What are your views? “The niqab is not obligatory… Therefore, if it is necessary to ban it for the security of the country and its people, the government can ask women to not wear it.” - Ahmad Al Qubasi, Islamic scholar “In certain situations, especially if it comes to the protection of the people and the country, women can be asked not to wear the niqab… But I don’t believe it should be banned as a whole. Other solutions can be worked out instead.” - Shaikh Khaliq Ahmad Mufti, Islamic scholar “If it is a matter of national security, to protect my country and its people from those who are taking advantage of the niqab to perform crimes and ruin the image of Islam, then I would take it off.” - Amal Mohammad; Emirati who wears a niqab “Most Islamic associations do not see the niqab as part of religious jurisprudence. Islam requires women to dress modestly and wear a hijab, but does not urge them to cover their face.” - Riad Kahwaji, Director-General of the Institute for Near East and Gulf Military Analysis Should niqab not be worn for security reasons? Reaction to news of the woman’s murder by an assailant wearing a niqab is mixed The stabbing death of an American school teacher by a niqab-clad assailant in a women’s restroom at an Abu Dhabi mall is drawing mixed reactions across the country as to whether or not the niqab should be worn for security reasons. Islamic scholar Ahmad Al Qubasi said wearing the niqab is not mandatory in Islam, which is why he said if it is a matter of national security, women can be asked not to wear it. “The niqab is not obligatory, only the wives of the Prophet were required to wear it. Therefore, if it is necessary to ban it for the security of the country and its people, the government can ask women to not wear it.” Al Qubaisi said in certain situations the niqab has already been banned by Arab countries. Banned during exams “For example, Iraq banned women taking a university exam from wearing it. They have to take it off to make sure that the actual student is taking the exam and not someone else.” Related Links Video of Abu Dhabi mall murder suspect released Police launch hunt for mall murder suspect US citizen stabbed to death in Abu Dhabi mall Riad Kahwaji, Director-General of the Institute for Near East and Gulf Military Analysis, said, “This is a very touchy subject. In fact, most Islamic associations do not see the niqab as part of religious jurisprudence. Islam requires women to dress modestly and wear a hijab, but does not urge them to cover their face.” Kahwaji said if a ban were to be implemented; it would require the local leadership to discuss it with the tribal leaders. “The niqab is not a religious tradition but rather a cultural one in the Gulf. In the event where a ban was being considered, the country’s leadership will first have to discuss the matter with the tribal leaders. The niqab is a Bedouin tradition that precedes Islam. This is not something the government can impose overnight.” Unlike Paris or Belgium, who have imposed a ban on niqabs and burqas, Kahwaji said: “A ban here would require time and support from the tribal leaders. It isn’t like Paris or Belgium where the niqab is a phenomenon related to immigrants.” Pros and cons Shaikh Khaliq Ahmad Mufti, on the other hand, said while the niqab can be banned in certain situations, it should not be banned from a country as a whole. “According to my studies, Islamic scientists had not unanimously agreed on whether the niqab is mandatory or not. In certain situations, especially if it comes to the protection of the people and the country, women can be asked not to wear it. For example, women are required to show their faces in passport pictures and the airport. But I don’t believe it should be banned as a whole. Other solutions can be worked out instead.” Amal Mohammad, 35, an Emirati who wears a niqab, said if her country banned the niqab as a matter of national security then she would support its decision and not wear it. “Islamic scientists have unanimously agreed that the niqab is not mandatory in Islam, it is optional, I wear it by choice for extra merit. If it is a matter of national security, to protect my country and its people from those who are taking advantage of the niqab to perform crimes and ruin the image of Islam, then I would take it off.” Amal also said one can tell if someone is wearing the niqab to hide themselves or not. “Speaking as someone who wears it, I think one can easily tell if a person is wearing the niqab to hide themselves.” Disrespect? British national Jamie G., 35, on the other hand, believes even suggesting a ban on the niqab is disrespectful to those who believe in wearing it. “To even suggest banning the niqab in the aftermath of an incident such as this is knee-jerk. Aside from being impossible to implement, this move would be hugely disrespectful to those who believe in covering their face for religious and modesty reasons, especially in a country in which this is common. If someone is willing to stab another human to death, the inability to hide their face behind a niqab is not going to stop them.” Ali Bashar, 25, a Palestinian, also believed that suggesting the ban is discriminating and unnecessary. “Everyone should have the right to wear whatever they want. Any robber or murderer would hide their face before performing a crime, yet they are still found through investigations, fingerprints etc… so why should we discriminate against a group of people?”
Posted on: Thu, 04 Dec 2014 07:23:44 +0000
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