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The Veil and the consequences.
by robswan @ 2006-10-18 - 21:12:18

It is a fact that many British Muslims wear the Hijab and Nikab. It is also obvious that we have a culture amongst British Muslims that these items of clothing be worn.

However, and I am being very careful here, there are those who feel that the full or partial veil upsets some people. They talk about communication and visual difficulties. They talk about British integration. They also talk about a culture above British cultural norms--or even below it.

My view on this matter is quite simple: I have many Muslim friends but they are going to have to make some sacrifices if they are prepared to live in a country, which, quite frankly, is non-Muslim in nature. There is something uncomfortable about Muslims who are making demands, imposing cultural legacies, in an adopted country.

Before you condemn me let me tell you that I live in a liberal Middle Eastern country where the veil is being shrugged off daily and where the young girls wear T-shirts and jeans and flaunt their beautiful black hair in public.

My point is this: Why should British Muslims get so uptight about the veil when many girls from Lebanon and Egypt shrug off this cultural demand and show their hair off in full display, wear Levis and even have bare arms? Some even wear skirts. British Muslim women are lagging behind Muslim women's rights to freedom. Why?

It is quite ironic that the Muslim women of Britain are behind those
of the Middle East. Comments please.

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PakistanPakistan [Member]
10/18/06 @ 21:19

Well you know what ?
you cant stop speaking truth because others are lying in this world
Hijab is right of muslim women if some of Muslim women are not practicing then it doesnot mean that Britism women follow them too

Muslims from South Asia and all over the world support their muslim sisters living in europion countries on this issue

runninggooserunninggoose pro
http://www.autism-issues.co.uk
10/19/06 @ 10:17

well i think people should be allowed to wear what they want.
THe united kingdom is supposed to be a place where freedom of speech and expression is allowed.
Its bound to cause upset if someone tells some one else what to wear.
why they are many reasons why they should be or should not be worn the fact remains that you cant start telling people what to wear. Its their choice not ours or anyone elses. Does anyone remember when their mum or dad told them to wear something they did not like as a child. It was most likely to have made you feel terrible. well its no different being an adult.

robswanrobswan [Member]
10/19/06 @ 19:09

Sorry, but you are missing my point: I am saying that as Middle Eastern women become more liberal in terms of dress, British Muslims appear to be aping the most demanding of restrictions on dress. Is this a Pakhistani thing or are there other influences that insist on this drab cover-up? Are British Muslims more Muslim than many Middle Eastern countries? Why?

I am not telling Muslims what to wear--I am suggesting that Muslim women in Britain are segregating themselves by sticking to old traditions that are dying out in liberal Middle Eastern countries. Or, is it the fault of the men again?

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alecwestonalecweston pro
10/19/06 @ 20:20

Incredible. And I write as a white British, ex christian atheist:

1. Wearing a veil is not "making a demand."

2. Very few Muslim women in Britain wear a veil. Many dress in the same way as you say they do ion Egypt and the Lebanon.

3. Many British Muslims, women and men, feel threatend by the majority population - being treated en masse as potential terrorists,with hysterical campaigns against them in the right wing press - campaigns that are never attacked by mainstream politicians. And they feel alienated by the UK's horrendoeus foreign policy, eg Iraq, and supporting Isreal over Lebanon.

4. In this context, the veil issue is a deliberate distraction by the political establishment.

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robswanrobswan [Member]
10/20/06 @ 19:26

To Alec,
" Very few Muslim women in Britain wear a veil"
I disagree. Figures suggest that many wear the full veil.
I was making a statement saying: Get modern. I was not condemning the veil. In South Africa, where I come from, immigrants are requested to assimillate with the community they are going to live in.Most Muslims in Kwa-Zulu Natal do not wear a full veil--it would be regarded as anathema.

As to point 4:Yes, I agree, I am sick of the Hilary Armstrongs and the like who feel they must "add" their tuppence worth to the debate. It would be good if they just shut up!

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