Does it check the Islamic headscarf in European liberalism?
By: Geraldine Gonzalez de la Vega
Last Thursday in the Belgian Parliament was prepared vote for a law to prohibit and sanction the use of the burka in public places, but Prime Minister surprised by his resignation and the vote was pending. Belgium had been and still can, be the first European country to prohibit and sanction the use of this dress. France is working on a project very similar.
What is the Burka and other details
First of all it is worth mentioning that there are various types of veils worn by women who practice Islam. The Hijab is the Islamic dress code for women, it establishes that they must cover most of the body and, depending the sociocultural environment in which they live and orthodox religious practice, more comprehensive will be the veil. Hijab in Arabic means hidden or covered. The history of the hijab is associated since antiquity with the respectability of women differed between free women and slaves, who were not carrying any kind of veil. The hijab appears more strongly at the time of Muhammad, where it was understood that the woman who showed her body was under a man, that is or was a slave or prostitute. Thus, the veil gives dignity to women who carry it, denoting submission to God and not a man.
Although controversial mention of the hijab in the Quran there are verses which can be interpreted use. Like Christianity, Islam has several branches, including Sunni Islam and Shiism. The four major Sunni schools (Hanafi, Shafi'i, Maliki and Hanbali) dictate that women must cover all the body except the face and hands. Salafi school on the other hand strongly recommended that you also cover hands and face, but not required. The basic rule that all agree on is that the Women must be covered whenever you are in the presence of a member of the opposite sex, although precencia male family members (mahram) women can opt for the more relaxed dress code. It is said that "a woman must cover her body with clothing that is not carved and should behave and walk so as not to attract sexual attention to her."
Now the truth Shia Islam is that, Asia is much more rigorous and from the beginning has been separated from the Sunni interpretation, Mediterranean and more tolerant, with the exception of Afghanistan and shed existing Sunni Wahhabism in Saudi Arabia. Shiism advocate a dogmatic religion and puts women in a more submissive status. However, this comes less than the religion itself that the cultural background in which part ( Sami Nair. Foreign Affairs en Espa ñ ol June-July 2007 ).
Different interpretations on the use of the hijab have been criticized, mostly by Muslim feminists who say that use of the hijab has been a sexist interpretation of the holy book of Islam which has only served to keep the woman humiliated and repressed.
The custom of covering the body and head has spread throughout the Islamic culture, even for men. The face veil has been much less used and is restricted to certain regions. The type of veil and its use have been related to political issues such as the "new hijab related to Arab Socialism and use of the chador in Iran, related to the revolution in that country. In recent decades the use of this piece is connected with the opposition to the West and more strongly after 11 / 9. To understand the rise in the use of hijab , according to Sami Nair ( Foreign Affairs en Espa ñ ol June-July 2007) is important to note the first Gulf War in 1991, because "since then, fundamentalism has experienced an incredible boom in the Arab and Muslim societies. The main idea, not the modern population, but in rural areas, is that the U.S. and Western countries want to eradicate the Muslim identity because it is a barrier to them. " In more secular Muslim countries like Turkey or Tunisia as well as in Western countries, the hijab has experienced a "fresh air." Many women, especially young people, using the veil as a symbol of identity or protest. In Germany for example, you can see on the street girls in Western dress, often very fitted, makeup, jewelry and veil that matches your clothes.
The piece is all-encompassing burka hijab of Pakistani origin, but is also associated with type Afghan burka (chadri) which covers even the eyes, enables women to see and breathe through a network. The niqab covers also the whole body, but leaves the eyes uncovered, is common in Iran. Iranian chador covers the head and body, while the less comprehensive are the veils and al-amira Khimar which cover the hair, neck and ears. Finally, the most relaxed is the Shaila that covers the head but allows the hair it sticks and does not cover the neck completely.
The reasons for and against:
According to Sami Nair "Today the veil can be interpreted in several ways: as a traditional stance, that shows, above all, respect for a custom, as an affirmation of social resistance (against the rich), national (the settlers), sexual (against men who harass) ; As fundamentalist ideological commitment, which chooses the sharia to support the social and political identity as a change-which is a rehabilitation of Islam against globalization that so demonized, especially in the discourse of the West ", to which are added certain Islamic feminist movements for those who wear the veil means a" feminization of religion ", which allows women access to social and political responsibilities. "
On the other hand, You can find reasons to reject the veil West, especially the burqa or niqab. The most powerful is the liberalization of women and the principle of autonomy is the foundation of Western societies. As you know, Muslim migration to Europe has had large proportions in countries like Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, France, UK, Muslim communities are quite large. Many of the women live and dress in accordance with the traditions of Islam, which in some ways strikes against Western culture, liberal, egalitarian and secular.
Machismo and discrimination against women are issues of concern to some and annoying to many and it's no secret that use of the veil, especially in the burka and niqab, pertaining thereto. Many voices are in favor of the ban on the hijab because they understand it as a symbol of female repression of sexual objectification, women are prevented from dressing as they choose and be independent in their physical appearance. The all-encompassing veil is seen as an unacceptable limitation in a society that embraces and is based on liberal values, egalitarian and secular. And the veil, in general, is seen as a religious symbol can not be tolerated in schools or public offices. However, the ideological struggle is based, on both sides, freedom and that is precisely the rub. It is said that those who advocate the use of the burka are occidentalófobos and not vice versa, because they take advantage of Western values \u200b\u200bsuch as equality and freedom and challenge. It is also important to mention that Islam as a religion not only works but also as an ideology and it is this opposition of values \u200b\u200bwhich is based the ban on the burqa in Belgium and France.
