I was aggrieved this when i read the news that france has passed banning of burqa into law. This occurrence has, in no measure shown the world, islamophobia in this part of the world. As a matter of fact, other countries will begin to follow suit. Other issues like burning the Quran, Curbing the construction of minarets, etc is indeed devilish, hateful, spiteful, barbaric, of course, act of terrorism. It has come to the fore that muslims are the most patient in the history of mankind! Oh Allah, help the muslims fighting in your course and let the parochial-minded among the muslims see the imminent and inimical evils. Allahumo ndhur l mujahideena fikulli mokan.

And with all of their evil plots, Islam has been prevailing and will continue to prevail.

The truth will always stand. No matter what people say or do.

As for me, I don't get much worried for I believe in Allah's promise to uphold the religion. We only need to pray well and be steadfast.

Let the whole world know! The truth has come and falsehood has vanished! Falsehood is bound to vanish "wakul jaa l haqqu wazahaqo l baatil, inna l batila kana zahuko" Qur 17 v 83.

Islam will continue to grow. Their evil plots against islam is indeed giving people about islam worldwide

Its indeed sad to hear such news which make the life of a Muslim tougher. It might not be feasible for everyone to migrate to a muslim country or a secular country so that he/she doesnt face such oppression.
May Allah help the Muslims in that country to practice Islam properly.
Ameen.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^


Aminnnnnnnnnnnn

U are very right Azharuddeen! It is pathetic

its going bad.

Na by force to stay in those countries?
Abi dem write invitation letter to muslims to come stay there?
If its not conducive then carry ya kangara and go to afghanistan, Its like a christian complaining about no being allowed to express hijs religion in mecca,its stupid.
Its simple, go where you're wanted, people have a right to decide laws in their own land anywhere in the world.
Stop moaning.

A man was once asked 'Why is it that you muslims cover your women in Hijab?'. The Muslim man replied, 'Where do you keep your money?'. The man said 'in my wallet, inside of my pocket'. The Muslim man asked 'why is it that you keep your money in your wallet and hidden from view?'. The man answered 'because it is valuable and I don't want it being stolen'. The Muslim man replied 'just as your money is valuable and you keep it hidden in your pocket, our women are much more valuable and this is why we keep them hidden in hijab so that strangers can not 'steal' them with their evil glances'.

FYI,
take a look of the below picture.

really nice one,

Very good one there Chakula. Nice illustration

The Hi-jab differentiate Muslim ladies from all other daughters of Jezebel

That's very True.

AbuHanifa:

I was aggrieved this when i read the news that france has passed banning of burqa into law. This occurrence has, in no measure shown the world, islamophobia in this part of the world. As a matter of fact, other countries will begin to follow suit.

What can one say? Maybe the French are uncomfortable seeing masked people wandering their streets.

AbuHanifa:

Other issues like burning the Quran, Curbing the construction of minarets, etc is indeed devilish, hateful, spiteful, barbaric, of course, act of terrorism.

Are you actually comparing burning the Quran and limiting of buildings to murder?

AbuHanifa:

It has come to the fore that muslims are the most patient in the history of mankind!

This is absolutely untrue from what we've been seeing and hearing on the news.

AbuHanifa:

Oh Allah, help the muslims fighting in your course and let the parochial-minded among the muslims see the imminent and inimical evils. Allahumo ndhur l mujahideena fikulli mokan.

What's that about mujahideena?

The french are responding to the burka ,the niqab by restricting freedom and I think that's  not  going to work we have to be cautious not
to translate every sensitive issue into a legal issue on other hand we can do the job as Muslims by saying the burka and niqab are not Islamic
prescriptions

zubeyr:

The french are responding to the burka ,the niqab by restricting freedom and I think that's  not  going to work we have to be cautious not
to translate every sensitive issue into a legal issue on other hand we can do the job as Muslims by saying the burka and niqab are not Islamic
prescriptions

i dont seem to get your point. Why would we say they are not Islamic when they truly are?

you will get my point when you further your knowledge in Deen and get better understanding of Koran and hadith

read this!!!

