Defending the indefensible:
Its a stoopid thing to do, but the believers are eager to do it…

- Not all of the paper’s readers are convinced. Some online comments here
Fatima Burkatulla clears up “misconceptions” about the niqab.
1.The niqab is a symbol of female subjugation.
None of the niqab-wearing women who I know, wear it because they have been forced to. They see it as an act of devotion to their Creator: the culmination of a spiritual journey. In fact most of them are women who were born and brought up in the UK; many are White or Afro-Caribbean Muslim converts to Islam who have chosen to observe it. The hijab, niqab and abaya are outer garments and are worn only when outdoors or in the presence of men who are not close relatives and so, contrary to popular belief, underneath their robes, in family and female-only settings Muslim women are often very fashion conscious and outgoing. They dress in everyday clothing; they get their hair done, go on holiday and even buy lingerie!
2. Women who wear the niqab cannot possibly contribute to society
People are surprised to hear that niqab-wearers come from varied vocational backgrounds. They include doctors, teachers, dentists, authors, social workers, university graduates, lecturers and more. They usually prefer to work in a female environment and so would not wear the face-veil all the time. Other women say that wearing the niqab actually makes them feel more comfortable when they are working with men. It is ironic that the very women who are the subject of debate are far from being a burden on society: they don’t get drunk and disorderly, don’t smoke and are likely to be very good citizens. Many of them are full-time mothers who take pride in raising well-educated children who will be an asset to British society.
Continue reading UK: Islamists pushing the burka, niqab, freedom sack… Bunglawussi applauds…




Atlas:

Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas) (left) and Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.) were on Capitol Hill on Tuesday to show their support for the re-introduction of the Equal Rights Amendment. 

Azzam Tamimi: ‘We love death. They love life.'”
 