Have the oridnances regarding wearing masks at protests (AKA you can't wear them) had any effect on niqabis in the US?

‘But perhaps the niqabi is not intending to be fully integrated? And what is wrong with that? Nothing. She keeps people at a distance on her own terms. She’s got the right. I’ll support her in that, to the very end.‘Silvers

Refreshing! no hint of any cultural imperialism? (personally, i wish a law existed to ban them covers of the face.

I’m against Niqaab as an Islamic institution as I feel there is no real basis for it and it constitutes an extreme of religion, as we are warned about in the Qu’ran

That being said, I will defend any woman’s right to wear it if she so desires. People need to mind their own damn business, honestly. She wants to wear Niqaab? Fine. She wants to wear hooker shorts and a halter with ‘fuck me’ pumps? Long as she’s not in the Masjid, or writing articles extolling dressing slutty as an Islamic right, who gives a shit?

‘That being said, I will defend any woman’s right to wear it if she so desires.‘DA

agree, too. The danger is that these ‘nigabis’ think they are morally ‘superior’ to others around them. veiling, to them, is considered the bench mark for ‘what is moral’.

using the veil is fine as an expression of pluralism; it is not fine if deemed to be a moral/ethical stand or an ideological position.

I doubt that the nigabis culture is based on moral relativism; I am afraid it is based on moral absolutes: they are …and only they…have it right.

it would be refreshing to have the nigabis think of nigabi (culture) as a subculture of the American cultrue.

Center, do you think there is cultural imperialism in what I said? Seriously, tell me. I hate niqab on most women. I never recognize anyone! I don’t know who is talking to me nor can I tell what she is saying without her facial expressions. I could get used to it, certainly. I don’t mind getting used to it.

But I think it is a hard call to ask the rest of America to get used to it. Historical examples like the Amish or the Hasids show that there will be some integration and acceptions and respect, but ultimately they will remain outsiders.

There are niqabi exceptions that I have experienced, women who have done it with their hearts seeking God alone and that intention shines through. God bless them and give them strength. I don’t know what is in these women’s hearts, all I know is that their niqab speaks of intimacy with God not aloofness from the community.

It is to me the same with men who will not shake hands. One man will refrain with such graciousness that you feel honored by his restraint. Another man will do it with such insult he makes you feel like a whore for sticking your hand out.

As the Prophet said, “Certainly all works are with their intentions.”

‘Center, do you think there is cultural imperialism in what I said?‘Silvers

No. I am sorry if the post left you with that impression. If anything, I think of your stand to be an example of what ‘tolrance’ is be talked about and how it is to be defined.

Thanks Center, I’m trying to get all this right here. I keep falling back on american notions of pluralism and sunni agreement to disagree. But I worry about reiterating all the old mistakes in my own new way.

Salams

Hi Laury,

I share your reservations about the increasing paranoia of the British government, especially since my wife’s from London and we visit her family there quite freqently.

Personally I’ve never had strong feelings about hijab/niqab, other than thinking that the extra layer of fabric is quite unsuitable for a tropical climate like Bangladesh. But to each their own.