1
Assessing British MP Jack Straw’s Comments Concerning Hijab In Islam
Majlis Sultan-ul-Qalam, USA and Lajna Imaillah Media Watch, USA
December 2006
On October 6, 2006, in the wake of the suspension of a full- face veiled teaching
assistant in the United Kingdom, former British Foreign Secretary and current leader of
the House of Commons Jack Straw made controversial remarks about the Islamic
tradition of hijab or “covering.” 1 Specifically, Mr. Straw wrote in the Lancashire
Telegraph that Muslim women should remove their niqabs when visiting him because he
“felt uncomfortable about talking to someone ‘face to face’ who [he] could not see.”2
The niqab, he claims, is a “visible statement of separation and of difference” that is
“bound to make better, positive relations between the two communities more difficult.”3
While he did not condone any law or formal prescription banning hijab in the United
Kingdom, Mr. Straw said that he would rather hijab (and not just the niqab) be abolished
all together.4
Mr. Straw’s comments have since plunged the United Kingdom – and indeed
much of Europe – into a debate over Islamic integration. Notable European political
leaders have supported Mr. Straw’s comments. British Prime Minister Tony Blair echoed
Mr. Straw’s sentiments, calling hijab “a mark of separation” that “makes other people
from outside the Muslim community feel uncomfortable.”5 Italian Prime Minister
Romano Prodi agreed with Mr. Straw remarking, “You can’t cover your face. [Muslim
women] can’t be hidden.”6 The Dutch Government has gone so far as to propose
legislation banning outright the wearing of the niqab in public places, and Dutch
Immigration Minister, Rita Verdonk, has signaled the imminent end of hijab altogether in
The Netherlands.7
However well intentioned Mr. Straw’s comments were, they exhibit a
fundamental lack of knowledge of Islamic traditions, the role of women and the function
of hijab. In particular, Mr. Straw and his supporters makes several faulty assumptions:
(1) hijab is a peculiar Islamic construct inimical to Western culture and society; (2) hijab
inhibits the freedom and equality of Muslim women in the West; and (3) hijab thwarts
integration of Muslims in the West.
We address each assumption in turn.
1. Hijab’s Deep Roots
First, Mr. Straw wrongly assumes that hijab is unique to Islam and foreign to the
West. Notwithstanding Islam’s distinctive teachings concerning hijab, the wearing of a
veil is not unique to Islam.8
The veil can be traced back to 13th Century B.C. in ancient Assyria
(Mesopotamia). At that time, wearing the veil was a mark of social class and not
religion. 9 The law required all Assyrian women except prostitutes to cover their heads in
2
public.10 Similarly, ancient Greek and Roman artifacts suggest that wearing a veil was
not an uncommon practice.11 Although the veil’s significance in Greek and Roman
society is unclear, its custom cannot be discounted.12
Beginning with Judaism, wearing a veil took on religious significance. It was a
symbol of propriety and modesty. Jewish women would cover their heads in public in
observance of Jewish law. 13 Jeremias commented: “When the Jewess of Jerusalem left her
house, her face was hidden, so that her features could not be recognized.”14 A Jewish
woman’s failure to cover her head during the Tannaitic period was “considered an affront to
her modesty. ”15 The veil elevated a woman’s high status in Jewish society. 16 Today
some orthodox Jewish women still practice traditional Jewish teachings by wearing
scarves or wigs.17
Similarly, the Bible taught the wearing of a veil long before Islam. In the Old
Testament we read:
“When Re-bek'ah raised her eyes, she caught sight of Isaac and she swung herself down
from off the camel. Then she said to the servant 'who is that walking in the field to meet
us?' and the servant said 'It is my master' And she proceeded to take a head cloth and to
cover herself.” (Genesis: 24:64-65)
In the New Testament we read:
“But every woman that prays or prophesies with her head uncovered shames her head
for it is one and the same as if she were a (woman) with a shaved head. For if a woman
does not cover herself let her also be shorn; but if it is disgraceful for woman to be shorn
or shaved, let her be covered.” (1 Corinthians: 11: 5-6)
As explained from these verses, the Bible treats the wearing of a veil as an inherently
righteous undertaking. The Virgin Mary is often depicted in works of art with her head
covered.18 In fact, for a time it was obligatory upon Catholic women to don a headscarf
while attending church service.19 Today Christian nuns and Amish women continue to
cover their heads.20
Finally, traditional Hindu women also wear head coverings while in the company
of men, further highlighting that hijab is not exclusive to Islam. 21 Sometimes veiling is
accomplished with a loose end of the woman’s sari, and sometimes it is done with a
scarf- like fabric.22
Thus, hijab must be understood in the context of the veil’s cultural and religious
roots.
2. Hijab’s Liberating and Equalizing Force
Second, Mr. Straw wrongly assumes that hijab inhibits freedom and equality of
Muslim women.
3
As an initial matter, the view that hijab inhibits freedom and equality arguably is
a reaction to the original Biblical explanation concerning the same. St. Paul teaches:
“A man indeed ought not to cover his head, because he is the image and glory of God.
But woman is the glory of man. For man was not created for woman, but woman for man.
This is why the woman ought to have a sign of authority over her head, because of the
angels.” (1 Corinthians, 11:7-10)
Thus, according to St. Paul the veil is a sign of man’s authority over her. A veiled
Christian woman is pious only insofar as she accepts her inferior role to man. Perhaps
owing to this explanation, many in the West view the veil as a symbol of inferiority,
subservience, and degradation.
But the Islamic rationale for hijab is entirely at odds with this prevailing stigma.
In Islam hijab signifies modesty and is a means of protection. A multitude of Quranic
references attest to a woman’s equality to man. For example, the Qur’an unequivocally
explains that men and women belong to the same species and possess identical aptitudes
and propensities.23 The requirement of hijab is not intended to imprison a woman or
