Europe takes advantage of Egypt’s Tantawi niqab ban calls
Oct 7th, 2009 | By Joseph Mayton | Category: Featured, News, Women
CAIRO: When a young female student received a verbal lashing from Al-Azhar Grand Sheikh Mohamed Tantawi, little did she know that the world would soon be focused on the possible banning of the full-face covering in a predominantly Muslim nation. Many European leaders are quickly taking advantage of the Islamic leader’s threats to ban the niqab at public institutions across the country as proof that the calls on the continent should not be denounced.
On Tuesday, only one day after news of Tantawi’s possible ban hit the media, Italy’s Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and his right-wing coalition have presented a proposal to ban the niqab, or burqa. The anti-immigration Northern League party is leading the charge, and Italian politicians are now quoting Tantawi in support of their goal.
The party’s proposal would amend an anti-terrorism law of 1975 that forbids anyone in the country from making their identification impossible. The current interpretation of the law allows for religious reasons as a “justified cause” to cover the face, but the possible law could end such interpretation.
A party member, Roberto Cota was quoted as saying “we are not racist and we have nothing against Muslims, but the law must be equal for everyone.”
People of Freedom Member of Parliament, Barbara Saltamartini, said that “banning the burqa cannot be considered anti-Muslim because it is not obligatory in Islam,” echoing Tantawi’s sentiments, when he demanded that the young girl in a local school remove the veil as it is “not part of Islam.”
“The Imam of Al-Azhar university in Cairo, the highest authority in Sunni Islam, has just stated unequivocally that Muslim women have the right to their own identity and that the burka is not part of Muslim tradition,†added Saltamartini.
It is all part of the rise of conservatism in Europe, says Al-Azhar sheikh Ibrahim Gema’a, who spent time in both Europe and North America working in local mosques. He believes that while Tantawi was making a point, the comments have been “taken out of context” by local and foreign media.
“He is right that the veil is not part of Islamic religious traditions, but this is not the way to go about trying to educate people. Egypt has become quite conservative in recent years and now, by saying these things, it gives rise to the idea in Europe that they are right about how they treat Muslims, which is not the case,” the sheikh, who deals with new converts, told Bikya Masr on Wednesday.
In Italy, the idea is picking up steam, with one Italian activist and journalist, who spent much time in the Middle East in recent years, says that the banning the niqab comments have been taken as justification for France, Belgium and other European nations to continue to “infringe on Muslims rights to freedom of choice that we Europeans hold so dear.”
That is the crux of the matter, says the Italian journalist. “We live in a culture that has been so open for a long time and now we are trying to close up, claiming it is keeping our culture in tact, but the reality is we are being exactly like the people we condemn; closed-minded and not open to new ideas.”
For many, in Egypt and in Europe, Tantawy’s words have sparked an entire new debate. Here in Egypt, many are cheering the decision to ban the niqab, arguing it will curtail the rising Islamic extremism that has taken hold of the country, while in Europe it is being used as gasoline to stoke the fire of an anti-Islam movement that continues to grow.
BM
Keep advertising off Bikya Masr - donate $1 to allow this to be possible
If any European or Egyptian politician believe that banning niqab or burqa will curtail the rising Islamic extremism or terrorism, they are for a big revelation, history teaches us that changing cloth do not change ideas or believes. Actually, in the contrary, it creates a mentality of a victimization and revenge among the affected group.
The question that these politician and Azhar scholars need to ask themselves, in the 21st century, globalization and unlimited open society everywhere, why these women elect to dress this way?
(The answer that they are forced by fathers and brothers is not true, you can check yourself)
Mohager Masry
[...] Italy is now using Sheik Tantawi’s remarks to pass a law to ban the Burqa or the Niqab. Italy’s Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and his right-wing coalition have presented a proposal to ban the Niqab, or burqa. [...]
I WONDER DOES ALL MOSLEM WOMEN THAT LIVED FOR HUNDREDS OF YEARS WITHOUT HEGAB OR NEQAB WILL GO TO HELL.
GET REAL ….IT IS NOT RELIGION BUT BEDOUIN TRADITION THAT BECAME A FASHIONABLE EXACTLY AS THE WHITE GELABIA OR THE ABAYA .
GIRLS ARE DEFINED RELIGIOUS BY YOUNG MEN JUST BY HER EXTERIOR APEARENCE
IT IS A FAD THAT WILL DISAPEAR WHEN THE MOOD CHANGES …..
Sheikh Tantawi has no credibility with the Egyptian people anyway. He is seen as a government puppet. Those who wear the niqab will become more adamant on wearing it and new people will wear it in spite, when they feel that their religious identity is threatened. Isolation only creates more extreme form of extremism.
[...] for a ban to the niqab and they are quoting Shaykh Tantawi to further emphasize their objectives. Italian People of Freedom Member of Parliament, Barbara Saltamartini, has been quoted as saying that “banning the burqa cannot be considered anti-Muslim because it is [...]
