Veil Row Raises Issues of Freedom and Difference Press Association
14 October 2006

Recent controversy over the dress of Muslim women reflects reports of tension in some communities over the rapid pace of change in multicultural modern Britain.

Comments by one senior politician released a great vent of frustration from some quarters over the place of head-dresses and veils.

Yet there is also huge anger that those outside the Islamic world should try to impose their views on ancient customs and practices.

Many point out that it is up to individuals to choose what they wear in a free, open democratic nation, whether it is a veil, turban or baseball cap.

But some have supported Jack Straw's opinion that the veil is 'a visible statement of separation and of difference'' and could inhibit the integration of Muslims.

Of course the question of how Muslim women should dress is a question as old as the Koran, Islam's holy book which is treated as the literal word of God.

In very general terms, it tells men and women to dress modestly, but there are hugely differing interpretations as to how far that goes.

Men are expected to cover the area from the navel to the knee, while for women it is sometimes interpreted as advising covering everything except face, hands and feet.

At the centre of the current debate are two items of headwear for women: the hijab and the niqab.

The hijab is a common sight among Muslim women, a scarf that covers their hair and neck, while the niqab is a veil that covers the entire face, apart from the eyes.

There are few regimes which have insisted that women must cover their faces, but perhaps the most prominent was that in Afghanistan under the Taliban.

Today there are groups working to protect the right of women to wear traditional head-dress in the face of pressure from society to conform.

Rajnaara Akhtar, chair of Protect-Hijab, said the latest row is founded on deep misunderstanding of the significance of the face veil.

She said: 'There are thousands, if not millions, of women around the world who wear the face veil and their societies function very well and they are able to conduct their daily affairs without any problems.

'So I do not buy his argument and I think it is spurious grounds for restricting freedoms which form the foundations of our society,''

Meanwhile Humera Khan, a campaigner for the rights of Muslim families, said the debate over head-dresses was being used by some to fuel Islamophobia.

Mrs Khan, co-founder of the An-Nisa Society, said it is completely up to the individual what they wear and they must work out the implications themselves.

She said: 'We have never imposed anything or judged people even according to their religious practices let alone their dress. People should see themselves positively as Muslims.''

Inayat Bunglawala, of the Muslim Council of Britain, said women in Britain are free to choose what they wear, and that includes head scarves and veils.

He said: 'It is a freedom of our society that we have religious freedom and providing women are wearing the niqab out of their own choice, it is really nobody's business.

'Even within the Muslim community there are many different opinions on the niqab and only a minority view it as compulsory.''

Mr Bunglawala added: 'It is important to point out that if women are wearing the veil out of their own choice then that choice ought to be respected.''