Hijab and women in the Muslim world

Submitted by Celine Leduc (Canada), Aug 13, 2009 at 21:48

The women portrayed are very beautiful and westernized, this is their choice not to wear a head covering except f they go to a mosque, pray or go for Hajj. However, there is another reality, the woman on the street who wear a hijab not for political reasons, nor because sher husband makes her wear it, it is out of her own conviction and her faith. These are the women who suffer at the hands of very nasty comments.

At Concordia a few years ago, Muslim women were afraid of showing their religion, not only hijab wearing women, but also Jewish young men, they were being attacked verbally by people because they dared show their faith. Christian women and men fear wearing a cross around their necks because they might be ridiculed and harassed... so all those who exhibit their faith can be told to by people LOOK LIKE ME, for I have the TRUTH.... I can criticize rightfully the current government in Iran, they forbid women to uncover, I can criticize France as they refuse women the right to cover in government offices and in schools and universities.... both sides are wrong because women are imposed to dress or undress at the will of a political leader.

My solution is simple let a woman dress as she pleased and yes, be vigilant to expose radicals be it religious fanatics or all religious traditions or secularists of all countries... Let me be free to chose as I can make a decision to cover or uncover my head... What matters and what is more important is to find economic stability and get a good job, education and develop the ability to think and discern what is important and what is not... FREEDOM of CHOICE...

Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome but not comments that are scurrilous, off-topic, commercial, disparaging religions, or otherwise inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the "Guidelines for Reader Comments".