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Hands Off the Hijab
Carsten Koall / Getty Images; Veronique de Viguerie / Getty Images
The French president’s decision to ban the burqa is a rash act at a time when diplomacy with the Middle East requires more delicacy than ever. If he—and Obama—really want to promote democracy abroad, they should let Muslim women do what they’ve been doing in Iran: Debate the hijab and the burqa for themselves.
When President Obama chose, in his June 4 Middle East policy speech from Cairo, to defend Muslim women’s “choice” to wear the veil, he didn’t know that, just two weeks later, the streets of Iran would erupt in protests. He didn’t know that a veiled 26-year-old woman, Neda Agha-Soltan, would become the international face of those protests. And though many Muslim women in Iran and across the world don the hijab with pride, Obama may not have known that the Iranian reform movement would be led by women frustrated with the myriad instances of gender discrimination—written into Iran’s legal code—that forced veiling represents. As Iranian sociologist Fatemeh Sadeghi wrote in a widely circulated 2008 essay, “Why We Say No to Forced Hijab,” the veil has “nothing to do with morality and religion. It is all about power.”
Obama has chosen to stay largely quiet on the specific grievances of Iranian reformers, giving them the space they need to define their own movement; Sarkozy, meanwhile, has placed himself in the eye of the storm.
To his credit, French President Nicolas Sarkozy seems to get that. But there were complex politics at play in Sarko’s choice to deliver an unusual address to parliament on Monday, announcing that full-body burqas, which also completely obscure a woman’s face, are “not welcome” in France. With his approval ratings down to George W. Bush-level depths (just 32 percent) and European politics shifting to the anti-immigrant right in the wake of this month’s continent-wide elections, the French president is confronting, head-on, the culture of the most religious of France’s 5 million-strong Muslim population.
Developments in Iran, where illegally unveiled women have been protesting in the streets alongside men, have given Sarkozy some cover to do so, even though his own cabinet is divided on the issue. In the speech, he backed the idea of a parliamentary commission to consider whether to ban the burqa outright. “We cannot accept to have in our country women who are prisoners behind netting, cut off from all social life, deprived of identity,” he said. “That is not the idea that the French Republic has of women’s dignity. The burqa is not a sign of religion, it is a sign of subservience.”
It is chafing to hear Sarkozy—not exactly known as a feminist—assert that women who wear a burqa have “no identity” and are not social beings. No item of clothing can negate an individual’s core humanity. And from an American perspective, it seems almost fascistic to outlaw a garment or impede an individual’s religious practice, even a practice as foreign-seeming and anti-egalitarian as the burqa. Yet France, which has no blanket freedom of expression statute like our First Amendment, already bans headscarves in its schools. It is that law that Obama obliquely referred to in his Cairo speech when he said, “The U.S. 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. I reject the view of some in the West that a woman who chooses to cover her hair is somehow less equal.”
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squiggy
What a crock! This is the perfect time to show solidarity for women in Iran who defy the burqa and even the hajib! In Western society we identify with a face, babies identify with a face, it is human nature to look for a face. Obama might be thinking diplomacy with the Muslim world but he has yet to engage any of the Middle Eastern countries in diplomacy. I liked his first speech but really, a speech is a speech. He acted as he saw fit speaking of the world watching but he has yet to face these men on their terms and then there are the women!
ncc81701
While in western society we do not have a culture of wearing a hijab or burqas, middle eastern society does. The problem is not sexual discrimination, the problem is infringing on a person's freedom of religion. The forcing of women to wear a hijab or a burqa is just as wrong morally as banning a women to wear a hijab or a burqa if she truly wish to wear one.
On the point that Obama has not engaged in any Middle Eastern countries in diplomacy, I beg to differ. One of his first official act as President is to send a special envoy to the Middle East to re-establish diplomacy with middle eastern countries. His visits to Cairo, and Turkey are also diplomatic gesture to signal the Middle Eastern countries that the US is once again ready for diplomacy. Case in point, just tonight we are sending an Ambassador back to Syria after 4 years of severed ties. Just because the 24 hr news cycle doesn't cover diplomacy in action, it doesn't mean nothing is happening. Diplomacy requires lots of time and patience, and in general patience is not something Americans have in general.
Genni2002
If it isn't sexual discrimination, why do only the women need to cover up?
Wayfarin
to be honest i'm a little bit tired of feminist authors telling men what they can and cannot discuss. we are entitled to opinions on a whole host of 'womens issues'. many women have a very strong opinion on issues relating strictly to men (circumcision, family court law, etc). there is no need for either gender to lobotomize themselves for the sake of political correctness.
