making decisions based on religion, and that means in either direction. If God is neutral toward the mini skirt, he is neutral toward the burqa and chador, or the wig and head covering of orthodox Jewish women.

As for the argument that the burqa stands for the abasement of women, that is certainly true under the Taliban in Afghanistan. But the abasement revolves around forcing women to dress a certain way, taking away their free choice. Isn't France doing the same thing? In the name if fighting abasement, they are actually imposing another sort.

Finally, there is the simmering social resentment that occurs when a Muslim woman stands out in the crowd by her dress. In decades past, she stood out in an exotic and even appealing way. Since 9/11, Muslim dress is interpreted as a hostile statement. It's time we each become more mindful. The hostility is our own, a projection we impose on the innocent. Let Muslim women be as free to choose as any Western girl with tattoos and piercings. Beauty in this case is in the eyes of the wearer.

Published in the Washington Post
Deepak Chopra: Mini Skirts, Yes. Burqas, No?

Burka Ban | The Daily Show | Comedy Central

Not a fair comparision at all . Wearing Burqa is as extreme as being completely naked. Two different ends of extremism.
A semi nude woman or wearing mini skirt is as close to a woman wearing abaya or hijab .

. But don't you think is it fair to ban burqa ?. because public nudity has long been illegal in most countries even in the west and In France also . So today some muslims are still able to wear burqa in these european countries A fair comparision between public nudity and burqa , these burqa wearing muslim women in the West are still enjoying the privilege compaired to those who want to be naked in public . So you can't alking about discrimination there , if there is discrimination , then is not muslim women that are discriminated against but those who want to be naked in public . IN This case , i have another point against muslim hypocrisy for supporting wearing burqa and crying of discrimination .



+

[wheelworks]

girlpower said

Not a fair comparision at all . Wearing Burqa is as extreme as being completely naked.

Lol logic fail...

[girlpower]

wheelworks said

Lol logic fail...

explain please

[Kaminyu]

girlpower said

Not a fair comparision at all . Wearing Burqa is as extreme as being completely naked. Two different ends of extremism.
A semi nude woman or wearing mini skirt is as close to a woman wearing abaya or hijab .

. But don't you think is it fair to ban burqa ?. because public nudity has long been illegal in most countries even in the west and In France also . So today some muslims are still able to wear burqa in these european countries A fair comparision between public nudity and burqa , these burqa wearing muslim women in the West are still enjoying the privilege compaired to those who want to be naked in public . So you can't alking about discrimination there , if there is discrimination , then is not muslim women that are discriminated against but those who want to be naked in public . IN This case , i have another point against muslim hypocrisy for supporting wearing burqa and crying of discrimination .



+

There is no hypocrisy. Running around naked is indecent exposure, and covering up from head to toe is not.

[ChotooMotoo]

girlpower said

Not a fair comparision at all . Wearing Burqa is as extreme as being completely naked. Two different ends of extremism.
A semi nude woman or wearing mini skirt is as close to a woman wearing abaya or hijab .

. But don't you think is it fair to ban burqa ?. because public nudity has long been illegal in most countries even in the west and In France also . So today some muslims are still able to wear burqa in these european countries A fair comparision between public nudity and burqa , these burqa wearing muslim women in the West are still enjoying the privilege compaired to those who want to be naked in public . So you can't alking about discrimination there , if there is discrimination , then is not muslim women that are discriminated against but those who want to be naked in public . IN This case , i have another point against muslim hypocrisy for supporting wearing burqa and crying of discrimination .



+

You have some weird fetishes. Asians, bondage, and public nudity

Iran and Saudi Arabia have laws that women must dress a certain way, all women. Even foreign women visiting have to dress a certain way. Since they require it of all women, it's not discrimination. Sure, it infringes on personal freedom the same way Frances ban on burqa infringes on personal freedom (ironic since France touts personal freedom as one of the best things about it's society), but it's not discriminatory.

School uniforms, kids going to school have to dress a certain way or they just aren't allowed to go out. Since everyone has to dress that way, it's not discrimination.

Let's end discrimination. I say we make everyone wear a burqa. I don't want to see your ugly jiggle butt.

[girlpower]

Kaminyu said

There is no hypocrisy. Running around naked is indecent exposure, and covering up from head to toe is not.

really ?. you can walk into a bank wearing burqa to withdraw money. does that not pose a security threat ?. how could she legitimize herself ?? A bank robber could hide under the burqa, you know . because of public order and security Only , burqa should be banned

how the hell can a society function when everyone are wearing masks , burqa or something like that .

[ChotooMotoo]

girlpower said

how the hell can a society function when everyone are wearing masks , burqa or something like that .

How the hell can society function when all the men are wearing little nooses aroung their necks, three piece suits and tighty whities.

Thobes and Burqa's for Lyf man.

[wheelworks]

girlpower said

explain please

When women wear bikinis, they turn into sex objects instead of a human being with an intellect. When they wear the hijab or burqa, there is a certain form of dignity they get and people start looking at them as someone with a brain instead of just an object. If you look at them as someone oppressed then you're just biased.

[girlpower]

wheelworks said

When women wear bikinis, they turn into sex objects instead of a human being with an intellect. When they wear the hijab or burqa, there is a certain form of dignity they get and people start looking at them as someone with a brain instead of just an object. If you look at them as someone oppressed then you're just biased.

don't confuse hijab with burqa , i dont have any problem with people wearing hijab. But burqa is another matter . wearing burqa is a form of dignity ? you are [SNIP] kidding right ? yeah right . looking at women wearing burqa is like looking at someone with [SNIP] brain you can't even see their face how . can you know what is behind the veil . maybe piece of [SNIP]

[SheikYerbouti]

wheelworks said

When women wear bikinis, they turn into sex objects instead of a human being with an intellect. When they wear the hijab or burqa, there is a certain form of dignity they get and people start looking at them as someone with a brain instead of just an object. If you look at them as someone oppressed then you're just biased.

speaking as a dude here I have to say that this is a male dominated society and women r sex objects no matter what they wear. the only difference between a woman in the black thing and a woman in a bikini is that the black clad lady u get to imagine her features but a naked/bikini clad woman you r forced to accept reality

girlpower said

don't confuse hijab with burqa , i'm have no problem with people wearing hijab. But burqa is another matter . wearing burqa is a form of dignity ? you are [SNIP] kidding right ? yeah right . looking at women wearing burqa is like looking at someone with [SNIP] brain you can't even see their face how . can you know what is behind the veil . maybe piece of [SNIP]

u have a potty mouth

[Kaminyu]

girlpower said

really ?. you can walk into a bank wearing burqa to withdraw money. does that not pose a security threat ?. how could she legitimize herself ?? A bank robber could hide under the burqa, you know . because of public order and security Only , burqa should be banned

how the hell can a society function when everyone are wearing masks , burqa or something like that .

Why is it necessary to see someone's face at all times? It isn't, and is really only necessary for identification purposes. If they want to cover their faces, that's their right to do so. Some places may require that your face be visible, but that's different. Walking down the street with your face covered is the right of the individual.