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Muslim Labour Peer: Veil Is A Barrier To Integration


By thabet
Posted on Tue Feb 20, 2007 at 10:44:02 AM EST
Tags: Veil, Integration, NazirAhmed (all tags)

During the latest Doha Debate, participants voted in favour of the motion that the face veil is a barrier to integration in the West. Those in favour of the motion included Labour life peer, Nazir Ahmed:

H H Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser Al Misned, the Chairperson of the Qatar Foundation and Dr Sheikha Abdullah Al Misned, president of the Qatar University, were present among the audience, along with several other dignitaries. The event was chaired by famous TV presenter Tim Sebastian.

Those who supported the motion argued that Muslims living in western societies must avoid wearing Niqab, since it is not obligatory in Islam and because it is considered as a mark of separation by the larger society.

The other side maintained that wearing Niqab is totally an issue of personal freedom and the western societies, which claim to be liberal and pluralistic, are not justified in making a hue and cry on a simple piece of cloth.

Speaking for the motion were Lord Ahmed of Rotherham, the first Muslim to be made a Life Peer in the United Kingdom, and Reem Maghribi, founder of Al Sharq, the premier English language British-Arab culture and lifestyle magazine.

Ahmed Younis, former national director of the Muslim Public Affairs Council in the US, who will soon join as adviser to senior US government officials, and Ayshah Ismail, a teacher at a UK Muslim Girls school who voluntary wears Niqab, opposed the motion.

The debate is not up on the website; when it is I'll post a link.

Interestingly, a number of defences of the veil on liberal rights schemas (i.e. it is a matter of personal liberty), whereas some Muslims who argue that the veil should not be worn, specifically in Western countries, do so on a religious basis.
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Tags: Veil, Integration, NazirAhmed (all tags)
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Muslim Labour Peer: Veil Is A Barrier To Integration | 6 comments (6 topical, 0 hidden)
me(none / 0) (#1)
by Ali Eteraz on Tue Feb 20, 2007 at 12:24:55 PM EST

i do think the niqab is a great barrier to integration largely b/c women in my family have worn it and demonstrated to me exactly how it is a barrier

however im not for legislation that bans it

eating snakes (as they do in Christian churches in TN, and wearing stupid looking hats as do the Amish) are also barriers to integration but we do not ban those. this is why america is awesome.

in fact, even if you go on a majority of american conservative blogs, you'll find that while people might gleefully hate the niqab, they are all for people having the freedom to wear it

europe doesn't have this libertarian impulse 



oye!(none / 0) (#3)
by saa on Tue Feb 20, 2007 at 01:09:09 PM EST

Might I suggest combining your libertarian impulse with a basic dose of tact/politeness when it comes to referring to basic attributes or descriptions of people? I flinched at the adjective you used for amish hats (I think they're cute!) and there are many such instances in your writing where I think you sacrifice grace and true eloquence for pop expressions and double-edged expressions. By contrast your pensive posts are powerful because of choice language as well as insightful analysis.  Just a little care in your more offhand remarks - that's all I am asking.

 



[ Parent ]
oye yourself(none / 0) (#4)
by Ali Eteraz on Tue Feb 20, 2007 at 01:38:34 PM EST
and acha

[ Parent ]
Amish(none / 0) (#5)
by jahandost on Tue Feb 20, 2007 at 01:54:28 PM EST
Don't hate the Amish Ali, otherwise I will have to set up a group called "Muslims for Amish People."

[ Parent ]








a link(none / 0) (#2)
by Ali Eteraz on Tue Feb 20, 2007 at 12:26:59 PM EST

here is a face veiling sister who doesn't think it hinders integration

a masters student @ univ. of chicago 



correction(none / 0) (#6)
by ABD on Tue Feb 20, 2007 at 09:59:39 PM EST

as-salaam alaykum. thanks for highlighting sahar ullah's penetrating piece, but i should point out that:

a) she's reflecting on her past experiences as a one-time niqabi, and

b) she's not really talking about niqab's compatibility with integration. her piece is more concerned with the difficulty young people face in making spiritual choices when a community is as politicized as muslim america has become.



[ Parent ]




Muslim Labour Peer: Veil Is A Barrier To Integration | 6 comments (6 topical, 0 hidden)

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