Muslim veil

Egypt’s biggest Islamic university bans the niqab

Sophie Team Observers — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 18:42:05 +0200

During a visit to a secondary school a few weeks ago, Egypt's highest Sunni authority came across a teenager wearing the full veil. Flabbergasted, he humiliated the girl, asking her "Why wear the niqab in a class full of girls?!" He then forced her to remove it.

"Wearing the niqab is a custom, not part of religion", explained Sheik Mohammed Tantawi, long-time dean of Egypt's prestigious and ancient al-Azhar University, founded in 969 and considered one of the world's number one references in the teaching of Islamic studies.

Tantawi hasn't wasted any time. He's strictly forbidden students, pupils and teachers from wearing the niqab in the al-Azhar university and its adjoining schools. And it's not unlikely that we'll see the decision followed by institutions throughout the country. Sheik Tantawi's decision comes just after the Minister for Higher Education banned students who wear the niqab from living in student halls.

Islamic opposition group the Muslim Brotherhood has seized upon the move to vehemently criticise the government. Since the beginning of the week, numerous demonstrations outside universities have been staged in protest.

In 2001, the American University in Cairo banned girls from wearing the niqab on campus for security reasons, but in 2007, the decision was overruled by the Supreme Court. Girls who wear the full veil were thereafter required to identify themselves to a female watchman before entering the campus.

Marwa Sherbini murder: Egyptians mourn the “headscarf martyr”

Sophie Team Observers — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 11:08:25 +0200

Official court illustration of the stabbing.

A shocking incident in which an Egyptian woman was stabbed to death in a German courtroom has provoked outrage in her home country. The young mother, pregnant with her second child, was killed by the very man she was bearing witness against, himself in court for making Islamophobic insults.

Thirty-two-year-old Marwa Sherbini was four months pregnant when she was attacked in the Dresden court on July 1. She was stabbed 18 times, in full view of the attendees, including her three-year-old son. Her husband, Aloui Ali Oukaz, who tried to come to her aid, was also stabbed and then shot down by a policeman who thought him to be an attacker, leaving him hospitalised.

The story began in August 2008, when Ms Sherbini brought charges against 28-year-old Axel W., unemployed and of Russian origin, for having had called her a terrorist because she was wearing a headscarf. The right-wing extremist was charged 780 euros, but appealed the ruling. It was at the appeal that the incident took place.

Sherbini, a chemist, had been living in Germany since 2003.

“Nobody forces me to wear the full veil, it’s my choice”

Sophie Team Observers — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 12:57:38 +0200

Posted on Flickr by "The Art Of Veiling".

The French parliament has launched an inquiry into how many women wear head-to-toe Islamic veils in France. President Nicolas Sarkozy used the occasion to spell out that "the burqa is not welcome in France", leading to concerns that he would ban it in public places. A French Muslim explains to us why she chooses to wear the sitar - the Saudi full-face cover - and why Sarkozy's comments frighten her.

Oum Abdallah (not her real name) lives in Marseille. She's worn the sitar for 10 years.

I'm French, I'm not of Arab origin. The rest of my family is either atheist or agnostic; none of them are Muslim. I decided to convert to Islam well before getting married. Until my wedding day I wore a headscarf but didn't cover my face, and from my wedding day onwards I've worn the sitar. I would have done so earlier but my parents disallowed it while I was still living at home.

I wear the full veil because it's what my religion wants. I dress like the prophet's wives; they're my role models. My husband didn't order me to do this, not at all. He leaves those decisions up to me, even if he does like that I cover up.

"People say that the women aren't respected in Islam, when in fact the religion is based on the well-being of women"

People say that the women aren't respected by Islam, when in fact the religion is based on the well-being of women - at home, as a wife and mother. How many Western women are victims of domestic violence in France today? The sitar is certainly not there to hide black eyes, like some stupid people think! It simply hides the beauty of a woman, which shows how highly they are regarded by Muslim men.

When I'm at home with my husband and my son I dress as I want. When my friends come over (most of whom wear the full veil too), I wear only a veil that covers my body. When I go out or am in the presence of men however, I always wear the sitar.

There's no problem at home. When we have friends over, my husband eats with the men and me with the women in another room... I pass him the plates to serve his guests. He's never seen my friends. Outside however, it can be tricky. People give me funny looks, sometimes insulting me. I leave the house as little as possible; only for things like going to the doctor, admin stuff etc.

"I miss swimming"

Life in France is not easy for a woman who wears the sitar and I dream of leaving. In Muslim countries, there are some beaches and parks especially for women. Of course I miss being able to swim. One of my friends goes to the sea sometimes. But she has to find a completely deserted beach and she swims fully dressed. That's no life. I know very well that in my case it's me who chose to adopt this way of living in France and not the other way round, but that's why I'd like to move to a Muslim country. It's not easy though - my husband would have to find a job first.

"We've talked a lot about if the burqa is banned"

We've talked a lot about if the burqa or the full veil is banned after Sarkozy hinted on it. We're really worried. That would mean that I couldn't leave the house at all! I've just been to get a new ID card, so I'm ok for the next ten years in that sense. But how would I go to the doctor?"

Obama tackles the French on the hijab

Sophie Team Observers — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 19:08:14 +0200

When Obama said that Western countries should avoid "dictating what clothes a Muslim woman should wear", it could have been perceived as a personal attack in France. The hijab, along with all religious symbols, was banned in French schools in 2004. Read more...

The French government's decision to ban pupils from wearing "ostentatious religious symbols" caused a ruckus with hijab-wearers in the country when it was first enforced. Although the law remains in place five years on, Obama's highly critical comments on the subject come as a slap in the face for the French model. Our Observers who wear, or have worn the hijab, give us their opinion.

The statements in question:

The United States government has gone to court to protect the right of women and girls to wear the hijab and to punish those who would deny it.

It is important for Western countries to avoid impeding Muslim citizens from practising religion as they see fit -- for instance, by dictating what clothes a Muslim woman should wear. We can't disguise hostility towards any religion behind the pretence of liberalism.

I reject the view of some in the West that a woman who chooses to cover her hair is somehow less equal, but I do believe that a woman who is denied an education is denied equality.

Hijab blogger lays claim to style

Julien — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 13:00:26 +0100

Talk about the Islamic headscarf has long been the preserve of acrimonious debates over fundamentalism, women’s rights and freedom of expression. Blasting intolerance on all sides, Jana Kossaibati presses her right to dress as she pleases – and to do so hijab style.

Jana’s blog, which claims to be the UK’s first style guide for Muslim women, is one of a growing number of websites where women may find out how to mix cultural heritages from different Muslim countries to complement Western styles.

Jana says she first set out to fill a void: there was simply nothing around to tell women how to take care of their appearance while meeting Muslim requirements for dress.
Her blog offers tips for girls eager to anticipate seasonal trends and combine fabrics tastefully, without being ostentatious. But, she says, hijab style is not about what’s “hot” or the latest fad.