This comment has been removed by The Daily Beast's editors.
dominiclagan
This is completely wrong. Sarkozy has just won the elections for the European parliament with a very convincing majority and his latest approval rating is in fact 48% positive (and rising). The constitution of the French Republic does not allow the wearing of any religious or ethnic symbols inside schools; government buildings etc. There is a wide consensus in France on the left as well as right that burquas should be banned in all public places. please do not use writers who are ignorant of the country they are writing about, or it's politics.
Beethy
Burga in public places has become an issue in several Western countries.
In the US, I've seen more burqas since 9/11 than any time before.
It is possible that the Muslim woen are trying to assert their religion and its restrictions on women, but I have also heard that, underneath that veil, women wear fashionable make-up, stylized hair and streaks, jeans, etc., which I am told doesn't quite conform with their religious practices.
Hypocrisy ?
Genni2002
Right and didn't Oprah have a segment on nose jobs and that they get a lot of plastic surgery? Hypos!
also, what about the argument regarding Vit. D from the sun? Perhaps some of them are being forced or pressured into covering up?
Zlata59
This Burqa Business has nothing to do women`s rights. Its all about putting the Moslems in their place. All Moslems.
If this were in Saudi Arabia...I`d wink and smile...but knowing who Sarkozy is and knowing the state of Moslems in France....I`ll be the first to don the Burqa on the Champs Elysee. What`s he gonna do now....bring in the Burqa Bad Boys...like in Iran and Saudi Arabia.
What a bunch of hypocrites the French are. When they wanted to annex Algeria to mainland France the burqas were hardly an issue. When Moslems fought in French wars, Islam was not a problem. When Napoleon invaded Egypt...he went to bed with the mullahs. This is about keeping an ENTIRE segment of the population on the edge, as second class citizens. Countless educated, young and ambitious youths from ethnic and religious minorities are leaving France for Canada and other places, because of racism and discrimination against these French children of immigrants.
Instead of worrying about their lack of opportunities, Sarko is worrying about the trampled rights of 1000 Burqas and the threat they represent to French society. What a bunch of shameless racists, hypocrites and xenophobes.
It just amazes me how the French have been able to have their cake and eat it too....ever since the French Revolution...and the whole world buys their BS.
bkatzoom
typical of news-aggregation websites: no reporting, no fact checking. Latest Sarkozy approval rating poll can be found here
leomarka
Many people feel the burqa is out of place in European society. It seems to me that if the dress of Muslims offends it is probably with good reason. The full length covering implies many things, including alienation from the times we are living in. It is telling that European and American women are expected to wear head covering when in Islamic territory but when their women come to our territory they can wear what they want, even if it is extremly different. The dissent voiced by European women on this issue has to do with belittling men, as usual. The gain to the cause of liberation of females from male oppression is always trumped by the desire of feminists to tell men to shove it.
Trilby16
In Western society, it is only people with something to hide that cover their faces. The fact that some women claim this is their choice really offends and perplexes me. It is very confrontational, that's all I can see. It is very "in your face" to cover one's face.
Call me a bigot, I don't care, that's what I think.
Ozone69
I wonder why the feminists are silent on this one? The fact that Muslim women cover every inch of their bodies except for a tiny slit for the eyes (I'm surprised they are allowed that actually) is the ultimate form of submissive behavior. Arguing that they choose this is laughable. no one chooses anything in Sharia law. You do what you are told or you suffer the consequesnces (usually medieval forms of violence). I applaud the French President on this. This shows he has some backbone and isn't afraid to do what he thinks is right even if it's politically incorrect.
hemingway37
So true ozone69, this is all about domination. Muslim men are cowards and are absolutely terrified at the thought of a woman having any freedoms or choices.
AngelaM
If you want to live in Western Countries then the burqa has no place there. It's time somebody takes a stand on such nonsense and bans it. There are plenty of countries where that garment is required and it's time that people who wish to live like that move there. I applaud Sarkozy for his stand.
liviapeacock
I completely agree. This is France, a Catholic country with a culturally rich history based on Christianity. The societal morays and basic cultural norms are decidedly NOT MUSLIM leaning.
If immigrants wish to live in a western society that's fine, but they must expect to adapt a bit. A burqa or niqab is frightening, it makes it IMPOSSIBLE to have a conversation, interaction or any form of social normalcy.
Nobody is saying that the hijab be banned, it is the over-the-top burqa and niqab that have no place in WESTERN CULTURE.
