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[johnslat]

Hmm, no more "veiled sentiments" at Syrian Universities, it seems.

DAMASCUS, Syria � Syria has banned the face-covering Islamic veil from the country's universities to prevent what it sees as a threat to its secular identity, as similar moves in Europe spark cries of discrimination against Muslims
"The Education Ministry issued the ban Sunday, according to a government official who spoke on condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to speak publicly.
The ban, which affects public and private universities, is only against the niqab � a full Islamic veil that reveals only a woman's eyes � not headscarves, which are far more commonly worn by Syrian women.
The billowing black robe known as a niqab is not widespread in Syria, although it has become more common recently � a move that has not gone unnoticed in a country governed by a secular, authoritarian regime.
"We have given directives to all universities to ban niqab-wearing women from registering," the government official told The Associated Press on Monday.
The niqab "contradicts university ethics," he added, saying the government was seeking to protect its secular identity.
He also confirmed that hundreds of primary school teachers who were wearing the niqab at government-run schools were transferred last month to administrative jobs.
Syria is the latest country to weigh in on the veil, perhaps the most visible hallmark of conservative Islam. The wearing of veils has spread in other secular-leaning Arab countries such as Jordan and Lebanon, as well, with Jordan's government trying to discourage it by playing up reports of robbers who wear veils as masks.
Turkey also bans Muslim headscarves in universities, with many saying attempts to allow them in schools amount to an attack on modern Turkey's secular laws.
European countries including France, Spain, Belgium and the Netherlands are considering bans on the grounds that the veils are degrading to women.
France's lower house of parliament overwhelmingly approved a ban on wearing burqa-style Islamic veils on July 13 in an effort to define and protect French values, a move that angered many in the country's large Muslim community.
Opponents say such bans violate freedom of religion and will stigmatize all Muslims.
Duaa, a 19-year-old university student in Damascus, said she hopes to continue wearing her niqab to classes when the next term begins in the fall despite the ban.
Otherwise, she said, she will not be able to study.
"The niqab is a religious obligation," said Duaa, who asked that her surname not be used because she was not comfortable speaking publicly on the issue. "I cannot go without it."

Regards,
John

[veiledsentiments]

Ah... but sentiments can be veiled without covering the face...

But there are two mis-statements in that article. The first is not surprising since this is the AP article and they are generally inaccurate on many details in their articles. The second is typical of so many of my Muslim female students who didn't seem to know the rules of their own religion.

[ummkhadija]

Dear VS,

I agree with you in stating that,

[veiledsentiments]

[scot47]

I see an English Tory MP has tabled a Private Member's Bill to ban face-covering in public places in the UKofGB&NI.

I do not often agree with English MP's particularly those of the Tory variety, but...........................................................

[walkingstick]

All of this business about Islamic women being veiled just goes back to the fact that Islamic men want to exert power over women and they think Muhammad gave them that right. I find it interesting what is happening in Gaza right now: they are wanting to ban women from using a water smoker in public. That's just something little, but it's amazing how much women are placed in a position of inferiority in Islam. Oh, there are so many examples in the Muslim religion of how men see themselves as superior. Of course we can thank the Quran for this.

Surah 2:228 states:
"Women shall have rights similar to the rights against them, according to what is equitable; but men have a degree over them."

Hadith 3:826 states:
"Muhammad asked some women, 'Isn't the witness of woman equal to half of that of a man?' The woman said, 'Yes.' He said, 'This is because of the deficiency of the woman's mind."

Oh and this is my favorite one (totally sarcastic)
Surah 4:34
"As to those women on whose part you fear disloyalty and ill-conduct, admonish them, refuse to share their beds, beat them."

And yes, the Arabic actually says this. I had one of my Muslim male friends look it up. He was shocked to learn that the Quran actually said that.

[veiledsentiments]

Of course, the Quran also points out many women's rights. The sad thing that I saw was how few of the young women had seemed to have read the Quran closely enough to even know them. I was constantly being told that the Quran had told them to cover their hair or do this or that. I would merely claim interest and ask them for the Surah so that I could read it in my translations. They would invariably come back and tell me that it wasn't there. Thus it seems that they rely on what the local Imam or the men of their family who interpreted things to their benefit.

Fatima Mernissi, the Moroccan writer, has written an interesting analysis of how or why so many of the misogynistic interpretations have taken over through the Sunnah. Surprisingly I found this book in an HCT women's college library and always wondered if any of the students had read it. I was leery of recommending it in case families got upset.

VS

[walkingstick]

[basiltherat]

Unfortunately, all this rules about not having one's face covered, while aimed at the often religious only, will only ultimately develop into one (in europe and America especially) not being permitted to walk down a high street in a Santa Claus outfit over xmas or halloween costume or even standing around in a motorcycle helmet ( I am sure there are more examples).

While I am in favour of having muslim women show their faces, I can only think that the whole issue will eventually turn into a farce and sheer absurdity.

Best
Basil

[walkingstick]

I agree with Basil. It's absurd for a country to make a law about what people can and cannot wear. It's just as bad as a country that forces women to wear hijab.

I am not concerned about the United States doing this because our American constitution includes freedom of expression and freedom of religion. I am more concerned about Europe making such laws. And then there are countries like Iran and Saudi Arabia that force people to wear a certain clothing.

Rachel
(walkingstick)

[ummkhadija]

Dear VS,

[walkingstick]

Dear Ummkhadija,

Regardless of your interpretation of Islam or mine for that matter, the fact still remains that if you are a non-muslim and want to teach in a muslim country, you are forced to wear religious clothing. The key word here is FORCED.

Muslims can come to my country and wear whatever they want to wear, but if I go to an Islamic republic, then I am FORCED to wear what they want me to wear.

It makes teaching in those countries a bit of a pain. I usually can't wait to come back to the States where I can be free to dress how I'd like and to say anything I want to say.

I feel bad for the Muslim women who do not want to wear the headscarves and the face veils but are forced to do so. I feel just as bad for the Muslim women who want to wear them but are told they cannot.

Best regards,
Rachel

[ummkhadija]

Dear WalkingStick

[walkingstick]

Dear Ummkhadija

I understand what you are trying to say, but there is a difference between company or business dress code and a dress code enforced by the government on all people.

In America, out in public a muslim can wear whatever he or she wants to wear. But in an Islamic republic I cannot wear whatever I want to wear out in public because I would be FORCED to wear hijab.

There is not an equity among nations. Some are just better than others!


In kindness,
Rachel

[ummkhadija]

Dear WalkingStick