render her susceptible to male dominance.24 Rather, it is intended to enhance her Godgiven
faculties.
In Islam, faith is premised on the belief that God created men and women for a
lofty purpose, namely establishing peace in society. Since a peaceful home is the basic
unit of a peaceful society, Islam seeks to protect marital harmony by promoting modesty.
In the United States, nearly 40% of all marriages end in divorce, half of which end due to
extra- marital affairs.25 As a precaution, the Qur’an enjoins women to draw their head
coverings over their bosoms when in the presence of men outside of the family:
“And say to the believing women that they restrain their looks and guard their private
parts and that they display not their beauty or their embellishment except that which is
apparent, thereof, and that they draw their head coverings over their bosoms, and that
they display not their beauty or their embellishment save to their husbands…” (24:32)
The injunction concerning hijab is an obligation not limited to women but refers to men
as well; hijab only assumes a different form:
“Say to the believing men that they restrain their looks and guard their private parts.
That is purer for them. Surely, Allah is well-aware of what they do.” (24:31)
Yet another purpose of hijab is to protect women from unwarranted harm. In the
West, often there is a casual willingness to dehumanize women by seeing them first and
foremost as sexual objects. A staggering US $57 billion worldwide is generated by
pornography. 26 This is more than the combined revenues of all U.S. professional football,
baseball and basketball franchises and exceeds the combined revenues of ABC, CBS, and
NBC television stations.27 The pernicious consequences of such sexual degradation are
well known. In the United States alone, one of out every three women has been the
4
victim of physical and sexual abuse,28 and a woman is raped every two and a half
minutes.29
Because women are vulnerable to exploitation and abuse, Islam advises them to
take their protection into their own hands:
“[T]hey should pull down upon them their outer cloaks from their heads over their faces.
That is more likely that they may thus be recognized and not molested. And Allah is Most
Forgiving, Merciful.” (33:60)
Thus, hijab is a physically manifested barrier to unwarranted harassment. It is not a
disgrace or a hindrance for a woman; on the contrary, it honors her and frees her from the
bondage of society and the obstacles that prevent her intellectual, moral, and spiritual
advancement. Indeed, by electing to safeguard herself and her virtues, a woman protects
society from social evils such as adultery, spread of disease, children born out of
wedlock, rape, and divorce.
A woman does not have to rely on her physical beauty or dress in order to
contribute to society. Her character defines the peace, prosperity, and progress of a
nation. This is why the Prophet of Islam emphasized the importance of religious and
worldly education for both men and women30; indeed, education is one of the basic
elements of a progressive society. According to Islam, women have the power to
eliminate suffering wherever they tread, and the liberating force of hijab makes them the
architects of the fate of future generations. Indeed, the true Muslim woman is neither the
exploited woman of the West nor the stymied woman in totalitarian Arab regimes.
Mr. Straw also neglects the fact that Islam itself safeguards against a harsh and
irrational application of hijab. There is no law in Islam that punishes a woma n from not
abiding by hijab. Hijab’s fundamental aim is to protect a Muslim woman and to provide
her greater liberty to participate in society. Where hijab fails to achieve this aim, Islam
allows for relaxation of the requirement.31
3. Hijab’s Integrative Role
Finally, Mr. Straw wrongly assumes that prohibiting hijab will somehow improve
integration and social cohesion.
Other nations have attempted to improve integration by banning the veil. France
outlawed headscarves in public schools. Turkey outlawed the wearing of the veil in
public places. By most assessments, such efforts at “integration” have had little
success.32 In France, for example, recent rioting is a clear indic ator that Muslims
continue to feel alienated and disaffected.33 The reason is obvious. The veil has nothing
to do with integration. The real barriers to integration are poverty and unemployment.
For example, in the United Kingdom two-thirds of children of families of Pakistani and
Bangladeshi origin are growing up in poverty. 34 More than 20 percent of all Muslim
5
youths between 16 and 24 are unemployed. Muslim women practicing hijab have
nothing to do with these sobering statistics.35
Moreover, at a micro level, hijab does not prevent communication. Technological
advances have made it easier for society to communicate virtually without “face-to-face”
dialogue. The face has never been the only essential tool for effective communications.
Prime Minister Blair can be effective communicating to the British public over the radio
just as he can in person. A Muslim woman can be effective communicating with others
even with her face covered. Quite obviously, it is the substance of what is said that
counts more than the appearance of who said it.
In addition, efforts at integration should not come at the expense of restricting the
fundamental human right of religious freedom. Essential to successful integration in a
democratic society is the enmeshing of divergent religious cultures and traditions.
Forcing a Muslim woman to “unveil” is thus a self-defeating measure. Not only does
such a measure violate a Muslim woman’s fundamental human right, it also prevents
Western society from understanding, and perhaps even integrating, Islamic traditions.
Conclusion
At their core, Mr. Straw’s remarks concerning hijab in Islam reflect an entirely
flawed and ultimately dangerous understanding of true Islamic teachings. Mr. Straw
wrongly assume s that hijab is foreign to the West, inhibits the freedom and equality of
Muslim women, and thwarts the integration of Muslims in Western society. In actuality,
hijab has deep roots and ensures true freedom and equality for women. Moreover, far
from thwarting efforts at integration in Western society, hijab can potentially benefit
Western society.

