First published in Whole Woman - Winter 2011

All around the world war has been declared on that which appears Islamic. People of middle eastern appearance are searched more thoroughly before boarding planes, mosques are vandalised, and women who observe Muslim dress codes are routinely verbally, and sometimes physically, assaulted. The veil is one of the most controversial issues faced by Muslims in Westernised countries.

Hijab is the Arabic word for cover, but it can also translate to the segregation of  unrelated, unmarried men from women. There are a number of different types of veil, all coming under the banner of hijab. In Afghanistan there is the well known, and most extreme form of hijab, the burqa which is most commonly a blue cover that goes from head to foot with a mesh covering over the eyes allowing women to see out. In Saudi Arabia, the niqab and the abaya are worn, and in other places a simple scarf covering the hair will suffice.

There are three main verses in the holy Qur’an which are cited  as the direction to veil, they are:

{ "O Prophet! Tell your wives and daughters and the women of the believers to draw their cloaks (jalabib) close round them (when they go abroad)..."} (33:59)

{ "And tell the believing women to lower their gaze and be modest, and to display of their adornment only that which is apparent, and to draw their veils over their bosoms..." (24:31)

{ "... And when you ask of them (the wives of the Prophet) anything, ask it of them from behind a veil. . ." } (33:53)

There is much controversy surrounding these verses and whether or not they actually direct women to veil. Many claim that the Prophet was simply imploring women and men alike to behave modestly and virtuously. It is worth highlighting here, that the direction to dress modestly applies to men as well as women, however a veil is a far more noticeable dress code and thus it causes much more controversy.

In France the hijab has been banned and in Australia there is often discussion of it in various corridors of power. France and three other countries have banned hijab in educational institutions and government buildings. They claim two reasons are behind the ban, one, safety - to prevent women from hiding weapons  inside their burqas, and two, as a statement of liberation for women.

Those who are in favour of banning hijab come from a wide variety of backgrounds, from right wing extremists, to left wing progressives, and feminists, and they have a myriad of reasons supporting their arguments against veiling. Interestingly enough there are not many well known Muslim women who oppose the hijab, and very few opponents of the veil ever claim to have spoken to the women who actually wear a head scarf.

In countries which have successfully founded peace within a system of religious freedom, this one act could easily take us onto very dangerous ground. To claim that it furthers the cause of feminism is a completely inane argument. Feminism is about choice. Forcing women to dress one way or another is not about feminism, it is about fear and control, and it discriminates against women of the Islamic faith.

To many women who wear hijab  every day, suddenly being told they must cease dressing as they want, is akin to telling a westernised woman that she must now be naked when she leaves her home. And then there is the other side of the coin, where it is a woman’s husband or father who dictates that she must wear hijab. When the law bans her from covering herself, her father may in turn ban her from leaving the home to study or participate in other everyday activities. Women in this situation would suffer discrimination and oppression from every direction.

Those who fear Islamic extremism and link Muslims to terrorism, must be made aware that removing religious freedom will not serve to maintain safety. It is more likely to breed dissatisfaction in otherwise moderate Muslims. The veil does not oppress women when they live in a country where they are free to dress as they choose, not unless they would prefer to wear western clothing and are made to veil by their family or community.

Surely the liberation of women comes from giving them all the available information, and the choice to decide for themselves what to wear. Any society which seeks to further equality has no choice but to allow all women to dress as they feel comfortable. In fact it could be argued that forcing a woman to unveil is no different from forcing her to cover herself. Whether or not we as western women perceive the veil as a slight upon women’s rights, the issue of veiling is not for governments anywhere to concern themselves with, this is an issue that only the women in hijab must determine.