Does this offend you?
I post the cartoon not because I agree with the sentiment, but because Ms. Potter poses a good point - the double standard.
I linked to a New York Times article on niqaab in Britain yesterday; today I shall link to another issue of religious expression in Britain - a girl who sued her school for not allowing her to wear a “purity ring” advertising that she would remain a virgin until marriage. The school said that although it does allow religious expressions, it did not view the purity ring as a requirement for the girl’s religion, Christianity. Hijab is permitted, as are Sikh bangles and other things deemed religious requirements.
My only comment here is that niqaab and this girl’s purity ring fall into just about the same category. There should not be one allowed without the other.
June 25th, 2007 at 12:37 am
You’re comparing a purity ring to a headscarf? Come on! Find me on church that obligates it’s members to wear one or a Bible verse. While, I do believe she should be allowed to wear one, just because I think it’s ridiculous to outlaw what someone is doing to their body, I just can’t see a comparison.
June 25th, 2007 at 12:39 am
So, since you agree that she should be allowed to wear her ring, are you saying you think the Muslim girl should have to undress (her scarf) if the girl cannot wear her ring? Why are people concentrating on the so-called double standard and not the freedom of religion/expression part?
June 25th, 2007 at 12:46 am
No no no no Rachel! I’m comparing the ring to niqaab, not hijab! Hijab is compulsory, we know that - but niqaab obviously is not - you don’t wear it, do you?
But anyway, I didn’t say that she should be allowed to wear the ring! I just said that the rules should treat a purity ring the same as it would treat niqaab, the facial veil (not the headscarf or hijab)
June 25th, 2007 at 2:09 am
I don’t wear niqaab. I can understand what you’re saying and I don’t take offense, if you’re wondering.
June 25th, 2007 at 11:21 am
Personnally, while I’ll fight for a girl’s right to decide to wear or not to wear hijab, whether in France or in Iran, niqab really seems over the top. As for the purity ring, I fail to see how a ring can be deemed offensive…
June 25th, 2007 at 5:01 pm
Of course here in Morocco you can go into a bank and they don’t care what you have on your head. If you want to withdraw money they may want to see you but won’t always ask!, lol
I understand the concern in a place were bank robbery is not an abnormal event. Also I want to be sure that no one else can take money from my account and by using my ID and my face it is assured that won’t happen.
I have not seen where any niqaab wearing woman was upset with having to lift her veil in a bank. This is a bit silly of her.
When in the states I entered the bank with the niqaab and when I got to the window to do my business I raised my veil.
It is a bit funny that here in Morocco many banks don’t have any kind of barrier between the customer and the clerk and you can walk in covered head to toe. In USA they have 4 inch bullet proof glass between you and the clerk and they are still scared.
Similar, there was a woman in Florida who originally had her drivers license picture taken with niqaab. Why the clerk allowed this I have no idea. Somehow the powers that be became aware of this and sent the woman a letter telling her that she would have to have her picture taken without the veil and if she refused they would suspend the license.
This woman actually took this issue to court. She lost of course.
She actually believed it was her right to have a drivers license (state issued IDENTIFICATION), which is a privilege, and be covered in the picture. I don’t think I have to explain the absence of logic to that one.
June 25th, 2007 at 9:26 pm
Just for the record, I have never been in a US bank where there was any glass between the clerk and customer, but I’ve only lived in smaller towns there.
You’d be surprised at how many women seem to think it’s their right to never show their face. Sure, you can, but don’t expect to drive or even have an ID!