June 22, 2009 10:55 AM
Sarkozy rips burqa, stands up for women!
Here is some good news - a leader finally standing up against the oppression of women. Time to remove the PC kid gloves with which we handle this matter.
Sarkozy says burqas are 'not welcome' in France
Jun 22 10:24 AM US/EasternPARIS (AP) - President Nicolas Sarkozy lashed out Monday at the practice of wearing the Muslim burqa, insisting the full-body religious gown is a sign of the "debasement" of women and that it won't be welcome in France.
The French leader expressed support for a recent call by dozens of legislators to create a parliamentary commission to study a small but growing trend of wearing the full-body garment in France.
In the first presidential address in 136 years to a joint session of France's two houses of parliament, Sarkozy laid out his support for a ban even before the panel has been approved--braving critics who fear the issue is a marginal one and could stigmatize Muslims in France.
"In our country, we cannot accept that women be prisoners behind a screen, cut off from all social life, deprived of all identity," Sarkozy said to extended applause in a speech at the Chateau of Versailles southwest of Paris.
"The burqa is not a religious sign, it's a sign of subservience, a sign of debasement--I want to say it solemnly," he said. "It will not be welcome on the territory of the French Republic."
Read entire article here.
The big question is: why do Muslim fundamentalists leave their countries for less oppressive ones, then expect the welcoming countries to conform to their customs? Americans need to know that this is becoming a horrendous problem in European nations where Muslims now make up a sizable segment and are consequently demanding legal accommodations which fly in the face of our heritage of liberty and justice.
And another personal question: have you seen a burqa or niqab up close and personal? I have twice - once at the National Zoo and once in Macy's. I found the experience extremely unsettling - emotionally and physically - kinda like I would feel if I'd seen a master dragging a slave in chains.
Posted in Culture Wars, Current Affairs | Permalink
Comments
I am struggling a bit with this one. I see both sides and am not sure which one rings deeper and truer with me.
First, I agree with the premise that this dress debases women--but does it debase them anymore than the dress of teen and college-aged women who wear skirts that barely cover their undergarments with tops that barely cover bikini tops? The difference lies in the demand of a culture to dictate the wearing of one as norm versus the choice of the individual to wear the other.
But my other concern is that banning the wearing of a traditional religious clothing is akin to demanding that Mennonite women not wear their headcoverings in public, or that Christians not wear crosses in public. Once a government demands that certain clothing is prohibited in public because of the government's view of the religion it represents, you are only moments away from losing religious freedom altogether.
And then, I think of American and western tourists in the Middle East--women who are not Muslim are expected to cover their heads, arms, and legs when in public in their culture.
I am less offended by being asked to wear more in another country than the idea of being told to wear less, I guess. That's it...IMHO.
Posted by: Ceci | June 22, 2009 1:40 PM
I don't have any problem with women wearing clothing (from a sari to a hijab) that represents their religious affiliation or cultural mores about modesty. But, like Sarkozy, what I know about the burqa in particular is that it represents repression and abuse of women. There may be some women who choose to wear it, but the accounts I've read about women who've been forced to wear it are disturbing. What's also disturbing is the potential problems that come with burqas - the refusal to remove them for drivers' license pictures, for example. Plus, since those who insist on burqas tend to also belong to the more extreme forms of Islam, there are public safety issues - I'm sorry, but it's a lot easier to hide explosives under all those robes. In countries that are dealing with jihadist attacks, it makes sense to outlaw clothing that conceals a person's identity.
Personal feelings about burqas aside (I feel they take away a woman's identity and ability to communicate with the world around her - and communication is a deep need for women) I do think it's dangerous to legislate clothing. On the other hand, if it would keep the extremists in their own countries and possibly bring freedom to women who are suffocating under the weight of the burqa, I'm all for that.
Posted by: Lucy | June 22, 2009 3:04 PM
I feel that it is a matter of religious freedom, and we should not interfere.
Many Muslim women who wear a full hijab with face veil (niquab) feel it is liberating for all of the same reasons which Christian women find modest clothing liberating. It takes the emphasis off of their physical appearance, and forces you to relate to their person instead.
Many personal testimonies I have read on Muslim blogs say that much as you would not relate your entire personal life to a stranger, so they prefer to keep their physical appearance known to those who they are acquainted with, and not everyone that they meet.
So, while I do not agree with their religious beliefs, and find that in the research I've done, that sort of extreme covering is probably not religiously mandated (the hadith, or saying of the Prophet Muhammad, the Muslim version of Catholic Tradition only requires covering the hair, arms to the wrist, and legs to the ankle), I still feel it is their right to do as they choose.