Bravo to the Europeans for polarizing the situation further. This is proof that extremism is never one-sided.
“AND THUS I CLOTH MY NAKED VILLAINY WITH ODD OLD ENDS STOLEN FORTH OF HOLY WRIT (OR SELF RIGHTEOUS LIBERALISM,ORIENTALISM, ETC) AND SEEM THE SAINT (ALTRUIST, MODERNIST, ETC), WHEN MOST I PLAY THE DEVIL.” SHAKESPEAR
What you see is simply a reflection of the disconnect and tyranny of the Egyptian government over the populous, its not surprising in the least bit to see the euro’s who loathe anything Islamic salivating. Mubarak is from Sadat’s ilk, and the Egyptians weren’t to fond of Sadat to begin with.
Mohager Masry
When the women of Egypt slap a few of you men around the chops in the street for the daily abuses they have to endure, then maybe we will see the niqab’s being taken off.
It’s not religious. It’ s a disguise to escape the constant sexual harrassment. ASK the women!
FYI, niqab and burqa are NOT the same thing. Burqa is a cultural garment, made famous in Afghanistan.
What’s wrong with letting women express themselves in a modest way? Whether their reasons for niqab are religious or cultural, I see nothing wrong with it. Ann is right, the situation for women in Egypt is worse than ever before, rife with not just sexual harassment, but plenty of sexual assault as well. How many stories have we heard of women being groped in public, on the metros and buses? And worse? It’s disgusting, and if niqab is a way to escape it then, by all means, let them wear niqab. I for one have always said that if I were to live/travel in Saudi Arabia – OUTSIDE of an American or other compound – I would DEFINITELY wear niqab, because the men there are relentless with uncovered women, even if just the face is uncovered.
[...] Bikyamasr [...]
[...] Mayton of Bikya Masr wrote a post on how Europe took advantage of the niqab ban in Egypt: On Tuesday, only one day after news of [...]
[...] Mayton of Bikya Masr wrote a post on how Europe took advantage of the niqab ban in Egypt: On Tuesday, only one day after news of [...]
Agreed with Mohager Masry, rima and couple of others.
To cover the face definitely has its roots in Islaam. Whether its an obligation, or recommended is the different understandings on the topic. To cover with a small piece(i.e. niqab) or large piece(i.e. burqa, long niqabs), or the ones that show one or both eyes, or not is often a personal choice out of one’s preference out of faith, convenience and comfort. Different countries have adopted a different look and style of this same concept. In Islam, hijab refers to the whole covering including the the headscarf, abaya, khimar, niqab, burqa, unlike the modern use of the word. It originally from the descriptions in the religious texts means the covering that covers from head to toe. The ones saying it is not part of the religion can believe so, but please prove it.
And there are many MANY of us who believe and follow it to be part of the religion with much faith, and only increasing… will you then condemn us?
Al-Azhar Grand Sheikh Mohamed Tantawi were attacked by many Radical and Fanatic Muslims. They believe that they understand Islam better than him. University rules and regulations MUST be respected by removing the Niquab. These girls are free to wear it in any other place were it is allowed. If Egyptians want to be respected they must respect the law.
They cover themselves mostly to avoid sexual harassement, but some are brain washed to believe that it is an Islamic tradition. I believe Islam is richer and deeper than just what to wear, eat, or should you enter the bathroom with right foot first…etc.
[...] October 10, 2009 by mnevadomski By now, the whole internet is abuzz with the recent controversies surrounding the Grand Sheikh of al-Azhar University, Muhammed Tantawi, who has hinted at the rather surprising stance of “banning’ the niqab (the full-face veil) in public institutions. Read Bikya Masr on the subject here. [...]
I’m sorry for most of people who talk without reasoning.
One of the best thing one can acquire in life is to get adequate knowledge of what you might lack. It is good “to know something about everything and everything about something”.
Though, you might not be a Muslim, but you still need to know understand some concepts about the religion of Islam.
Islam is a religion of peace, and it doesn’t accept anything except what is peace.
More so, you have to understand that the religion is not that of a dogmatism that you just follow anything you hear without confirming what is the wisdom behind the deeds or actions.
I also want to make you guys know that you don’t need to be blaspheming the religion of others.
We believe in our religion that scholars are likely to make mistakes and errors, but the best of them is he who repents.
I’ll get to you another time.
[...] Mayton of Bikya Masr wrote a post on how Europe took advantage of the niqab ban in [...]
[...] reminded, fifteen hundred words later, of Sheikh Tantawi’s October controversy over the niqab: after telling a niqabiyya girl to remove her veil (and her refusing repeatedly, until at last [...]
[...] جوزي٠ميتون مقالة ÙÙ‰ بيكيا مصر أن أوربا استÙادت من Øظر النقاب ÙÙ‰ مصر: يوم [...]