lets talk about Niqab

Lets talk about……….Niqab.

I was driving to the mall yesterday with a very dear friend. NPR, all things considered came on which happens to be my favorite news source…right after bbc world news. One story captured my interest and now I need to rant. This particular story was about the banning of niqab (body and face covering. Shows only the eyes.) in Belgium. Because, apparently, the parliamentary committee who unanimously voted on Wednesday to ban niqab in public, has nothing better to do with their time then to take away a woman's freedom. Thank God Belgium can finally get their act together and vote on something…too bad it’s on the wrong thing. If the house of Representatives vote to ban the Niqab in late April, Belgium will become the first European country to ban Niqab by law. You might have thought France was the first. I also thought this. However France has not gone as far to ban Niqab in public I am sure they will follow soon.
Daniel Bacquelaine, who happened to propose the bill, claims that the bill is not and will not target “the classic headscarf worn by many Muslim women.” What is to stop them from passing another bill? First the Niqab then the hijab. Just because they claim not to be targeting it now doesn’t mean they won’t soon. Last Tuesday the Council of State in France, said that by banning the Niqab in public it is at risk of being unconstitutional. Then President Nicolas Sarkozy responded by saying, such clothing was, “not welcomed.”
As America moved west and had more and more encounters with Native Americans, Native Americans were intergraded with the American culture. They were forced to give up everything they had once known. First the language had to go. Then they could no longer worship or wear traditional clothing. All for what? We did not understand them so we changed them. Is this the road Muslims are about to go down? I know more then one person who will not speak Arabic in public out of fear. I also know countless people who no longer wear Hijab after September 11th. How in any way is this new law going to benefit the society in Belgium or any where else in the world?
The men wanting to ban the Niqab, claim that by covering your entire body you are a high risk. Hmmmmm, Out of all the people I know the women who happen to wear Niqab are the least likely to commit a crime. They are not wearing Niqab because it makes their eyes pop. They wear it because they choose to take an additional step toward being a devoted Muslim. These women who wear Niqab will not be freed if this law is passed. In fact they will be oppressed more then they ever have been. Do they honestly think these women will take off Niqab and strap on a cute mini skirt in order to fit in? The answer is no. These women will end up staying in their homes unable to leave because their rights as free humans have been taken away from them.
As an Muslim American living in an age where many people would like nothing more then to take away one of your basic freedoms, “freedom of Religion.” I am nothing short of being disgusted by the people who claim to be open minded and aware of the rights given to man not by government but by God. Mr. Bacquelaine said, “ wearing the burqa in public is not compatible with an open, liberal, tolerant society.” I would have to go ahead and say that Mr. Bacquelaine couldn’t be more wrong. Wearing Niqab fits in to all the things he has mentioned. A “Tolerant society” would be the first Society to allow women to pick what she wears. Who is he to force a women to wear something they do not feel comfortable in. you could argue that Daniel is no worse then a man forcing a women to wear Niqab. What is the difference? I see none. Both men are forcing a woman to do something they do not want to do because the outcome benefits the man.
I have worn Hijab for a very long time now and it has become part of me. My hijab is the vein that brings blood to my heart. It connects me to my Muslim brothers and sisters all over the world. Never once did my father force Hijab upon me. If Hijab was not forced upon me then who would be the man to force it off me? No law will remove my veins, or the veins of my sisters in Belgium. I am saddened by the fact that my younger sister might have to see hatred because people do not understand her. I pray this law does not pass and with the outcome, comes more understanding and peace between Muslims and non-Muslims