Also consider the next step taken by the French. Because prohibiting veils in school was too discriminatory, they also prohibited wearing yarmulkes and crosses or crucifixes. Stop the rights of one religion, and all are in danger.
Posted by: Kelly | June 22, 2009 3:35 PM
I can go along with Ceci on this one.
But ugh.
Moderation in all things is wisdom and I wish that could become the norm. My 3 teen aged daughters and I would love to see MORE fabric on the other girls and women, particularly at church.
But that burqa thingy .... monstrous is right.
Posted by: Cynthia | June 22, 2009 3:39 PM
While the state should have no control over what a person wears for the sake of their faith, I think that in the case of public safety some limits are warranted. For example: in our culture, the wearing of a ski mask implies that you are a violent person bent on destructive activity and wish to hide your identity. Even on sub-zero days, you will find most people in cities wearing scarves over their faces (leaving the nose mostly exposed) in order to project an image of upright citizenry. The same should be so for the facial veil. If a Muslim woman prefers to wear the burqa for her own religious expression, it should not be forbidden, but modified to reflect the culture that she resides in. The Muslim community should show some sensitivity to the culture that they currently reside in and request the women to show their faces in public as it would do much to disarm others and promote greater tolerance and understanding between the communities.
Facial exposure is the minimum needed to establish and identity, and in our current times with the threat of terrorism, people need to be more aware of the way in which they present themselves. It's a slippery slope anytime the government gets involved in religious matters, but perhaps for common good of improving relations between the Muslim and Western communities, facial exposure of a woman in a burqa should be mandated.
I'm curious about how many women in this country would be issued a drivers licence if wearing a full burqa including facial veil? Is it even possible? Kind of contradicts the entire purpose of establishing a state identity...
The comment above from Lucy piqued my curiousity.
Posted by: Sarah | June 22, 2009 4:04 PM
This is not a serious response. Here's something I posted on my blog once: "James recently gave me an occasion to laugh my head off. While at the CO Railroad Museum, he walked out of the men's bathroom to come suddenly "face-to-face" with a woman in a burqa.
He was so startled that he jumped, and then embarrassed by his reaction, he nervously said, "Hi." I think the burqa somewhat defeated the woman's desire not to be noticed. James certainly noticed her more than any other woman around!
Posted by: Meliss | June 22, 2009 4:12 PM
I've seen many women in burkas during my military travels and it breaks my heart knowing the stigma that goes with it in my mind. Having to watch them hide while eating (lifting the front just to bring the food to their mouths), walking behind the men... it's very stifling for the women. I'm all for a woman's choice to wear something like this, but not forced.
I do recall an Air Force officer telling her male superiors "NO" to having to wear Islamic clothing if she was to leave base. I didn't blame her then and don't now because it's not just a society thing.. .it's a religious statement and for me to have to wear the hajib or some other form of Islamic clothing, to my heart, it would be saying I agree with that religion and I most certainly do not.
I wear head coverings to Mass and have a much more conservative clothing style. I wish more women would respect their bodies more and not showcase their sexual *ahem* assets. But our society has reduced women to nothing more than that. But it's my choice to dress in that fashion and it makes me feel more like a woman. Especially knowing that men that are speaking to me are actually speaking *to me* not my T&A.
Sorry for the long post... but I do NOT like the burka and I'm with Sarkozy on this one. Because so much can be hidden under the burka, I'm not comfortable with it either. How many of our soldiers have been killed by terrorists wearing a burka and because we respect them enough to NOT search them unless a female soldier is there to do the searching, there is no way to really ascertain immediately if that burka wearing terrorist is really a female in the first place!!! It's naturally built into our soldiers heads that when they see a female, they tend to not feel too threatened, so how many terrorists play off that sentimentality?
sorry so long...
Posted by: Dirtdartwife | June 22, 2009 6:11 PM
I'm with Sarkozy on this one, too. Those burkas are oppressive to women. If the women "choose" to wear them it's because they've been brainwashed. I understand the religious arguments here but this screams red flags everywhere.
Posted by: Sue from Buffalo | June 22, 2009 9:10 PM
Thank you so much for posting this. The world needs to become aware of the extreme oppression hundreds of thousands of Muslim women live under day after day. I received a message on Facebook by a Muslim woman (Allison) from Florida recently. Here it is:
"I've been feeling stressed and conflicted. I accepted Islam in July 2001 (a long time ago). I always thought wearing the hijab was my choice or not... as I am use to being a "free" American... and an adult who makes her own decisions. After marrying a muslim from Saudi, I quickly discovered it is NOT my choice. He says I am his dependent. He prefers that I stay in the house all the time and not talk to any man; not wear make-up, not wear pants, and the list goes on.