Just because a woman is oppressed and wishes to stay with her abusive domestic partner doesn't mean we shouldn't have laws about domestic abuse. It is the same principal with these restrictive, abusive, subjugate articles of repression..
politico83
For one thing in the US, you almost never see a burka. The head scarf is even quite rare, yes even in Muslim communities (and living in LA I am right by some of the largest Iranian communities in the world). If the burka was common, if you think it would not become an issue you are almost certainly wrong. The burka would be quite quickly attacked from both the left (it is a symbol of oppression) and the right (we don't like them there foreigners who don't melt into traditional Americans, its time for them to find Jesus and stop dressing all terrorist like). Bill Mahar often calls it the beekeeper suit and discusses how its emblematic of a backwards 12th century (if not earlier) mindset, which it is.
There is no reason to keep the teaching and practice of the burqa around just like there is no teaching of Aristotles spherical model of the universe with the Earth at the center in public schools, no more practice of dueling legally and no more polygamy. There are a lot of practices which are seen over time to be detrimental to the moral order of society and are banned, there is no reason the burqa should not be one of them.
Also if people want to live in the 12th century coming to progressive France was probably a bad call. If they want that lifestyle they can just go live in Saudi Arabia where women still can't drive in many cases and burqas abound. If a French woman went to Saudi Arabia dressed in a mini skirt and tube top they would have the same complaints (and point to similar laws banning the outfit) incidentally.
chuygonza
I agree with all of you when you say that the burka is a symbol of oppression that should not be worn by women because it takes away any individuality that a woman might have, but when you start outlawing certain freedoms, like the freedom to dress in which ever way you please, it opens up other rights for people to attack. I believe that educating women is more important than forcing them out of their burkas. Burkas and headscarves will become obsolete after a generation or two. You can see it here in Minneapolis, where we have a substantial Somali population: 1st generation Somali women still wear their traditional garb, while 2nd and 3rd generation Somali women do not. Some communities take longer to assimilate into new society, but eventually (like it has happened with all racial groups) they do assimilate-- the first thing to go is clothing, second thing to go is language, third thing to go is tradition, and last thing to go is food.
I just feel that when the government dictates what you can and cannot wear, it opens up the law to interpretation. What if I am cold and decide to cover up myself with a shawl? Or in the brutal Minnesota cold, what if I wear a face mask for protection? Or during Halloween; what if I want to be funny and dress up in a Burka? I just dont want to worry about it, that's all.
jus1drun
you make a reasonable argument but would you be willing to extend your logic to say some brazilian or new zealand tribesmen taking naked as a jay bird rides on the ny subway system. i think we have a right to make a few reasonable rules about clothes in public areas.
sophiep
There are areas of Brooklyn near where I live where burqas "abound" as you say. I've also had the misfortune of being near Park / Madison Avenues in Manhattan during the annual Shiite parade -- a sea of black burqas moving down the avenue. I find it offensive and a direct refutation of the core values of a modern democratic society.
aquamarine
I live in the Bronx, and on occasion go to Manhattan on the subway. When I see a woman totally covered, with only her eyes showing, I feel very uncomfortable. I do not know what is there. I can't make any judgement about her (if she is a bit wacky and to be avoided, etc...) I don't even know if this is a woman. It could just as well be a man.
Since they make me so uncomfortable, I wish they would be outlawed.
zunaidv
Since when do you make a judgement on any person from looking at their face? When an unclad, who is dressed scantilly, is judged or perved at by people on subways, then dont those women feel uncomfortable? Hijab protects the womens right of privacy and
Meghanisgreat
Dana,
The French fought very hard for their freedoms and do not tolerate non-sense. Hijab is a symbol of oppression and not modesty. If it was, then men would have to cover themselves up too ! So, in this case, good for the French that do not tolerate hypocracy.
zunaidv
It is a sign of modesty to dawn the hijab and a lot of women wear it out of their own volition. As we all know men and women excercise different levels of modesty. ie. it is perfectly normal for men to bathe topless, but a women bathing topless is not common on all beaches! Hypocrisy is to preach freedom and then outlaw something that should be someones choice.
shell0
Ozone69, I consider myself an ardent feminist and I have this to say: it's none of our business if a woman wants to wear a veil or not. Many men in and from the middle east wear head coverings as well. We cannot interpret all acts by women as acts of submission--some women wear the veil as a pointedly anti-western political statement.
leomarka
to shell0....and you glory in "pointedly anti-Western political statements" don't you?
So.....the Islamic females who choose to emigrate to the Westen nations, enjoy the advancements made by our culture at great cost and effort to ourselves over hundreds of years, and to which the Islamic world has made negligible contribution, should be applauded for giving that culture the sartorial equivalent of the finger?
And you like that?
What are you, a flagellant?
Genni2002
Head coverings? You mention a veil and I don't have a clue what you mean because an entire group of people are having to cover themselves and walk around like giant, dark blobs because they are females over a certain age. Are you comparing being completely covered up whenever you are outside to a scarf? Are you saying that because 'some' men use a head cover, ALL women have to use a head cover?
Thank you.
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