What do muslims say on the banning of veil by Syria?

[wwolverine]

Syria one of the ardent muslim counries, has put a ban on the Islamic veil for womann.

observenews.com/syria-banned-the-niqab-in-public-universities/902 .

Few days back when there was the news from France there was a lot of critical news from the Islamic countries. Now what do they say?

What do the muslims on the forum say?

 

[Spencerian]

Syria one of the ardent muslim counries, has put a ban on the Islamic veil for womann.

observenews.com/syria-banned-the-niqab-in-public-universities/902 .

Few days back when there was the news from France there was a lot of critical news from the Islamic countries. Now what do they say?

What do the muslims on the forum say?

The question you presented, I believe, is a straw man argument that I would ask our Islamic posters NOT to answer.

First, the link presented does not appear to be from an official news source (such as one of the Syrian newspapers) but a blog, poorly translated into English.

Second, the ban appears to be only regarding the use of the face-covering at universities, not throughout all of Syrian Islamic society.

Third, the issues in France don’t seem to have anything to do with this article’s topic, so drawing a relationship seems to be uncharitable.

appears to give the OP link a bit more context*Guardian *.

 

[elwill]

Syria one of the ardent muslim counries, has put a ban on the Islamic veil for womann.

observenews.com/syria-banned-the-niqab-in-public-universities/902 .

Few days back when there was the news from France there was a lot of critical news from the Islamic countries. Now what do they say?

What do the muslims on the forum say?

if that was true , i will wonder and asking " why " , and i will hope to find convinced answers

 

[jakasaki]

if that was true , i will wonder and asking " why " , and i will hope to find convinced answers

Two news articles regarding this. One from Yahoo World News & the other from a Kuwait

Syria bans niqab on campus
Published Date: July 20, 2010

DAMASCUS: Syria has banned the face-covering Islamic veil from the country’s universities to prevent what it sees as a threat to its secular identity, as similar moves in Europe spark cries of discrimination against Muslims.

The Education Ministry issued the ban Sunday, according to a government official who spoke on condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to speak publicly.

The ban, which affects public and private universities, is only against the niqab - a full Islamic veil that reveals only a woman’s eyes - not headscarves, which are far more commonly worn by Syrian women.

kuwaittimes.net/read_news.php?newsid=MjQ5MTI2ODY=

Syria bans full Islamic face veils at universities

DAMASCUS, Syria – Syria has forbidden the country’s students and teachers from wearing the niqab — the full Islamic veil that reveals only a woman’s eyes — taking aim at a garment many see as political.

The ban shows a rare point of agreement between Syria’s secular, authoritarian government and the democracies of Europe: Both view the niqab as a potentially destabilizing threat.

“We have given directives to all universities to ban niqab-wearing women from registering,” a government official in Damascus told The Associated Press on Monday.

news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100720/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_syria_islamic_veils;_ylt=Agl1_2eYusrgERz5x44P2VtvaA8F;_ylu=X3oDMTJqY2dtMWU2BGFzc2V0A2FwLzIwMTAwNzIwL21sX3N5cmlhX2lzbGFtaWNfdmVpbHMEcG9zAzQEc2VjA3luX21vc3RfcG9wdWxhcgRzbGsDc3lyaWFiYW5zZnVs

 

[elwill]

Two news articles regarding this. One from Yahoo World News & the other from a Kuwait

Syria bans niqab on campus
Published Date: July 20, 2010

DAMASCUS: Syria has banned the face-covering Islamic veil from the country’s universities to prevent what it sees as a threat to its secular identity, as similar moves in Europe spark cries of against Muslims.

The Education Ministry issued the ban Sunday, according to a government official who spoke on condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to speak publicly.

The ban, which affects public and private universities, is only against the niqab - a full Islamic veil that reveals only a woman’s eyes - not headscarves, which are far more commonly worn by Syrian women.

kuwaittimes.net/read_news.php?newsid=MjQ5MTI2ODY=

Syria bans full Islamic face veils at universities

DAMASCUS, Syria – Syria has forbidden the country’s students and teachers from wearing the niqab — the full Islamic veil that reveals only a woman’s eyes — taking aim at a garment many see as political.

The ban shows a rare point of agreement between Syria’s secular, authoritarian government and the democracies of Europe: Both view the niqab as a potentially destabilizing threat.

