1 / 14

Muslim Veils

Muslim Veils. Should the law ban them?. Background details. There are a number of different veils worn by Muslim women…. Muslim Teaching. The Qur’an , Islam’s holy book tells Muslims – men and women – to dress modestly .

oki
Download Presentation

Muslim Veils

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Muslim Veils Should the law ban them?

  2. Background details • There are a number of different veils worn by Muslim women….

  3. Muslim Teaching • The Qur’an, Islam’s holy book tells Muslims – men and women – to dress modestly. • For women, this usually means covering all except their face, hands and feet when in the presence of men they are not related or married to. • However, there has been much debate among Islamic scholars as to whether this goes far enough.

  4. Hijab • The word hijab comes from the Arabic for veil and is used to describe the headscarves worn by Muslim women. • These scarves are a symbol of both religion and womanhood, and come in many styles and colours. • The type most commonly worn in the West is a square scarf that covers the head and neck but leaves the face clear.

  5. Niqab, Burqa • The niqab is a veil for the face that leaves the area around the eyes clear. It is worn with an accompanying headscarf. • The burqa is the most concealing of all Islamic veils. It covers the entire face and body, leaving just a mesh screen to see through.

  6. Al-Amira, Shayla • The al-amira is a two-piece veil. It consists of a close fitting cap, usually made from cotton or polyester, and an accompanying tube-like scarf. • The shayla is a long, rectangular scarf popular in the Gulf region. It is wrapped around the head and tucked or pinned in place at the shoulders.

  7. Khimar, Chador • The khimar is a long, cape-like veil that hangs down to just above the waist. It covers the hair, neck and shoulders completely, but leaves the face clear. • The chador, worn by Iranian women when outside the house, is a full-body cloak. It is often accompanied by a smaller headscarf underneath.

  8. Summary so far… • Most Muslim women will wear a veil of one kind or another • The type will vary depending on: • Country, • Religious Commitment. • The veils that are at the centre of controversy are the niqab and the burqa. • These cover all but the eyes.

  9. Case Study: Jack Straw • Jack Straw, a Labour MP for Blackburn, where there are many Muslims, created controversy recently • He wrote an article asking Muslim women to remove full face veils when talking to him about issues • He said he’d always make sure that there’d be a female member of staff present as well • He found it off-putting not to be able to speak with some whose face he couldn’t see Jack Straw, former Foreign Secretary, now Leader of the House of Commons

  10. Case Study: Aishah Azmi • West Yorkshire teaching assistant Aishah Azmi who was suspended for refusing to remove her veil in the classroom of a Church of England primary school. • Mrs Azmi lost her employment tribunal case for discrimination and harassment

  11. Case Study: France • A ban on Muslim headscarves and other ‘conspicuous’ religious symbols at French state schools was introduced in 2004. • The measure received overwhelming political and public support in a country where the separation of state and religion is enshrined in law. Headscarves can be worn in Muslim schools, and at university level, where the law on religious signs does not apply

  12. Case Study: Holland • The Dutch government has banned Muslim women from wearing the burqa in public places. • They believe that the burqas disturb public order, citizens and safety. • Critics of the proposed ban say it would violate civil rights. • 5% of people living in the Netherlands are Muslims. • It is thought that only a few Muslim women in the Netherlands choose to wear the burqa.

  13. Arguments for and against a ban… • Some say that banning the veil would violate the civil rights of the woman. • Some Muslims argue that it would make Muslims feel less welcome in this society. • What does it matter what you wear, so long as you don’t hurt anyone? • Since a relatively small number of Muslim women choose to wear the burqa, it shouldn’t be seen as a big problem • Some argue that it doesn’t help Muslim women integrate into Western society. • Makes communication more difficult, some say. • Some argue that it is only the full veils (burqa, niqab) that are a problem, and these should be banned in public spaces. • There are certain jobs (e.g. teaching) which seem to require that the full face be seen.

  14. Evaluation Question • Should the UK make it illegal for Muslim women to wear full veils? • Show that you have considered views other than your own.

More Related