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Veils

Ilyan | 19.10.2006 23:11

The Koran calls for modesty in women.

But the veil is often worn to create turmoil. Then the veil is an in your face insult. There is no modesty there. Many see veil wearirng as support for the stoning to death of women who did not wear the veil in Moslem countries.

To then wear a veil in a non Moslem country is to be about as immodest as is possible. Brash and aggressive are more appropriate words.



Ilyan

Additions

Proposition for further debate: The veil is a feminist issue

20.10.2006 00:24

Let us remember that full veils, albeit of relatively diaphanous gauze, were worn by many British women as recently as the early part of last century and that partial veils still occasionally feature in modern women's hats. This has never been regarded as a problem as far as I know.

I would always be concerned that there is a oppressive aspect to any culture that requires women to conceal themselves to avoid inflaming men's passions. As far as I am concerned, that is a male problem that should not be projected onto women. And since it takes two to tango, why don't the concerned men wear veils to avoid inflaming women's passions?

However, once a woman has decided to wear a veil, for whatever reason, I would hope that people would respect her decision and not rush to judgement. Yes, facial expression is an aid to communication and as a person with a hearing impairment, I also find lip-reading an unobstructed mouth helpful. But do others have a right to insist on seeing someone's face?

I thought women had just about won the cultural battle in the UK over having to expose their legs in public in compliance with school uniform or workplace dress codes. Now the battleground seems to have migrated to the face. As a feminist man, I feel disposed to defend a woman's right not to expose any more of her body to other people's gaze than she wants to.

Alan Stinchcombe


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  1. What no hornets? — Ilyan