Niqab: A Choice

Assalamu'alaykum,

The act of putting a piece of cloth on the face, covering the fluffy smooth skin has given tremendous impact upon the societies across the region. Opinions, views and perspectives as viewed fall in a dichotomy; Left wing or Right wing. In spite of analysing people's ideologies and putting them into a specific group so that it will be easier to identify and attack, abruptly, it seems that it does not go that way and definitely has gone beyond as what expected. Majority of the Muslims demand the exact definition of freedom of religion in its pristine form which can be seen as purely deteriorating. The issue now goes back to its main core disputed topic: Human Rights.

Human Rights as declared in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1948, quoted Article 1-3 (visit here):

Article 1

All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.

Article 2

Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it be independent, trust, non-self-governing or under any /other limitation of sovereignty.

Article 3
Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.

This article is directly and without evasion explaining the rights and freedom of individuals to abide by any faiths or beliefs as well as to practice it as desired. There should not be any sort of discrimination or oppression that shall be imposed on the individuals whenever he or she decides to practice it. Albeit, the topic here is not about the long-listed articles of human rights made by United Nation even though France agrees to stand for, but it is about the recent proscription made by the most liberal and secular -though it is diminishing- French government last year on September 2010 and officially enforced last 3 days.

Violation of Human Rights


Straightforwardly, French government has violated the Human Rights whether on the basis of United Nation's declaration or French principles itself. What kind of freedom do women have when they are prohibited to wear a religious garment as they believe as a mark of piety? People are sanely aware over the existence of secularism that is inextricably tied with French government but it is stated here once again, that this is not merely a religious propaganda but also a right that humans are entitled with.

Guy Canivet, the first president of the Court of Cassation, the highest French court in judiciary said that:

"Freedom is the rule, and its restriction is the exception; any restriction of Freedom must be provided for by Law and must follow the principles of necessity and proportionality."

The aforementioned quotation symbolizes the French laws for restriction of freedom must be provided by Law and follows the principles of necessity and proportionality. When a Muslim woman, walking down the street, covering her face and guide her modesty would not it be counted as a necessity compared to those who expose parts of their body which leads to sexual arousal hence increases the statistic of crime rate ?. People do not have to go so far away to conduct a research on the rampant despicable crimes that are creeping all over the world now but to look in their own particular country themselves. It is no longer safe for a woman to amble around the city but to be stared at lustfully triggered by their reproachable dress. Why would not you make a reservation for these not only Muslims but also other women who have a brain to mull over the natural consequences of the deplorable dresses that might just appear all of a sudden by replacing that with the most decent and moderate cloth.

Modern Paradox


What most of us would hear whenever the media broadcast a debate live in television, the ones who opposed the wearing of Niqab would argue that it is not the issue of protecting one's thrones but it is the issue of exclusion from the society. There are thousands of if not less Muslim women holding a degree and master pursuing after their ambitions with their face covered. This is not a baseless argument but with empirical evidence and vividly seen in the universities from Al-Azhar University in Cairo, Egypt up to the International Islamic University Malaysia where we have hundreds of Muslim women face veiled and verbally articulate their point of view out loud, so vehemently. They are with the society, they conduct a study group and so much praiseworthy works that nearly impossible to be jotted down here. Not only students, but also as social workers where they are working so elegantly in the world-class office with expensive laptop switched on and briefcase placed by their side while at the same time organising the meeting with face fully covered and not even an inch of their body is exposed but respected accordingly. Those women even earn thousands of money. These arguments also being brought forth by the feminist group and vocally condemns Niqab.


Apart from that, the Niqab also is perceived as excruciating and intimidating. Some said that they feel not more than mildly discommoded having unknown people looking at them with nil identification. To clarify here, having your sisters wearing the face-veil is not telling you to not approach them and get along with. Of course, it is inappropriate for men to get close with women for no relevant reasons but strongly urged for sisters to build up the spirit of sisterhood. To know them, you have to deal with their brain not by the appearance.

Sister Hebah Ahmed as for instance, is a Mechanical Engineer and has been writing numerous inspirational and eye-opener articles about Islam and worldly issues in her website accessible anywhere. If the ones say that this is not a religious issue, why now you are associating the dissaperance of women as you said with the submission towards the One Magnificent Entity?.

This is obviously modern backward paradox.

It is not on my responsibility to conclude the issue over here blindly, but to prompt this discussion to be held everywhere so that people will actually understand and have some profound contemplation on what does it really mean of being a successful and respected woman.

"If she wants diversity and Islamic belief, then she has to accept my version just like she wants me to accept hers."

- Sister Hebbah Ahmed, CNN.

Respect Now!.

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