1:50pm Wednesday 7th March 2007
The open letter sent to the Bucks Free Press by the Wycombe Islamic Society: Liberation by the Veil: Pupil should be Free to Wear the Veil at School If a pupil chooses to be modest and wear a veil at school, she should have the freedom to do so Great Britain is truly a great country, a nation that champions human rights, and prides itself on freedom of belief and expression. I have seen this during my life in High Wycombe, a beautiful town with a rich cultural mix, where the community members have great respect for each other. Just as we all together supported Wycombe Wanderers through their cup run, we should all respect each other regardless of garb, niqab or kebab. Moreover, shouldn't the Buckinghamshire school pupil who out of modesty wishes to cover herself in front of male staff be respected for her commitment and religious practice?
In the modern western culture of one-night stands, reality porn and Playboy logos on kids' stationery, it may seem surprising to some that girls want to cover themselves from head to toe. For Muslims and many traditional cultures, modesty and chastity are still considered chic. So should we not listen to a girl who has grown up in the west and has decided to observe life with the veil despite the propaganda against Muslim women? Contrary, to what people believe, the majority of women who wear the veil find it liberating and do so out of their own choice. The veil brings about an aura of respect and women are recognised as individuals who are admired for their mind and personality, not for their beauty or lack of it.
In an informed modern society, it is incredulous to see people's response to a small piece of cloth that covers a part of the face. As humans we have come up with many useful items that cover the face. For example, doesn't a motorcyclist wear a helmet to protect himself in case of an accident, or a surgeon wear a surgical mask to prevent infection? So why shouldn't an adolescent going through life's changes be allowed to don a veil to protect her modesty? We often forget the spiritual and psychological benefits against the visual impact of the niqab face veil. Furthermore, just as the surgical mask doesn't interfere with the communication skills of a surgeon in life-threatening operations, it doesn't interfere with the learning of a girl at school. Remarkably, this has already been proven in the actual school in question, where niqab-wearing pupils have gone on to achieve A grades at A-level!
These double-standards are what led to this unfortunate legal case. The whole issue should have been settled quietly by the parents and the school, with the help of the community to come to a reasonable agreement. The family accepted that the niqab could be removed if required for identification or security purposes. Unfortunately, a mutually acceptable agreement could not be reached even though the family were willing to make further concessions. Instead the legal drama has enveloped a deeply religious and peace loving family and a highly respected school with a good community record.
Modesty and chastity form important principles for the major religions. Within Islam, men and women are encouraged to preserve their modesty and reserve intimacy until they are with their marriage partners. This used to be the case in England as well, where even remnants of the veil are still seen in the practice of donning the wedding veil during marriage ceremonies. The wearing of the veil has been debated by Muslims for centuries but it is sad to see how the debate is unfolding here in Britain where misinformation is feeding intolerance. Although, we do not consider the veil to be a requirement for Muslim women, they should be free to make the choice for themselves. Moreover, the veil is not a mark of separation or a political statement but represents the personal choice of a woman to present herself as a righteous person just as in the case of nun.
Besides, modesty and chastity are demonstrably sensible ideas, irrespective of any religious arguments. Especially so considering that premarital and casual sex are leading to all sorts of social and medical problems. We forget that modesty - in sexual behaviour and dress - is, in fact, essential for building strong relationships and for preserving the family and by extension, the society we all live in.
A Iqbal, Wycombe Islamic Society
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