Chase said:
Thank you, Innocent. I knew it wasn't universal in Islam, although some groups do demand it.
You're welcome.
These are usually the "new groups", and really strict and sometimes dangerous ones, like Wahhabi, etc.
Anij said:
I'm very respectful of cultural and religious differences ... so I actually think it's nice to see more people electing to be more deliberate in there beliefs (which in some cases involve hijab etc)
Hijabs don't bother me at all, but covering the mouth does. As long as I can see the face, I don't mind at all.
Covering the face is alienating though, especially when you have hearing loss or are deaf and one of you doesn't sign or can't read (hehe).
Incidentally, I know the BBC didn't report this, but Jack Straw the previous home secretary had hearing loss, so this is probably why he would ask the women to remove their face veil.
Buffalo said:
I agree with you. Veil predates the Islam religion. I read somewhere that one's face got to be bared when looking at the Kabbah.
I think I've heard that, too.
Once I saw on the tv, an old woman covered from head to toes in black, was walking down the sidewalk. She looks like a wisp of smoke. To me, she seemed to be reduced down to almost nothing.
I've seen the same, but with her eyes visible and she had these big long bits by her armpits. I couldn't help but laugh when I lipread someone behind say "she looks like a beeping bat". Not PC of me I know but tough, eh?
No veiled muslim had ever try to talk to me so I don't know what will happen if it comes down to that. I could try the pencil and paper but the woman gotta know English.
Not all immigrants learn to read. My friend's mother can't read English.
Women should expose their face for ID, etc.
I can't wear a motorcycle helmet in a bank, why can they cover all their face but their eyes/even their eyes,
especially when it's not mentioned in the Qur'an, hence not a religious requirement, nor duty, nor obligation. Islam encourages a woman's "private parts" to be covered, which includes the bosom, unmentionables and the hair. So for such a woman to, it appears as though they are either really pretty, vain, or think they are a walking sex object or private part.
In fact, I've read that it was frowned upon until quite recently for a woman to be covered like that because it said she was affluent and didn't have to work.