zubeyr:

you will get my point when you further your knowledge in Deen and get better understanding of Koran and hadith

so, dat just made u d knowledgeable one.ughn?  i really shake my head for you.

All u need do is explain your self Mr.

@Niyi53
your post is educative and quite long. I'd like to break it into parts to make it easier to read. I hope u dont mind

Assessing British MP Jack Straw’s Comments Concerning Hijab In Islam, Majlis Sultan-ul-Qalam, USA and Lajna Imaillah Media Watch, USA
December 2006

On October 6, 2006, in the wake of the suspension of a full- face veiled teaching assistant in the United Kingdom, former British Foreign Secretary
and current leader of the House of Commons Jack Straw made controversial remarks about the Islamic tradition of hijab or “covering.”

1. Specifically, Mr. Straw wrote in the Lancashire Telegraph that Muslim women should remove their niqabs when visiting him because he “felt
uncomfortable about talking to someone ‘face to face’ who [he] could not see.”

2. The niqab, he claims, is a “visible statement of separation and of difference” that is “bound to make better, positive relations between the two communities more difficult"

3.While he did not condone any law or formal prescription banning hijab in the United Kingdom, Mr. Straw said that he would rather hijab (and not just the niqab) be abolished all together.

4.Mr. Straw’s comments have since plunged the United Kingdom – and indeed much of Europe – into a debate over Islamic integration. Notable European political leaders have supported Mr. Straw’s comments. British Prime Minister Tony Blair echoed Mr. Straw’s sentiments, calling hijab “a mark of separation” that “makes other people from outside the Muslim community feel uncomfortable.”

5. Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi agreed with Mr. Straw remarking, “You can’t cover your face. [Muslim women] can’t be hidden.”

6. The Dutch Government has gone so far as to propose legislation banning outright the wearing of the niqab in public places, and Dutch Immigration Minister, Rita Verdonk, has signaled the imminent end of hijab altogether in The Netherlands.

7.However well intentioned Mr. Straw’s comments were, they exhibit a fundamental lack of knowledge of Islamic traditions, the role of women and the function of hijab

In particular, Mr. Straw and his supporters makes several faulty assumptions:

(1) hijab is a peculiar Islamic construct(culture?) inimical to Western culture and society; (2) hijab inhibits the freedom and equality of Muslim women in the West; and (3) hijab thwarts integration of Muslims in the West.

We address each assumption in turn.

1. Hijab’s Deep Roots

First, Mr. Straw wrongly assumes that hijab is unique to Islam and foreign to the West. Notwithstanding Islam’s distinctive teachings concerning hijab, the wearing of a veil is not unique to Islam.

The veil can be traced back to 13th Century B.C. in ancient Assyria (Mesopotamia). At that time, wearing the veil was a mark of social class and not
religion. The law required all Assyrian women except love-peddlers to cover their heads in public.

Similarly, ancient Greek and Roman artifacts suggest that wearing a veil was not an uncommon practice. Although the veil’s significance in Greek and Roman society is unclear, its custom cannot be discounted.

Beginning with Judaism, wearing a veil took on religious significance. It was a symbol of propriety and modesty. Jewish women would cover their heads in public in observance of Jewish law. 13 Jeremias commented: “When the Jewess of Jerusalem left her house, her face was hidden, so that her features could not be recognized.” A Jewishwoman’s failure to cover her head during the Tannaitic period was “considered an affront to her modesty. ”The veil elevated a woman’s high status in Jewish society. Today some orthodox Jewish women still practice traditional Jewish teachings by wearing
scarves or wigs.

Similarly, the Bible taught the wearing of a veil long before Islam. In the Old Testament we read:
“When Re-bek'ah raised her eyes, she caught sight of Isaac and she swung herself down
from off the camel. Then she said to the servant 'who is that walking in the field to meet
us?' and the servant said 'It is my master' And she proceeded to take a head cloth and to
cover herself.” (Genesis: 24:64-65)
In the New Testament we read:“But every woman that prays or prophesies with her head uncovered shames her head for it is one and the same as if she were a (woman) with a shaved head. For if a woman does not cover herself let her also be shorn; but if it is disgraceful for woman to be shorn
or shaved, let her be covered.” (1 Corinthians: 11: 5-6)

As explained from these verses, the Bible treats the wearing of a veil as an inherently righteous undertaking. The Virgin Mary is often depicted in works of art with her head covered. In fact, for a time it was obligatory upon Catholic women to don a headscarf while attending church service. Today, Christian nuns and Amish women continue to cover their heads.

Finally, traditional Hindu women also wear head coverings while in the company of men, further highlighting that hijab is not exclusive to Islam. Sometimes veiling is accomplished with a loose end of the woman’s sari, and sometimes it is done with a scarf- like fabric.

Thus, hijab must be understood in the context of the veil’s cultural and religious roots.

2. Hijab’s Liberating and Equalizing Force

Second, Mr. Straw wrongly assumes that hijab inhibits freedom and equality of Muslim women. As an initial matter, the view that hijab inhibits freedom and equality arguably is a reaction to the original Biblical explanation concerning the same. St. Paul teaches:
         
 “A man indeed ought not to cover his head, because he is the image and glory of God.
            But woman is the glory of man. For man was not created for woman, but woman for man.
            This is why the woman ought to have a sign of authority over her head, because of the
            angels.” (1 Corinthians, 11:7-10)

Thus, according to St. Paul the veil is a sign of man’s authority over her. A veiled Christian woman is pious only in so far as she accepts her inferior role to man. Perhaps owing to this explanation, many in the West view the veil as a symbol of inferiority, subservience, and degradation. But the Islamic rationale for hijab is entirely at odds with this prevailing stigma. In Islam hijab signifies modesty and is a means of protection. A multitude of Quranic references attest to a woman’s equality to man. For example, the Qur’an unequivocally explains that men and women belong to the same species and possess identical aptitudes and propensities.

