Splendid Suns and Islamic dress codes for women.

Ophelia

Rasheed and Laila.

Chapter 31, after the wedding.

Rasheed: "I ask that you avoid leaving this house without my company.
(...)
Oh, I also ask that when we are out together, that you wear a
burqa. For your own protection, naturally. It is best.
So many lewd men in this town now. Such vile intentions, so
eager to dishonour even a married woman."

There have been passionate discussions in France since 1991 about Muslim girls wearing the veil (or not) in our public schools (it's a long story).

I am going to quote Mohamed Pascal Hilout, who is a French Muslim who writes on a very interesting blog called " Nouvel Islam" (New Islam).

" I do not support wearing the veil but if other Muslims think it is important to wear it I suggest the following: the veil should be worn in Muslim families by the men. Then we would see the following sight on our streets: the men would be dressed in black and wear veils, while their wives and daughters would walk next to them, wearing beautiful, brightly coloured garments."

jales4 · Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2008 11:34 am Post subject:

Ophelia · Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2008 11:56 am Post subject:

Thanks Jales 4,

I didn't know burqas were worn in western countries.

Muslim people in France come from North Africa (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia) and what is referred to as the veil is of course not a veil strictly speaking.

Ophelia · Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2008 1:30 pm Post subject:

Lovely avatar Jales4!

JulianTheApostate · Sophomore Joined: 23 Jul 2005 Posts: 286 Gender:

It was interesting to read a depiction of what it's like to wear a burqa. For example, the characters complained that it was difficult to walk in one at first, but they sometimes appreciated the anonymity.

As an aside, my wife's aunt and uncle worked in Qatar, and they brought back a veil that covers the women's face. Her stepfather took a picture of us, with my wife wearing the veil, which was pretty funny since my wife is such a feminist.

WildCityWoman · Sophomore Joined: 13 Jan 2008 Posts: 282 Gender:

Some days, the way I feel about this old face and body? Wouldn't mind wearing a burqua - ha ha!

But I guess that's not funny.

Seriously - I don't really care if the Muslim girls here in Canada wear veils or burquas.

I figure it this way - they've been raised in a country where wearing, at least, a veil is the norm. We can't expect them to get to used to going without it right away.

I figure I'd feel odd wearing a veil or burqua - until I got used to it. So, it only stands to reason they'd feel odd without it.

Carly :-0


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