Why do the Muslim women wear the veils? The resent remarks from the British minister has raised this question

Question

Are the allowed to go without the veil when at home with others there besides their husband and children?

Answer 1

Jack Straw's comments, published in the Lancashire Evening Telegraph, sparked much controversy. Muslim women are required to cover themselves when they pray and most Muslim women cover their hair when they go in public. The decision to cover the face partially with a veil (niqab) or fully with a burka is a personal one and not a religious requirement.

What Jack Straw said was:

"The reason that you see people is so you can see them and communicate through what you see on their face as well as what you hear through your ears."


"I think, however, that the conversation would be of greater value if the lady took the covering from her face.

"Indeed, the value of a meeting, as opposed to a letter or phone call, is so that you can - almost literally - see what the other person means, and not just hear what they say."

He said that Muslim women who wear full veils make community relations "more difficult" and they should uncover their faces

He said he now makes sure he has a female member of staff with him at surgeries. "I can't recall a single occasion when the lady concerned had refused to lift her veil; and most I ask seem relieved to have done so."

I disagree with his basic premise that the reason why a meeting has more value than a letter or phone call is "seeing" a person's facial expression. The value of a meeting is that there is instant feedback which is delayed in written communication. It is similar to a phone call but a meeting allows for fewer distractions. Even in the corporate world sometimes meetings are conducted via conference calls.

There is some research regarding a person's facial expression and lying, such as the number of times a person blinks so maybe Jack Straw is looking for signs of sincerity? Since he is a public servant, it should be he, who is open and available to the public and not the public he serves.

Furthermore, a Muslim woman who removed her veil still would not make eye contact, according to Quranic injunctions. So the concept that communication would be facilitated is questionable.

If there really is a communication problem, perhaps having an interpreter available would be a better option.

I believe that a woman should have to remove the face veil for identification purposes such as a driving license, but that requiring a woman to remove the veil for a conversation is unnecessary. The official, by virtue of being a government official, when making a request would have more intimidation in requesting a woman to remove her veil than a teacher or other person with whom a Muslim woman might have a conversation. I believe that is why the Muslim women removed their veils because most have come from countries where the government is a brutal oppressive regieme and non-complaince with a request from a government official could mean serious consequences. I think that the same women would not remove the veil if the request were from a non-goverment official.

If the reason for removing the veil were one of identity, security or for a health examination, I would approve of the request. However, his reason was for sincerity and to make him feel more comfortable. What a person communicates through body language is subject to the interpretation of the listener and can possibly be misunderstood. A person's words should be all that is considered in this regard. He is the public servant and his job should be to make his constituents comfortable, not himself. I think that when a Muslim woman must remove her veil in front of a man that she would feel inhibited. It would affect her ability to communicate in a negative way.

So long as wearing a veil is legal, it should not have to be removed so long as the person is engaged in a legal activity.
It is interesting to me that in an informal poll by the Lancashire Evening Telegraph, In response to the question: Jack Straw has urged Muslim women to remove their veils. Do you agree? 75.6% voted YES

Answer 2

In Islam it is that a woman's beauty should only be shown to her husband, it is not something to be shared. This means covering her hair, wearing loose clothing that disguise the shape of her body. and not showing your legs or arms or chest area. Islam says that covering the hair and these body parts is what should be done, in the countries where they wear burkas or the women also cover their faces, this is a cultural (tribal) custom and is not part of their religion.

Answer 3

At core it has to do with Muslim men's fear of women's sexuality. It's almost like the Victorian Age here in the West, in which we had to cover table legs with drapery because they were considered too "suggestive." Sexual insanity caused by repression.

Incidentally, I don't say this as any kind of "christian" defender. The christians are similarly insane on the topic of sex, and it leads to similar dysfunctions.

Answer 4

Most likely for the same reason all Christian women used to and still should.
1 Cor 11

Answer 5

It is necessary in the Islam religion that a woman be modest. I also believe that there is a rule about women covering their head--which is found in lots of religions.

Answer 6

The same reason why Christian Blondes wear a string up their behinds on the beach. Modesty, pure modesty.

Answer 7

Their religion feels it could tempt other men who are not their husbands, so the covering continues.

Answer 8

Same reason the "Virgin Mary" did.
Why dont these anti-muslim Xians make this connection?

Answer 9

I am sorry, but I did not hear the remarks. Do you perhaps have a link?

Answer 10

Women are not supposed to reveal themselves in public. So that no man can look upon them and be caused lust.