" If Muslims, Jews and Christians want to ask about the oppression of women, is also his business. And if they accept it is their problem. School education should support the equality citizens without regard to the dictates of religion. They are two different things. The scarf is a sign of oppression of women, who, in private spaces, you can only educate to stop using it. They can not be forced to not wear it, except in the case of burka, "says Nair.
Arguments:
à On the side of anti-burka veil is said to be discriminatory of women, a symbol of male dominance, besides being a religious symbol in a secular community inadmissible. But the reasons go beyond in Belgium is said to be necessary to prohibit the burqa or niqab for security reasons. the Criminal Code be amended to the effect of including a fine of 15 to 25 euros or a sentence of one to seven days to people who go to "public places accessible to the hidden or concealed in whole or part so that they can not be identified. " Apart from cases in which the headscarf is provided in the regulations of employment or festive events planned by the rules of the police. Xavier Baseler, a member of the party reform movement in Belgium who presented the initiative, said the ban is necessary for reasons of public policy. "It is true that when you live in a country you must accept its laws. In Belgium we decided that the obligation to be visible on the street is an important law from the standpoint of public policy, so people coming to live here must respect the law in the way that we respect the law other countries, "Baseler said Al Jazeera ( 22/04/2010).
France The reasons are that on the one hand, confronts the secular state since its use attacks secularism to publicly state a religion and secondly, that the use of the burka directly attacks the core values \u200b\u200bof the French Republic "dignity, equality, liberty and fraternity." Although the French Council of State has deemed unconstitutional a ban on burka restrict freedom for women to dress as they want. "Limiting rights is always bad for everyone. When rights filtered through a funnel involves restricting." The advisory body also questioned Sarkozy's government invocations of public safety in this matter. In his opinion "no specific disorder" may be associated with niqab "as such" ( El Pais 01/04/2010) . also is said, and I think this is the most powerful argument: that one should not accept different behaviors in response to the religion of every person and that multiculturalism is only a means, not an end in itself. Differentialism says Naïr is very dangerous because it involves a mixture of non-human beings others and is the basis of discriminatory regimes such as Apartheid.
Many feminists in poor neighborhoods, multi-ethnic France have expressed support for the ban saying it would help young women who do not want to wear the burqa or niqab but are forced by their partners or families . However, others say it is an act of hostility against the symbols of Islam and argue that many Muslim women want to cover. The vast majority of Muslim women, says Al Jazeera, do not wear the veil all-encompassing, but the niqab, it is very common in the Arabian Peninsula and the Gulf states. While the burqa is used in Pakistan India and Afghanistan (Al Jazeera 22.04.2010)
à On the side of the pro-Burk says the headscarf ban is precisely against Western values \u200b\u200bthat are to defend because everyone is free to profess their religious beliefs and also everyone is free to dress and define themselves as they see fit and that the ban violates freedom. It is argued that women who wear the burka or the niqab have chosen to use them and neither the state nor the community may prohibit use. For example Riay Tatary, president of the Union of Islamic Communities of Spain (UCID), said that "the decision to bring this suit is for every woman. A decision may be personal or religious. I do not understand why the state has to regulate it. " has also been said that if the problem is security," so that existing identification documents (ID, passport) in which people leave the face uncovered. And if required for identification, women can break away from burka. " ( El Pais 01/04/2010).
in Belgium Isabelle Praile, Executive Vice President Muslim in this country, warned that "today may be a veil that covers the entire face, tomorrow the veil, then the Sikh turban, and then maybe a miniskirt." France has said it is only a measure populist electioneering and will lead to a dangerous level of cultural intolerance. The burqa is used only by women and even some 2mil outside fundamentalist circles one approved for use as contrary to secular principles and emancipation of women, the ban would have dangerous repercussions ( Liberation Paris 22/04 / 2010). Opponents of the law in France have said they can not be applied because it is a very low number of women and will be seen as another attack on Islam by about 5 million Muslims living in that country ( Time 23/04 / 2010).
What to do?
is said that the ban on the burqa and niqab deprive women of their right to express their identity. If it seeks to integrate women covered by burkas and niqabs to Belgian and French companies and the values \u200b\u200bthey defend, I doubt the prohibition is the best way to do it. If a woman is deemed unworthy exit discovered, to prohibit you from using the burka, it probably will. Human Rights Watch has spoken to this effect: "violate the rights of those who choose to wear the burka and do nothing to help those who are forced to use it." I think we might be a case of justifiable paternalism avoid giving Ño , as women living behind those sheets do not have complete information to enable them to make a rational decision. I believe that any rational person can choose to be filled with a sheet to assert identity. Instead, she sheds. May be appropriate, other delivery, analyzing the concept of basic incompetence and legal paternalism. For now, I put the debate on the table.
A final data:
March 1, the Financial Times published a survey on the attitudes of Europeans face a possible ban on the burka and other veils worn by Muslim women. The result was largely favorable.
- France. The country with the most advanced project gave the highest rate of support for the ban, 70%.
- Spain. 65% of the English favor to regulate.
- Italy. other major country in the Mediterranean, supporting the ban would reach 63%.
- UK. The traditional immigration Britain does not stop there, 53% support the measure.
- Germany. The more reticent, only 50% approve.
(El País 01/04/2010)
While reviewing this note, the Minister for Social Affairs of Lower Saxony, Aygül Özkan, first Turkish descent in a position of that level in Germany, spoke on the Prohibition of veils in schools, on par with the ban on crucifixes in classrooms. "The religious symbols have no place in schools, they should be a neutral place."
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