There is a custom among some Muslim women to wear a veil that covers all of her face except for her eyes. This is called a niqab. In western countries, some efforts have been made to ban this custom, at least in public places. It has been met with vehement anger, often accusing the proponents of the ban of “Islamophobia.”
There are arguments for and against the ban. Those who don’t want the ban insist that wearing the niqab is a religious custom that should not be limited. Those who favor the ban say that the niqab allows terrorists to work more easily by hiding their identities and even their gender. In light of increasing terrorist activity, their argument is becoming more persuasive.
This argument is often considered to be a religious one; however, that is not necessarily true. For example, Somalia has instituted a ban on the niqab following a terror attack. People wearing the niqab in public are being arrested and fined for violating the ban.
Somalia is predominately an Islamic country. Their desire to ban the niqab is hardly one of “Islamophobia.” It’s a reasonable response to the problem of terrorists hiding behind the niqab. Other countries, whether Muslim or not, might do well to consider this ban and not be intimidated by claims of “Islamophobia.”
Removing The Veil
There is a custom among some Muslim women to wear a veil that covers all of her face except for her eyes. This is called a niqab. In western countries, some efforts have been made to ban this custom, at least in public places. It has been met with vehement anger, often accusing the proponents of the ban of “Islamophobia.”
There are arguments for and against the ban. Those who don’t want the ban insist that wearing the niqab is a religious custom that should not be limited. Those who favor the ban say that the niqab allows terrorists to work more easily by hiding their identities and even their gender. In light of increasing terrorist activity, their argument is becoming more persuasive.
This argument is often considered to be a religious one; however, that is not necessarily true. For example, Somalia has instituted a ban on the niqab following a terror attack. People wearing the niqab in public are being arrested and fined for violating the ban.
Somalia is predominately an Islamic country. Their desire to ban the niqab is hardly one of “Islamophobia.” It’s a reasonable response to the problem of terrorists hiding behind the niqab. Other countries, whether Muslim or not, might do well to consider this ban and not be intimidated by claims of “Islamophobia.”