Right now because of what is happening in France with their Niqab law( a law that is squarely addressed only toward Muslim women) there is alot of debate and discussion going on. President Sarkozy would have one believe that he is trying to liberate the Muslim woman who is forced to wear the veil. Well how is what he doing liberating? By taking away choice, he demeans the Muslim woman. How so? He is forcing his beliefs onto them. How is that freeing? It isn’t.

I am a muslim woman. I am a convert to Islam. I do not wear the hijab or headscarf in English fulltime. I do have a great respect for those who do chose to cover especially here in the west. Why? Because here in the west we have many misconceptions still that are both voiced and unvoiced on a regular basis.

I have personally seen a woman wearing a hijab insulted at a bank here in Toronto by a bank manager. I just happen to be that Muslim woman. When wearing the hijab I a 10th generation Canadian have also been told to go home. I have had the looks, the comments, and yes even had the hijab ripped off me.

Women who wear niqab or hijab for that matter are simply practicing their faith as they best understand it. In a democracy we should have that right. When it comes to matters of faith there needs to be a separation of church and state. Most who choose niqab in the west are like me converts who as they try and walk closer to God find themselves taking up the niqab much like a nun might choose to wear the habit. Did you know Britain banned nuns for many years? Muslim women are not the first to take up the right to worship as they want. When a nun in habit first appeared back in Britian she was seen as a barbarian. Sound familiar?

Did you know historically until the 19th century the veil was NOT part of the average of the average Muslim woman’s life? Not even in the middle east.  It was done historically by the upper class. Till the British occupation many in Egypt were giving up the veil and moving freely amongst society. In fact it wasn’t until the British occupied Egypt that the veil came back into play. As well in the Quran and sunnah( the rules that Muslims follow) woman’s rights are very protected.

Why would a woman cover? Why do some chose it these days? Because they want to draw closer to God. They are not doing it the majority of cases out of force. Most women in the west who are niqabis chose it for themselves, and shouldn’t they have that right?

I am thankful for the constitution here in Canada that states we are free to worship as we see fit. This means if I ever wanted to wear a niqab I could. How I would be seen on the streets is a whole other question.

 

Source: http://commoncentsmom.com/2011/04/13/the-issue-of-the-niqab/