I read in Quran about people who leave Islam being killed... I was shocked and horrified. I feel like I lost my freedoms. People say "your an American" it's different here... you are free. But it does not feel like it... I feel at risk... Please keep our conversations from being posted on my profile. I appreciate your honesty on your posts and I have been learning more."
Allison says the loves the poetry by Nimah Nawwab, a Muslim woman. "It really cries out and speaks to us", she said. Here is one of Nimah's poems. Beautiful and soul-wrenching. Let's pray for these imprisoned women!!
Gentleness Stirred by Nimah Nawwab
Striding through the gates of learning,
Wrapped warmly in her black abaya,
Modestly cloaked head to toe,
Not a hair astray, nor skin showing,
Holding her head up high,
Thinking of the future,
Arms laden with books,
Head in the clouds,
Lunch, television, studies, friends,
That is how her day will go
Near future, far future,
Blissful, brimming with expectations.
“Hey, you there!” thunders across the parking lot
“You with the black boots” the tone is raised
Oh, oh, reluctantly she turns,
Fear stirs,
Flinching,
Watches wrath unleashed.
The self-righteous, bushy-bearded figure,
Crashes through the crowds,
Bestriding his narrow world like a Colossus,
As his entourage hurries in his wake,
A raging bull on the rampage,
Seeing red as the girl flouts ‘convention.’
Necks crane to watch,
The crowds are in on the show.
He thunders on,
The police by his side
“Stop, your scarf has slipped.”
The tirade begins, gains momentum.
Head cast down,
Eyes to the ground,
Shoulders drooping
She listens,
Afraid,
Confused,
Cringing,
Burrowing into her deepest self.
Has she missed a prayer?
Has she been a disobedient daughter?
Cheated, lied, stolen,
Beaten a child, an animal, been cruel to another soul?
What did she do?
Her scarf slipped,
An unforgivable transgression,
In the eyes of the Controllers.
Is that her sin,
Her ever-lasting humiliation,
Her major fall from grace,
Her offense?
The mind is strange, the spirit stranger yet,
The rebellion begins.
* Abaya is the outer garment worn by women in Persian Gulf
Countries
Posted by: Julia from TC | September 5, 2009 2:17 PM
Oh my gosh, Julia from TC. That was incredible.
Thank you so much for posting that. I don't know what to say.
Posted by: Sue from Buffalo | September 5, 2009 8:57 PM
Hello,
I ran across this after "googling" images of women in niqab. I found your blog interesting, especially the comments. I feel compelled to express the sense of security I have from covering my body and face. I am muslim and I live in the U.S. I cover when I leave my home and I do it to fulfill my religious obligation in my religion.
I understand the concern that many of the women have on this site but rest assured that the oppression does not lie in screening ourselves from the public male eye. The oppression lies in the ignorance of the masses who don't understand this religion yet they want to add their opinion or offer "liberation" to something that they can't begin to fathom. Therefore, resulting in making us just like you. This isn't help, actually it is the true oppression which trickles down oppression of Muslim women because the basic tenants of the religion are traded for outside ideologies that throw off the balance of the religion.
There is reciprocity in Islam between men and women but unfortunately it is traded for worldly gains and the balance of family life,love, charity,kindness, and good moral character are lost.
I'd like to say thank you for your concern for my sisters but please understand what oppression truly is before you offer "liberation" to women you don't understand.
Also, thank you Ceci for your open minded comment,its a beginning for sincere dialogue with women of other religious/ethnic backgrounds.
Zainab
Posted by: Zainab | October 10, 2009 7:18 PM
I completely agree with Zainab. I'm a muslim woman and there was oppression involved with me wearing hijab except the oppression of wanting to fit in with society before that. Yes there is oppression when it comes to someone forcing another to do something they don't want to do. Now what about those who actually want to wear hijab,niqab or the burka? What do you have to say about that? There is oppression everywhere among any religion or race. But does that mean that whatever is being forced is wrong? No, the action of forcing is wrong. Someone could force someone to do something righteous or evil, but does that mean that righteousness is wrong? Also, do you even know anything about Islam? I know in other religions there are many rules that are neglected or changed that no one cares to do anything about. I see it as a beautiful thing that Muslim women go far away from the pressure of Western society to be as careless as they are about morals and modesty. Seeing a woman or man with 15% of clothing is pretty scary. Seeing a man that really is a woman is pretty scary, but yet there's laws that permit those things to happen. Laws that are been made by politicians that gladfully vote for them. Just remember that America( or western society) is built on slavery and oppression, an oppression that is still going. And the worst part is that you don't even know it.
Posted by: Alisha | November 7, 2009 9:36 AM
