Outlaw the Hijab
Posted by bikyamasr on 09/07/2009
We still haven’t decided whether to put this one in Orientalism Watch yet. Maybe you can help us decide. This one is from the opinion section of the Jerusalem Post. Cheers. -BM
In her book Que Pense Allah de l’Europe?, Iranian thinker and French writer Chahdortt Djavann presents first the views of the proponents of the veil. There are those Muslim women who say, “The veil represents my religion, my culture and my identity. It is a sign of modesty, of self-respect, of submission to God. It is a religious duty written in the Koran… [I wear it] out of my own free will…” She also presents the opinions of European intellectuals who defend the veil on the basis of “the right to be different” and “religious freedom,” and who ask, for example, “If body-piercing and displaying one’s navel is allowed, how can the veil be banned?”
In response, Djavann points out that no regime has ever forced women to go about with their navels showing, whereas the veil is imposed upon several hundred million women around the world. She writes that the veil cannot be presented as a personal choice, disregarding centuries of Islamic history. She adds that it is inappropriate to probe the motivations of every young girl wearing the veil when what is at stake is a political agenda.
Lozah said
Wow, what a coherent and logical argument she makes (roll eyes).
Que Pense Allah de l’Europe?? How about I write a book called Que Pense l’Europe de le reste du monde, particularly people who don’t like them (pardon my horrible French)?
I say this belongs in the Orientalism Watch (aka the Dustbin of History). Dump it in there!