Or as my research supervisor once mentioned, even just live in London for a while - as it’s a lot more multicultural than north-east England. I think the rents would be problem though…

Well, to be honest, the other side of my brain was screaming “How dare you think like that, you misogynistic creep!”

OP: Don’t you think you should join the 21st century.

Could you explain to me logically why modest dress is an anachronism?

I wonder if the anti-modesty prejudice of modern Western society is partially because of the association of modesty with the genuinely oppressive women’s clothing of the Victorian era?

I find it ironic that in the West, there’s a big uproar about whether to use the word “Christmas” to describe Chrstmas.

Yet I’m sitting here in Kuwait and I can’t turn around without seeing advertisements for Christmas stuff (which specifically say “Christmas”), or Christmas trees and decorations and sweets at the supermarket, or the “Merry Christmas” headline on the front page of my newspaper. Or the front page interview with the Kuwaiti pastor of one of the Christian churches.

===================

I don’t care if Christians want to wear crosses, but I do want to point out that it’s not the same as a Muslim woman wearing hijab. A hijab is covering a part of the body that we believe must be covered, but a cross is an optional accessory that’s not required of Christians, as far as I know.

==================

Atticus, have you read “from My Sisters’ Lips”? I’d like to get it, insha’allah.

===================

George, I appreciate your honesty and I appreciate your response to that feeling - trying to learn more about Muslims. You don’t have to agree with us in the end, but at least you’ll base your opinions on reality and not the usual stereotypes.

=================

Even in those Muslim countries where a lot of women wear niqab, they are required to remove them for photo IDs and if they’re requested for official identification. In reality, if someone needs to see your face (when crossing a border, for example), they have women staff members to handle women travellers. And the photo shops have women photographers to photograph women. So the faces show on the ID cards, but women rarely have to actually uncover their faces.

What a sexist remark. Don’t you think you should join the 21st century.

Well since its preformed on the vast majority of births in the United States I couldn’t see anyone here really objecting to it.

About the “queasey” thing, its not just niqab with me (and most people), its anything thats extremely different from the norm. So I don’t think its really xenephobia.

i.e. goths with tons of white face paint and pierceings on every part of their body also make me feel this way, to a much greater extent than a niqabi would.

But you can’t tell adults what kind of clothes they want to wear in public just because you find it strange. So its really a non-issue.

MUSLIMS are protesting at the Islington Council’s “moronic anti-Christian purge” of Christmas.

The council declined to use the name “Christmas lights” this year - insisting on calling them “festive lights” instead.

In Newington Green there was an “inter-faith Celebration of Light” ceremony. Even many Islington schools now refer to the Christmas holiday as “the winter festival”.

But Abuse Munassir, of the Al Nehar Mosque in Caledonian Road, King’s Cross, said: “Blaming Christian traditions for being offensive to Islam is ridiculous and completely untrue.

“This practice is absolute madness. Islington’s councillors must wake up and strive to create harmony and diversity rather than destroying it.”

Mr Munassir added: “My younger Islamic community members are considering marching on Islington Town Hall in a peaceful protest against this anti-Christian moronic purge.

I suspect one factor that may have had an effect is that where I live (Durham) there are hardly any Muslims - it is unusual to see a hijabi, never mind a niqabi!

Although I’m not even sure whether hijab and/or jilbab are a good idea in the West - most non-Muslim women I see are so unfeminine in their appearance that a jilbabi would look stunningly beautiful in comparison (I certainly felt that once, when I saw one in my university library).

You certainly shouldn’t be derided for feeling the way you did in that shop. By frequenting blogs such as this, you’ve at least shown a willingness to engage and try to understand, which is to be respected.

Yes, after the event I felt terribly guilty. It was an unconscious, visceral reaction. Perhaps I find it difficult to relate to someone if I can’t see their face.

The queasiness of strangers is not itself a good reason to modulate the practice of ones faith. The problem with that argument is why stop at niqab, I know people who feel queasy about hijab and at least one old pickler that takes issue with jilbab. I know that some of my fellow travelers on the tube would feel a whole lot less queasy if I were to invest in one of these; According to the adverts, this will make strange women so un-queasy that they will want to rub their faces up against mine. Then there are those people who feel queasy about male circumcision (some even calling it ritualised child abuse) and our method of slaughter.

I accept that there is a practical issue about security and identification that relates to niqab, but like any practical problem, there is a practical solution if people are serious about finding one. I do think Muslims could do more to allay people’s fears and misconceptions, but this has to be a two-way process. You certainly shouldn’t be derided for feeling the way you did in that shop. By frequenting blogs such as this, you’ve at least shown a willingness to engage and try to understand, which is to be respected. That woman you saw in the shop could have been my own sister who I can assure you is a very bright and thoughtful woman with a rich and interesting life who, of her own volition, chooses to dress that way as an act of submission to God. I recommend this book.