CAIRO – As France became the first European country to outlaw the wearing of face-veil, Danish Muslims are lamenting the ban as a violation of democratic principles in the West.
“It is important to let the Muslim population know that when they have fled dictatorship in their home country – or perhaps just left their country for work purposes – they will not encounter a new dictatorship or aspects of it in the Western democracies based on religious views,” Imran Shah, the spokesperson of the Islamic Society in Denmark, told The Copenhagen Post on Wednesday, April 13.
A French law banning the wearing of face-veil – burqa or niqab - in public places took into force on Monday, April 11.
Under the law, offenders would be fined 150 euros ($189) or required to take part in a citizenship class.
People who force women to wear a face-veil risk up to a year in prison and a fine of $41,000.
On Tuesday, a 27-year Muslim woman was fined 150 euros for wearing face-veil in Paris.
Shah said it has taken the Western democracies decades to obtain the freedoms that we can take for granted today.
But the French ban shows a new tendency towards demolishing these freedoms, he added.
The ban was not the first controversial law issued by France against a Muslim outfit.
In 2004, France banned hijab in schools and public places, with many European countries following suit.
France is home to some 5-6 million Muslims, the biggest Muslim minority in Europe.
Mania
The Muslim leader said that woman should be free to wear what they wish.
“We do not recommend that Danish Muslim women wear burqas or niqabs,” Shah said.
“But they are free to choose what they wear.”
A burqa is an all-enveloping cloak, often blue, with a woven grill over the eyes, that many Afghan women wear.
The niqab, a garment that is often black, covers the face but leaves the eyes uncovered.
Only three Muslim women wear a burqa on a regular basis in Denmark, according to researchers at the University of Copenhagen in 2009.
Between 150 and 200 women are believed to wear a niqab in the Scandinavian country.
The burqa mania reached Denmark in 2009 with the Conservative Party proposing a ban on the Muslim outfit, a move that won little support.
Denmark banned judges from wearing hijab (headscarf) and other religious symbols in courtrooms in 2008.
While hijab is an obligatory code of dress for Muslim women, the majority of Muslim scholars agree that a woman is not obliged to wear the face veil, or niqab, but believe that it is up to women to decide whether to cover her face.
Danish Muslims say that the French burqa ban violates the Western democratic principles. (Google)
“It is important to let the Muslim population know that when they have fled dictatorship in their home country – or perhaps just left their country for work purposes – they will not encounter a new dictatorship or aspects of it in the Western democracies based on religious views,” Imran Shah, the spokesperson of the Islamic Society in Denmark, told The Copenhagen Post on Wednesday, April 13.
A French law banning the wearing of face-veil – burqa or niqab - in public places took into force on Monday, April 11.
Under the law, offenders would be fined 150 euros ($189) or required to take part in a citizenship class.
People who force women to wear a face-veil risk up to a year in prison and a fine of $41,000.
On Tuesday, a 27-year Muslim woman was fined 150 euros for wearing face-veil in Paris.
Shah said it has taken the Western democracies decades to obtain the freedoms that we can take for granted today.
But the French ban shows a new tendency towards demolishing these freedoms, he added.
The ban was not the first controversial law issued by France against a Muslim outfit.
In 2004, France banned hijab in schools and public places, with many European countries following suit.
France is home to some 5-6 million Muslims, the biggest Muslim minority in Europe.
Mania
The Muslim leader said that woman should be free to wear what they wish.
“We do not recommend that Danish Muslim women wear burqas or niqabs,” Shah said.
“But they are free to choose what they wear.”
A burqa is an all-enveloping cloak, often blue, with a woven grill over the eyes, that many Afghan women wear.
The niqab, a garment that is often black, covers the face but leaves the eyes uncovered.
Only three Muslim women wear a burqa on a regular basis in Denmark, according to researchers at the University of Copenhagen in 2009.
Between 150 and 200 women are believed to wear a niqab in the Scandinavian country.
The burqa mania reached Denmark in 2009 with the Conservative Party proposing a ban on the Muslim outfit, a move that won little support.
Denmark banned judges from wearing hijab (headscarf) and other religious symbols in courtrooms in 2008.
While hijab is an obligatory code of dress for Muslim women, the majority of Muslim scholars agree that a woman is not obliged to wear the face veil, or niqab, but believe that it is up to women to decide whether to cover her face.
Denmark was the focus of Muslim anger in 2005 after a newspaper published cartoons lampooning Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessing be upon him).
Following the cartoons crisis, Muslims worldwide took many initiatives to remove widely circulated stereotypes about Islam in the West.
Danish Muslims established the European Committee for Honoring the Prophet, a grouping of 27 Danish Muslim organizations, to raise awareness about the merits and characteristics of the Prophet.
Following the cartoons crisis, Muslims worldwide took many initiatives to remove widely circulated stereotypes about Islam in the West.
Danish Muslims established the European Committee for Honoring the Prophet, a grouping of 27 Danish Muslim organizations, to raise awareness about the merits and characteristics of the Prophet.
Related Links:
Risking Jail for NiqabNiqab Ban Harmful: French
UK Rules Out French-style Burqa Ban
Burqa Ban Divides Aussie Govt
Burqa Police U-turn Delights Dutch Muslims
1 comment:
Muslim women wear a burka over the head as a part of their culture. They think of ir as a sign of keeping their face sacred and concealed until a time comes. More information on Help - Amanis on amanis.com.
Post a Comment