Comments on: Garton-Ash, Bennett and Berkoff on niqab

By: Lopakhin

Lopakhin — Sat, 21 Oct 2006 09:26:06 +0000

Was poor blind Mr Blunkett that much less capable of reading the inner thoughts of others? Maybe poor tinnitus-suffering Mr Straw usually reads people's lips to help him make out what they're saying? Jack Straw (Wikipedia)

By: thabet

thabet — Fri, 13 Oct 2006 15:41:40 +0000

Can’t people get over it alerady?

No, because a women choosing to dress in a religious manner disrupts the narrative of female emapancipation that liberals champion.

By: George Carty

George Carty — Fri, 13 Oct 2006 13:03:41 +0000

Speaking as a non-Muslim man I feel especially protective towards women in long, flowing garments (like those which practising Muslim women wear). I suspect that this may be the real reason why feminists are hostile - they feel that this attitude from men is demeaning…

By: synonym

synonym — Fri, 13 Oct 2006 11:02:51 +0000

With regards to http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/radio4/rhnav/choice/thu/t1/-/radio/aod/radio4_aod.shtml?radio4/unveiled I was surprised at Sheikh Abdul Hakim Murad's comments - which seem to downplay the Niqab, perhaps I misunderstood what he is saying? There also seems to be a reference in there that Sheikh Nuh adviced women not to wear the veil in the West. I believe this suggestion by Sheikh Nuh has been "abrograted" by himself. Listen to it here: http://suhba.org/mp3/download.php?fname=./public/Niqab/20051216 _ Wearing _ the _ Niqab.mp3 He said muslim women can wear whatever they want (i.e Islamic clothing) as long as they do not break the laws of the countries they live in. It is their personal choice. I think (but I'm not sure) the context in which he was saying women should consider not wearing the niqab in the West is Dawah, i.e when it would become an identifiable barrier for a sincere and ordinary non-muslim who is seeking to understand Islam but can't get pass the dressing, but not for those who careless and are condescending towards muslim women.... which seem to be a lot of people these days. Why should you take off your niqab for someone who arrogantly thinks you are oppressed anyway? Why does he need to see the face of such an oppressed woman?

By: synonym

synonym — Fri, 13 Oct 2006 11:02:16 +0000

By: Ann

Ann — Thu, 12 Oct 2006 22:37:32 +0000

“Strive as you will to elevate woman,” he wrote in 1855, “nevertheless the disabilities and degradation of her dress, together with that large group of false views of the uses of her being and of her relations to man, symbolised and perpetuated by her dress, will make your striving vain.”

Are they using this as an argument against niqab? Funny, because I see this as a perfect argument for Islamic dress in general. A woman who wears it is comfortable and modest, and not a slave to the ridiculous fashion industry.

By: AnonyMouse

AnonyMouse — Thu, 12 Oct 2006 21:44:51 +0000

Can’t people get over it alerady? They should realize that many Muslim women wear the niqaab because they CHOOSE to, and that it’s their right to. If they want to know why a Muslim woman would wear the niqaab… why don’t they ASK, nicely and politely?

Really, they’re making such a big deal over something that shouldn’t be a big deal…

By: Tim

Tim — Thu, 12 Oct 2006 16:39:17 +0000

Listen again: http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/radio4/rhnav/choice/thu/t1/-/radio/aod/radio4_aod.shtml?radio4/unveiled You need RealPlayer.

By: Tim

Tim — Thu, 12 Oct 2006 16:33:10 +0000

Is it still ongoing? Clearly I’m as out of touch as ever. Though I did catch Fareena Alam’s programme about the issue on BBC Radio 4 at 1.30pm today.