“We have given directives to all universities to ban niqab-wearing women from registering,” a government official in Damascus told The Associated Press on Monday.

news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100720/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_syria_islamic_veils;_ylt=Agl1_2eYusrgERz5x44P2VtvaA8F;_ylu=X3oDMTJqY2dtMWU2BGFzc2V0A2FwLzIwMTAwNzIwL21sX3N5cmlhX2lzbGFtaWNfdmVpbHMEcG9zAzQEc2VjA3luX21vc3RfcG9wdWxhcgRzbGsDc3lyaWFiYW5zZnVs

thank you for presenting this details which was ignored in OP

as for i thought from OP that they banned it completly

but the next question is which i really want a cnvinced answer for it is

how the islamic veil is a threat to the secular identity ? what is the sceular identity ? i will appereciate if someone made me understand this view

and how it was seen as potentially destabilizing threat ?

 

[jakasaki]

thank you for presenting this details which was ignored in OP

as for i thought from OP that they banned it completly

but the next question is which i really want a cnvinced answer for it is

how the islamic veil is a threat to the secular identity ? what is the sceular identity ? i will appereciate if someone made me understand this view

and how it was seen as potentially destabilizing threat ?

Here is another update to this from another paper…

The Syrian banning isn’t uncommon in mainly Islamic states whose government’s are striving to maintain a secularist-leaning society in the face of growing conservative religious influence.

But it is also not uncommon to have differences among clerics about what is or isn’t allowed for women, from a simple headscarf covering only the hair to a full body covering with only a netting allowing eyesight.

In late 2008 a Muslim cleric in Saudi Arabia, where the niqab is common, called on women to wear a niqab that reveals only one eye. Sheik Muhammad al-Habadan said showing both eyes encouraged women to use eye makeup to look seductive.

But in Egypt in late 2009 a senior Muslim authority declared he was against the growing trend for women to wear a niqab. Sheik Mohamed Tantawi, dean of al-Azhar university, said full-face veiling had nothing to do with the Islamic faith.

Tantawi reportedly visited a girl’s school in Cairo and asked one of the students to remove her niqab, telling her it was a tradition and not a religious requirement.

upi.com/Top_News/Special/2010/07/20/Syria-extends-ban-on-wearing-face-veil/UPI-23521279643688/

 

[rtconstant]

thank you for presenting this details which was ignored in OP

as for i thought from OP that they banned it completly

but the next question is which i really want a cnvinced answer for it is

how the islamic veil is a threat to the secular identity ? what is the sceular identity ? i will appereciate if someone made me understand this view

and how it was seen as potentially destabilizing threat ?

From what I’ve gathered they see the full face covering as a potential example of “extremism”. Syria who has had struggles in keeping a secular government in the face of extreme religious groups is hoping to head things off at the formative stage by banning its use at the educational level. One could debate whether it is a correct assumption or effort or not.

This has happened before though. Technically speaking the veil isn’t “Islamic” its cultural. in fact its roots are in the Eastern Roman Empire where upper class women hid their faces for safety. The tradition stuck as Muslim armies invaded the empire. So in reality the ban is not a knock against Islam. It is a cultural standard not a religious one that has caused the wearing of the face veil to be seen as “virtuous”, and in turn has become associated with more extreme sects of the religion.

 

[Sam_777]

Clarification:

1. It’s banning of “Niqab*** & ***Burqa” not the “Veil”.
2. It’s banning inside the universities only not in the public places.
   It started by Egypt banning it in al-Azhar university then Syria followed.

http://forums.catholic-questions.org/images/icons/icon13.gif for both countries, that is unfair, as they allow nudity and bars, they should allow the other side of the story.

- Niqab & Burqa:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/nol/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/05/europe_muslim_veils_and_headscarves/img/2.jpg

*- Hijab/Veil:
(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)

 

[wwolverine]

The question you presented, I believe, is a straw man argument that I would ask our Islamic posters NOT to answer.

First, the link presented does not appear to be from an official news source (such as one of the Syrian newspapers) but a blog, poorly translated into English.

Second, the ban appears to be only regarding the use of the face-covering at universities, not throughout all of Syrian Islamic society.

Third, the issues in France don’t seem to have anything to do with this article’s topic, so drawing a relationship seems to be uncharitable.

This news article from the UK *Guardian *appears to give the OP link a bit more context.

Thanks spencerian.

Actually, its not a strawman’s argument. and its not regarding the ban of veil in the universities. I actually read the news in an arab news paper and was surprised, and found that no one raised their voices against the ban, but when it was done in France and other countries, it became a contraversy, and some even compared it to the Nuns.

Whether its banned in universities, or the entire nations, its one and the same. So why the reaction of people is different when the muslim country bans, and when non muslim country bans? Why this hipocracy?