The requirement of hijab is not intended to imprison a woman or render her susceptible to male dominance. Rather, it is intended to enhance her God given faculties.

In Islam, faith is premised on the belief that God created men and women for a lofty purpose, namely establishing peace in society. Since a peaceful home is the basic unit of a peaceful society, Islam seeks to protect marital harmony by promoting modesty.

In the United States, nearly 40% of all marriages end in divorce, half of which end due to extra- marital affairs. As a precaution, the Qur’an enjoins women to draw their head coverings over their bosoms when in the presence of men outside of the family:
       
         “And say to the believing women that they restrain their looks and guard their private
             parts and that they display not their beauty or their embellishment except that which is
               apparent, thereof, and that they draw their head coverings over their bosoms, and that
                 they display not their beauty or their embellishment save to their husbands…” (24:32)

The injunction concerning hijab is an obligation not limited to women but refers to men as well; hijab only assumes a different form:
   
       “Say to the believing men that they restrain their looks and guard their private parts.
          That is purer for them. Surely, Allah is well-aware of what they do.” (24:31)

Yet another purpose of hijab is to protect women from unwarranted harm. In the West, often there is a casual willingness to dehumanize women by seeing them first and foremost as sexual objects. A staggering US $57 billion worldwide is generated by indecency. This is more than the combined revenues of all U.S. professional football, baseball and basketball franchises and exceeds the combined revenues of ABC, CBS, and NBC television stations. The pernicious consequences of such sexual degradation are well known. In the United States alone, one out of every three women has been the victim of physical and sexual abuse, and a woman is despoiled every two and a half minutes.
Because women are vulnerable to exploitation and abuse, Islam advises them to take their protection into their own hands:
       
        “[T]hey should pull down upon them their outer cloaks from their heads over their faces.
         That is more likely that they may thus be recognized and not molested. And Allah is Most
          Forgiving, Merciful.” (33:60)

Thus, hijab is a physically manifested barrier to unwarranted harassment. It is not a disgrace or a hindrance for a woman; on the contrary, it honors her and frees her from the bondage of society and the obstacles that prevent her intellectual, moral, and spiritual advancement. Indeed, by electing to safeguard herself and her virtues, a woman protects society from social evils such as adultery, spread of disease, children born out of wedlock, despoil, and divorce.

A woman does not have to rely on her physical beauty or dress in order to contribute to society. Her character defines the peace, prosperity, and progress of a nation. This is why the Prophet of Islam emphasized the importance of religious and worldly education for both men and women; indeed, education is one of the basic elements of a progressive society. According to Islam, women have the power to eliminate suffering wherever they tread, and the liberating force of hijab makes them the architects of the fate of future generations. Indeed, the true Muslim woman is neither the exploited woman of the West nor the stymied woman in totalitarian Arab regimes.

Mr. Straw also neglects the fact that Islam itself safeguards against a harsh and irrational application of hijab. There is no law in Islam that punishes a woman from not abiding by hijab. Hijab’s fundamental aim is to protect a Muslim woman and to provide her greater liberty to participate in society. Where hijab fails to achieve this aim, Islam allows for relaxation of the requirement.

3. Hijab’s Integrative Role

Finally, Mr. Straw wrongly assumes that prohibiting hijab will somehow improve integration and social cohesion. Other nations have attempted to improve integration by banning the veil. France outlawed headscarves in public schools. Turkey outlawed the wearing of the veil in public places. By most assessments, such efforts at “integration” have had little success.

In France, for example, recent rioting is a clear indicator that Muslims continue to feel alienated and disaffected. The reason is obvious. The veil has nothing to do with integration. The real barriers to integration are poverty and unemployment. For example, in the United Kingdom two-thirds of children of families of Pakistani and Bangladeshi origin are growing up in poverty. More than 20 percent of all Muslim youths between 16 and 24 are unemployed. Muslim women practicing hijab have nothing to do with these sobering statistics.

Moreover, at a micro level, hijab does not prevent communication. Technological advances have made it easier for society to communicate virtually without “face-to-face” dialogue. The face has never been the only essential tool for effective communications.

