In a truly free society, one should be free to follow their religious beliefs. Is there any room for conformity in a free society or should we make an exception when it comes to mixing secular comfort versus religious modesty issues?
UK Cabinet minister, Jack Straw, made a comment on how he dislikes Muslim women wearing the veil part of their normal clothing. He would like to see them take it off as it is seen as they are making a blatant attempt to seperate themselves from the rest of society which uses facial communication.
The hijab is worn by some Muslim women covers just the head and neck while the niqab covers up even the face except for the eyes peering out. Mr. Straw disapproves of the niqab which is worn by the most devout Muslim women who feel this protects them in a world gone mad with sexual explotation of women.
While I personally feel if I had to be forced to wear such garb, I would feel oppressed. These women do not feel that kind of oppression in wearing it, but feel it is a sign of the utmost self-respect. They would not want to be deprived of the veil any more than I would want to be forced into the niqab.
This is in essence a freedom of religion and a woman's right issue. While I can understand Mr. Straw's point of view in wanting to see the facial expression of everyone and a certain degree in needing to have a standard which all citizens can relate, how can one implement such ideas on the populace without becoming oppressive to the freedoms of others when it comes to everything else.
It might start out as a ban on the niqab, but then we may feel uncomfortable with Rastafarians wearing dreadlocks, the nuns in their habits, the Amish in their black and white, or any group of people who are identified by their dress. If a government could prevent one, it could prevent the rest.
Now Mr. Straw is not demanding it becomes a law, but making this request that at least in public the veil should go. To the mind of one who feels her modesty is being compromised at such request, you may as well ask her to go down a busy street in a two piece bikini.
I personally would never subject myself to either the hijab nor the niqab, but I am not a Muslim woman. However, as a woman, I would have to support my sister women in their right to protect what they feel keeps them safe and modest.
Does Mr. Straw have a good point in his comment?
The niqab can pose a hazard when driving because it can restrict full vision (but this does not prove to be the case by any known statistics).
It could be used by one who has evil intentions to mask what they may have on their mind whereas minus the veil one could see from the expression on the face if they could be trusted or not (but this says that you being a Muslim cannot be trusted in the first place and many crimes are committed where everyone can see the person's face).
It does put it clearly that they are not part of the mainstream society (but is that really a bad thing?).
It can be a distraction (but then again, many things are until we get used to them.)
I can see where his is coming from, but his reasoning does not merit those who feel modest by wearing the niqab to take them off.
And I could not buy into the argument of, "If they want to dress that way, they should go to the countries that accept it as normal." Some who dress this way are native born in Western countries, but converted later. It's not as if they would be welcomed with open arms in a new country.
Perhaps more tolerance is needed on both ends. People who side with Straw need to understand why Muslim women dress in this manner and why it is so important to them. The Muslim community also needs to understand why such feelings are around in the Western world and do more to educate the public while distancing themselves, in a more verbal manner, against terrorist Muslims which create the unfounded fear against all Muslims.
However, if you hold sacred a certain set of beliefs, it is highly unfair of you to take on a role where your beliefs would be compromised in the normal course and expect everyone to bend over backwards to accommodate you. The hijab and the niqab may pose real health threats in certain jobs, such as working as a police officer or firefighter. In most other realms, it may be a distraction, but one that could be overcome.