 

[wwolverine]

Clarification:

1. It’s banning of “Niqab*** & ***Burqa” not the “Veil”.
2. It’s banning inside the universities only not in the public places.
   It started by Egypt banning it in al-Azhar university then Syria followed.

http://forums.catholic-questions.org/images/icons/icon13.gif for both countries, that is unfair, as they allow nudity and bars, they should allow the other side of the story.

- Niqab & Burqa:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/nol/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/05/europe_muslim_veils_and_headscarves/img/2.jpg

- Hijab/Veil:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/nol/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/05/europe_muslim_veils_and_headscarves/img/1.jpg

So sam, what exactly is banned from the universities? Is it Hijab as per your explainations? Then, I feel thats a completely wrong thing to be done by a muslim country, but its the other two pictures as you mention as Burka or Niqab, than I feel thats what the western countries are trying to ban and not the veil as per your pictures.

As far as I know the veil is the face cover which may be flimsy/ transperant which can be a window to the world for woman, but no one else can see her. And now according to you even Hijab is a veil???

Can someone else eleborate on this?

 

[wwolverine]

if that was true , i will wonder and asking " why " , and i will hope to find convinced answers

Thanks elvil and hope you will let us know the opinion of islamic countires on the subject.

 

[wwolverine]

Two news articles regarding this. One from Yahoo World News & the other from a Kuwait

Syria bans niqab on campus
Published Date: July 20, 2010

DAMASCUS: Syria has banned the face-covering Islamic veil from the country’s universities to prevent what it sees as a threat to its secular identity, as similar moves in Europe spark cries of discrimination against Muslims.

The Education Ministry issued the ban Sunday, according to a government official who spoke on condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to speak publicly.

The ban, which affects public and private universities, is only against the niqab - a full Islamic veil that reveals only a woman’s eyes - not headscarves, which are far more commonly worn by Syrian women.

kuwaittimes.net/read_news.php?newsid=MjQ5MTI2ODY=

Syria bans full Islamic face veils at universities

DAMASCUS, Syria – Syria has forbidden the country’s students and teachers from wearing the niqab — the full Islamic veil that reveals only a woman’s eyes — taking aim at a garment many see as political.

The ban shows a rare point of agreement between Syria’s secular, authoritarian government and the democracies of Europe: Both view the niqab as a potentially destabilizing threat.

“We have given directives to all universities to ban niqab-wearing women from registering,” a government official in Damascus told The Associated Press on Monday.

news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100720/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_syria_islamic_veils;_ylt=Agl1_2eYusrgERz5x44P2VtvaA8F;_ylu=X3oDMTJqY2dtMWU2BGFzc2V0A2FwLzIwMTAwNzIwL21sX3N5cmlhX2lzbGFtaWNfdmVpbHMEcG9zAzQEc2VjA3luX21vc3RfcG9wdWxhcgRzbGsDc3lyaWFiYW5zZnVs

Thanks Pam, for more complete news.

 

[elwill]

Thanks elvil and hope you will let us know the opinion of islamic countires on the subject.

majority disagree with it and find it unfair

 

[wwolverine]

majority disagree with it and find it unfair

If majority disagree, than why no hue nor cry against Syria like the people had for other non muslim countries. Just today also in pakistani woman had a assembled denouncing what France is doing, but no one has done so against Syria. Why this hypocricy?

Till now I have been scanning the news but am not able to find anything at all unless I have missed it somewhere.

 

[elwill]

If majority disagree, than why no hue nor cry against Syria like the people had for other non muslim countries. Just today also in pakistani woman had a assembled denouncing what France is doing, but no one has done so against Syria. Why this hypocricy?

Till now I have been scanning the news but am not able to find anything at all unless I have missed it somewhere.

may be the problem in france is wrost
it bann the hijab
Hijab is an integral part of Islam, it is derived from Quranic injunctions and its practice is not symbolic or a fashion or cultural statement but rather it is a manifestation of being a Muslim and following the deen of Islam. An attack on hijab is clearly an attack on Islam. To criminalize hijab is to criminalize Islam. This is the intension of this law - to outlaw the practice of Islam.

can you imagine how many women will be hurted by banning their hijab in france with comparison of the number of women wear niqab in syria

through my reading in this subject , i read that france banned the niqab in public not on specific places as universities , is that true ?

beside it was said in this link
gulfnews.com/news/region/syria/niqab-ban-report-sparks-debate-in-syria-1.657037
Damascus: Contrary to what is being said on mainstream channels like the BBC and Al Jazeera, and to what has been carried by the wires over the last 48 hours, no law has been issued in Syria banning women wearing the niqab (veil) from entering university campuses

 

