World Hijab Day: Unwrapping the debate over head covering

[sarisataka]

World Hijab Day: Unwrapping the debate over head covering

World Hijab Day, an annual day to encourage women to wear the traditional Muslim head covering and to educate others on why it is worn, is being marked around the globe today, February 1.

The day was established in 2013 by Bangladesh-born New York resident Nazma Khan, who told a TEDx talk that she had endured discrimination for wearing the hijab and had been referred to derogatorily as "ninja" or "Batman." Khan designated the day to inspire women around the world to embrace a life of modesty and exercise their freedom of religious expression.

However, in some countries, the wearing of a hijab has little to do with choice. In Iran and Afghanistan, women are required to wear hijabs in accordance with Islamic law.

In May 2022, the Taliban in Afghanistan issued a decree mandating that all women wear burqas, traditional Islamic garments that cover the entire body from head to toe, leaving only the eyes exposed.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/world-hijab-day-unwrapping-the-debate-over-head-covering/ar-BB1hEspZ?ocid=entnewsntp&pc=U531&cvid=43f358d21c0e467ba6ed4c985d7d4c93&ei=51

[Permanut]

1. Encouraging women to wear traditional head covering..

or anything else, for that matter, implies choice.

Forcing women to dress in a certain way isn't really the same, now, is it?

[sarisataka]

2. Most countries it is a choice

In some it is prohibited in certain cases, others mandated with severe penalties possible.

[NoRethugFriends]

4. It's a frigging way of controlling women. Period.

The rest is crap.

[stopdiggin]

3. the 'modesty' crap - is also fundamentalist ju-ju

buying into the crap idea that a display of the female form is - somehow 'unfit' for society. Is complete and utter garbage.

And, with apologies to any stripe of religious belief, or those women that (voluntarily) choose to practice - it's still misogynistic garbage!
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

[Ritabert]

5. It's baloney

Why should women have to dress in a certain way because men can't control themselves? I wear what I want and it sure isn't going to be a burqa or hijab.

[Arazi]

6. +1 Anyone in religious attire looks like they've joined a cult to me

As an atheist, I’m wary of anyone who’s bought into old mythology. Once they decide to don the garb as a public display, I think they’ve gone over the brink into crazy land.

I’d never disrespect them. Everyone gets to put on whatever clothing they choose but it doesn’t diminish my wariness. Folks who’ve decided to announce their embrace of fantasy stories, especially misogynistic ones, make me very leery

[BuddhaGirl]

7. Yep! Hasidism, fundy Mormons etc.

n/t

[MOMFUDSKI]

8. Take it off.

Take it ALL off. It is a means of control.

[Coventina]

9. "Embrace a life of modesty"

I'm a prude, I'll admit, but that's me.

I don't decide, or tell, what other people can and cannot wear.

"World Hijab Day" sounds like made-up religious crap to me.

[XanaDUer2]

10. Kick nt

[GenThePerservering]

11. A hijab is only a head scarf

it does not cover the face. Sikh men wear the turban, covering the hair as their tradition. I just don't understand people getting their knickers in a twist over a simple headscarf - it does not hide identity, unlike a burqa which basically erases women from existence.