Veiled Concerns

[NMA]

AA,

It's not the first time this issue has been 'discussed' in the national media, but this time it does seem to have more momentum than in the past. Jack Straw asks women to remove them, John Prescott says keep them on. Ken Livingstone has weighed in with his views that most ppl don't want them, although it was also a thinly veiled attack on US foreign policy. Islam does not require women to wear them (or does it?), and many view them as a means of oppressing women, although those interviewed say it liberates them. Even so, those wishing not to be judged on appearance must see the irony that it is now on their veied appearance they are judged. And lately there is talk of sacking a teaching assistant for refusing to remove it. So what do you think about the veil, and those who wear it?

wslm

NMA

[Sajjad]

AA NMA,

Was just logging on to start a thread on this topic but you beat me to the chase. I think Jack Straw is a very naiive man if he thinks that if women stop wearing the niqab ("veil") then community relations will magically become great or even become somewhat better, there is a problem in some communities and the problem has far deeper roots that extend beyond a veil.

Having said that I believe Mr. Straw has some sort of point; obscuring your face can make speaking to you somewhat difficult and hinder communication. I think this was his basic point and think its a bit weird that many sectors of the muslim community blew this out of all proportion. Having said that I feel that if a sister wants to wear the niqab then its her basic human right to wear it. Full stop.

This brings me to the question of imperial college's relatively recent banning of the niqab - so what do I think about this? The human right thing becomes a bit trickier in this scenario since I am thinking (and hoping) Imperial had some sort of pragmatic grounds for banning it - whether this be for security reasons or something else. In this situation I can't say I totally agree with the ban or am totally against it I'm somewhere in the middle. Maybe its too late and I need to go to sleep hence my indecision....This makes me somewhat apathetic about UCL's proposed action to ban the niqab - It won't bother me.

Final point; before I dither to much I think its a bit strange (and a bit annoying) that some niqab wearers believe Islam instructs them to do so when it doesn't, as far as I'm aware anyway. It is merely a cultural thing that has somehow bound up so tightly with Islam that its seen as more of an Islamic thing now giving non-muslims a false impression of Islam - making us seem more segregated and separate than everyone else.

Well I'm sure (and hope) my comments will trigger a lively debate. Get typing people.

Wslm,

Saj

[Ilhan]

AA all,

Subhanallah this situation has been escalated and blown out of proprtion by both communities. It is fair enough that jack Straw raise his views on the niqab as he has a right to express his views. What he needs to understand is the weight of what he is saying, and how many people in society take what they see in the media at face value. Thus, as a result we have seen the attack on a muslim woman in Liverpool, in which her hijab was ripped from her following his comments. So how can this help community relations?

As far as I know the niqab is a valid form of hijab in Islam, and the wives of the Prophet(SAW) used to wear niqab. However, wearing the niqab isn't obligatory, but this option should be left free for the woman to decide.

By the way, did anyone read the papers today? The Department of Education want universities to keep watch over muslim students and those of an "asian appearance". they want Islamic societies to be monitored for suspicious activities, and encourage lecturers to report any students they suspect of being involved with radical sects. What do you think of this?

wslm,

Ilhan

[NMA]

AA

I havn't read the articles in the press, but it is not a new concept, nor a new proposal. The same ideas have been mooted around for years, but they do seem to be gathering pace. Well, the ISocs have certainly been watched for the whole time I was in university. Actually, a few months (or is it years now?) a newspaper paid ppl to spy on the ISocs. Now if we had heard about it in time, it would have been a great way of raising some money, to boost charity week totals, for instance.

If people want to actively monitor the ISocs, let them. What will they actually be doing? Listening to what you have to say. Listening to what is said at talks and events. Erm, isn't that kinda what you want them to do? Isn't that why we always do lots of advertising and invite everyone to come along? Mostly, but perhaps with a slightly less negative approach ;-)

Despite saying that, I think it would be another disasterous move if the lecturers agreed to it, and a section of the community already feeling bruised and bullied by politicians and the media of late will find themselves only more isolated. And if lecturers agree, then it will be yet another major insult to the entire Muslim community in this country.

Perhaps the biggest irony is that it would be a self-negating policy. Firstly, how will the lecturers be able to identify suspicious activities or radical sects. The events of the past few weeks especially but also years have shown that most people know next to nothing about Islam... which only means that they will have to assume everythign is suspicious. Of note, there have been record numbers of revertions to Islam over the past few years, which only shows that those who do research the religion like what they find .
The main reason why it is self defeating, however is that if, just for instance, if there is someone who is a threat to the country, and they know they are being looked for, saught after by their lecturers, then to hide they will most likely exclude themselves from the groups under scrutiny. Which means that to properly identify these people, EVERYONE has to be scrutinised, not just those of asian appearance. Which leaves us back where we are now, only with no one trusting their lecturers, classmates, or anyone else for that matter. Situation improved? no, quite the opposite.

Still, we've gone off topic... back to veils and hijabs... have any of you who wear hijab had any problems in or around campus because of it? And how about an event to address the issue?

wslm

NMA