Here is a list of my main objections: By Yasmin Alibai Brown (my addition in red)
1. While modesty is required of Muslim men and women and men are asked to "lower their gazes",
Well, Yasmin, Women are also asked to lower their gazes there is no injunction to hide the hair, and the verses on coverings have different interpretations
Even though is is clear cut, you look through it. 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
In comparison to what?. And by implication do we, European women who don't cover, therefore deserve molestation?
Putting words into peoples mind! The women who choose to go bear are not showing respect in front of their creator. It is to show modesty to your creator, not to mortal men only. When you stand in front of the Queen, you want to look your best, but roaming the streets of the world when you are always in front of your lord, you dont care!
4. It is a form of female apartheid, of selected segregation tacitly saying non-veiled women are pollutants.
polluting the minds of other men around, giving them their chance to do zina/fornication of the eyes. 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,
They arent out there for poker 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
wake up, dont mix culture with Islam. 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.
Your mind needs a detox, what garbage.
7. When a woman is fully shrouded, how do we know if she is a victim of domestic violence?
Thats what the Shariah is for, Our woman have rights, People like you are telling them that they don't
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.
Dont you ever wrap your gifts? Would you walk nude or semi nude down the road? My wife is for me eyes only and I am for my wifes eyes only. If you want to share your husband with others and vcie versa, thats your choice and its the wrong choice
9. What an insult this is to Muslim men - the accusation that they will jump any woman not protected with a cloth.
and this is your intellect, lol 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?
Yes, the devil/evil runs in or viens, we gotta be careful
10. When on hajj in Mecca, men and unveiled women pray together.
Well I'm sure they arent there to eye each other out, rather they are there in fear and love of their creator The Saudis want to change that.
11. The niqab is pre-Islamic, was worn byupper-class Byzantine women to keep away from riff-raff.
So it just shows, that modesty goes back a very long time, especialyamongts the elite, well educated, religious, non religious etc etc
12. Muslim women in the 1920s and 1930s threw off these garments to claim freedom - my mother's generation.
Now I see why your comments are so un Islamic an un humaneTheir struggles are dishonoured by brainwashed females.
Its the other way round
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.
Perversion will remain, technology will advance, what a childish comment. Are you saying that exposing your self is modernity and modesty is backwards?
14. These women who fight for their rights to veil do not fight for the rights of those of us who won't.
May Allah reward them with Jannatul Firdaus
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.
Ever heard of something called the dress code, if they dont want to wear it, leave the school. They are at the school and have follow its rules The same is true in many families and communities.
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.
Women need to learn Islam and truly appreciate their value in oureyes and the eyes of humanity, they should not learn Islam and its religious rules from uneducated people like you and I
More arguments are on the website of British Muslims for Secular Democracy, which I co-founded. Bans are too harsh, but without some state intervention most Muslim women will be rendered faceless and probably voiceless too. We have societal expectations and conventions - naturists can't go about starkers; motorbike helmets are removed in office receptions; woman don't wear tight miniskirts to serious job interviews. 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.
Remember, when France disallowed hijab in schools, there were similar, dark warnings. All is calm today. As Almira, a 17- year-old, told me: "The state looked after us." Ours must too.
www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/yasmin-alibhai...
