Friday, April 15, 2011

Opinion: Religious freedom and ‘Burqa Ban’ in France | Saima Ahmad

"One would wonder who was letting these poor souls out of their homes and onto the streets to stand up for something they were allegedly forced to do."

Google image: A 'Burqa Ban' protester in France
Ahmadiyya Times | News Watch | US Desk
Source/Credit: Ahmadiyya Times | Opinion
By Saima Ahmad | April 14, 2011

There was much in the news today regarding the ‘Burqa Ban’ in France and, as a Muslim woman who covers her head living in the West, I was very disturbed by the curtailment of the religious freedom of my sisters living in France.  Then I saw the images where some of these ‘so called’ oppressed women showed up outside the French Embassy in London to protest against this discriminatory ban. One would wonder who was letting these poor souls out of their homes and onto the streets to stand up for something they were allegedly forced to do.  The French government is posturing to come to the rescue of such women but it seemed obvious they were not in need of such chivalry.  In fact, they seemed confident and liberated in that they were not scared to stand up for their basic rights as equal citizens.


Muslim women have a moral obligation to abide by the injunctions related to the veil in the Holy Quran but there is no specific attire prescribed. This is why there are so many different ways women of the Muslim faith choose to practice modesty. If a woman is comfortable covering her face then she should be free to do so, especially in a country that boasts to be liberal and democratic.  Freedom of religion is a cornerstone of democracy and should not be selectively denied to its citizens.


Saima Ahmad
Suwanee,GA


  -- Ahmadiyya Times - ‘Burqa Ban’ in France | Saima Ahmad
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1 comment:

  1. AnonymousApril 24, 2011 at 10:06 AM

    I don't think these women are forced to wear whatever they wear. I guess they are covering hidden political agenda's inspired in some way from a dvd or a nice poem or something like that. Perhaps their husbands or brothers or fathers are even ashamed of them attracting so much commotion and for not knowing that you must ask permission for a protestmarch. Search history, it's very common that innocent, not very clever people are used to provoke, so they might be attacked, so some kind of turmoil can be used for a hidden agenda where these persons don't know anything about. Why do you thing there 's a ban? For the womens sake? Forget it. They are completely irrelevant.
    Why are women always so naieve?

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