[wwolverine]

may be the problem in france is wrost
it bann the hijab
Hijab is an integral part of Islam, it is derived from Quranic injunctions and its practice is not symbolic or a fashion or cultural statement but rather it is a manifestation of being a Muslim and following the deen of Islam. An attack on hijab is clearly an attack on Islam. To criminalize hijab is to criminalize Islam. This is the intension of this law - to outlaw the practice of Islam.

can you imagine how many women will be hurted by banning their hijab in france with comparison of the number of women wear niqab in syria

through my reading in this subject , i read that france banned the niqab in public not on specific places as universities , is that true ?

beside it was said in this link
gulfnews.com/news/region/syria/niqab-ban-report-sparks-debate-in-syria-1.657037
Damascus: Contrary to what is being said on mainstream channels like the BBC and Al Jazeera, and to what has been carried by the wires over the last 48 hours, no law has been issued in Syria banning women wearing the niqab (veil) from entering university campuses

I think you are in error of understanding the french ban on Hijab. As a matter of fact no country has banned Hijab for any muslims, its only the face covering veil which has been banned. No wonder muslims are comparing that to the NUNS who dont wear the face cover but something like the Hijab, and hence crying foul for that.

Even the minister of Britain has said the same thing, that he does not want to see any face covered woman as she can see him but he cannot see her. So where is this Hijab and where is the veil?

Show me which news of France you have read which denounced the Hijab. and not the Veil. the face cover.

 

[elwill]

I think you are in error of understanding the french ban on Hijab. As a matter of fact no country has banned Hijab for any muslims, its only the face covering veil which has been banned. No wonder muslims are comparing that to the NUNS who dont wear the face cover but something like the Hijab, and hence crying foul for that.

Even the minister of Britain has said the same thing, that he does not want to see any face covered woman as she can see him but he cannot see her. So where is this Hijab and where is the veil?

Show me which news of France you have read which denounced the Hijab. and not the Veil. the face cover.

may i was in error , most of news which talking about banning hijab was in 2004 , while you are talking about new one which in 2010 , right ?

is Niqap banned in france in public or in specific places ?

 

[Sam_777]

wwolverine, let me clarify that for you, maybe there is a mistranslation in most Internet articles :

1. The word Veil in English means Hijab in Arabic BUT does not mean Niqab & Burqa.
2. Egypt & Syria:

• **Niqab & Burqa **are not allowed inside education entities.
• **Niqab & Burqa **are allowed in public places.
• Veil is allowed everywhere (including education entities & public places).

1. France and other Europeans countries:

• **Niqab & Burqa **are not allowed inside education entities.
• **Niqab & Burqa **are not allowed in public places.
• Veil is allowed everywhere (including education entities & public places).

To summarize that NO country (secular or non-secular) can dare to ban the Veil itself.

- Niqab & Burqa:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/nol/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/05/europe_muslim_veils_and_headscarves/img/2.jpg

- Hijab/Veil:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/nol/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/05/europe_muslim_veils_and_headscarves/img/1.jpg

 

[Advance]

Hello ,

My first post here and thought I share my opinion on this matter.

I find it very insensitive that any human would subject their counterpart to such law.

This particular type of veil isnt necessarily part of Islam nor is it obligatory , however , I find it wrong for one to ban the niqab soley for the purpose of maintaining static societal values

The world is changing everyday and perhaps one day Syria will be a christian nation or france a muslim nation ,their culture and personal freedom will dictate what type of dress they wear , no one else.

 

[Sam_777]

This particular type of veil isnt necessarily part of Islam nor is it obligatory

Welcome to CAF …
You know we can argue with that a lot, but if you read the following verse from Quran (particularly the Arabic one) you will find that it support Niqab & Burqa over the Veil, because simply with the Veil you would be known while in Niqab & Burqa you would be least known as required by that Quranic verse.

(Quran 33:59):
*YUSUFALI: O Prophet! Tell thy wives and daughters, and the believing women, that they should cast their outer garments over their persons (when abroad): that is most convenient, that they should be known (as such) and not molested. And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.
PICKTHAL: O Prophet! Tell thy wives and thy daughters and the women of the believers to draw their cloaks close round them (when they go abroad). That will be better, so that they may be recognised and not annoyed. Allah is ever Forgiving, Merciful.
SHAKIR: O Prophet! say to your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers that they let down upon them their over-garments; this will be more proper, that they may be known, and thus they will not be given trouble; and Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.

*

يا أيها النبي قل لأزواجك وبناتك ونساء المؤمنين يدنين عليهن من جلابيبهن ذلك أدنى أن يعرفن فلا يؤذين وكان الله غفورا رحيما
​

I find it wrong for one to ban the niqab soley for the purpose of maintaining static societal values

I agree with you .