Prime Minister Blair can be effective communicating to the British public over the radio just as he can in person. A Muslim woman can be effective communicating with others even with her face covered. Quite obviously, it is the substance of what is said that counts more than the appearance of who said it. In addition, efforts at integration should not come at the expense of restricting the fundamental human right of religious freedom. Essential to successful integration in a democratic society is the enmeshing of divergent religious cultures and traditions.

Forcing a Muslim woman to “unveil” is thus a self-defeating measure. Not only does such a measure violate a Muslim woman’s fundamental human right, it also prevents Western society from understanding, and perhaps even integrating, Islamic traditions.

Conclusion

At their core, Mr. Straw’s remarks concerning hijab in Islam reflect an entirely flawed and ultimately dangerous understanding of true Islamic teachings. Mr. Straw wrongly assumes that hijab is foreign to the West, inhibits the freedom and equality of Muslim women, and thwarts the integration of Muslims in Western society. In actuality, hijab has deep roots and ensures true freedom and equality for women. Moreover, far
from thwarting efforts at integration in Western society, hijab can potentially benefit Western society.

@ niyi53, could you please explain this for i dont understand what it means:

Islam allows for relaxation of the requirement.

Don't point fingers when you are doing the same act again another person of a different religion in your own country. It's hypocrisy. Like they say, "When in Rome do as the Romans do".

why should we blame the unbelievers for restricting muslims when the muslims themselves are no better? i have been posting in this forum under restriction and many of my posts are being deleted because i am a shia muslim and not a sunni muslim.christians find it free to post and attack our Prophet and insult islam,but a fellow muslim with a different point of view is not welcome to share his points.not only that,the christians themselves are so diverse that you will find among them no two denominations with the same fundamental beliefs.catholics,protestants,anglicans,baptists,jehovah's witnesses,seven days adventists,etc all of them practice their beliefs freely.but here we have a group of muslims feeling threatened and attacked just simply becaus othe other group is talking about its own views ( and there are only 2 branches of islam practiced,shia and sunni, with the same fundamentals of islam compared to the too many christian branches with different fundamentals and basics).and here we are complaining that the west is banning the veil.if you got the truth,you have nothing to fear.you have no need to censor anyone.so why the censorship in this forum?when i say this forum,i mean the islam forum.if you go through other forums,you'd be amazed at the liberty people have in posting.and i am sure,this attitude is also reflected in the society.

why exactly is banning a veil sinister would you allow a woman residing in a muslim country to wear miniskirts?
it is against french tradition and way of life so if you want to live,work and reside in their country then obey their laws, even when the queen of england went to abhu dabi she covered her head like every other muslim woman in obedience of the laws she did not refuse because she was a queen in england.

besides where exatly in the quran note not hadith does it say that the veil is mandatory?
i dont know why it is always people in third world developing countries that have a problem when it comes to prompt obedience of the law

LagosShia:

why should we blame the unbelievers for restricting muslims when the muslims themselves are no better? i have been posting in this forum under restriction and many of my posts are being deleted because i am a shia muslim and not a sunni muslim.christians find it free to post and attack our Prophet and insult islam,but a fellow muslim with a different point of view is not welcome to share his points.not only that,the christians themselves are so diverse that you will find among them no two denominations with the same fundamental beliefs.catholics,protestants,anglicans,baptists,jehovah's witnesses,seven days adventists,etc all of them practice their beliefs freely.but here we have a group of muslims feeling threatened and attacked just simply becaus othe other group is talking about its own views ( and there are only 2 branches of islam practiced,shia and sunni, with the same fundamentals of islam compared to the too many christian branches with different fundamentals and basics).and here we are complaining that the west is banning the veil.if you got the truth,you have nothing to fear.you have no need to censor anyone.so why the censorship in this forum?when i say this forum,i mean the islam forum.if you go through other forums,you'd be amazed at the liberty people have in posting.and i am sure,this attitude is also reflected in the society.

uncle abeg we christians are not your promblem,your so called muslim brethren who hate you as much as or even more than they do the christians and jews are your problem, im sorry but hope you realise the contradiction this is springing up in islam