Does less clothing mean more freedom?

The debate over the niqab—whether it is oppressive, and even if it should be banned—has recently resurfaced. It is a recurring theme, bubbling up in the pages of our newspapers every year or so. This time—with accusations flying around Twitter that the media never represents the debate from the view of someone who actually wears a niqab—some publications had the idea of putting a journalist in one and sending them off to report on their experiences. It's an interesting idea, and some thoughtful points came out of the experiment—but why not just ask a Niqabi (a woman who wears a niqab)?

Researching this recently I came across a blog called Niqab Lovers, which has almost 25,000 followers on Twitter. Writing on the blog, the authors, two young Sri Lankan women, explain: "With so many people steroetyping the Niqab & Hijab as oppression, our aim is to make people understand the true beauty of the Niqab & Hijab, what it means to us and to the thousands of women out there who wear it with pride." I asked them to expand on this, and to give their take on some of the issues currently being debated in the media.

Got a question for a Niqabi? Ask it in the comment section below and Niqab Lovers will respond.

What prompted you to start your blog?

Initially, we started out as a Twitter page for awareness of what our Niqab really means to us, particularly with all the hate propaganda surrounding it. But then we realised that on a platform such as Twitter, 140 characters really isn’t enough to explain yourself, hence the start of our blog. Our reason for starting it is to let others know the view of a Niqabi herself on what her freedom really is. It’s a sad fact, but the Niqab is one of those many things that are largely misunderstood by so many people, so hopefully, presenting our views—the view of a Niqabi herself—can clear the doubts and questions people have regarding it.

When did you start wearing a niqab and why?

I started wearing the Niqab when I was 13. By then, my mother and older sisters were already wearing it. To be perfectly honest, there was no particular reason as to why I started wearing the Niqab. Ever since I can remember, I’ve held such an awe for it and I guess I’ve always known that one day I’ll be wearing it too. But over the years I’ve been wearing the Niqab, I’ve learnt a great deal about what my Niqab means to me and how it really has become part of who I am. And of course, the real reason behind my wearing the Niqab is to emulate the best of women—the wives and daughters of our Beloved Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon Him) and also to come closer to my Creator.

I know that some people might wonder how the Niqab can make you come closer to God, but it really does. It strengthens your relationship with God because you are submitting to Him totally. There’s immeasurable peace and happiness in that. Also, modesty is a branch of Islamic faith and what better way to show my modesty than through my clothing?

What causes some people to worry about the niqab? Why do you think some people perceive it as oppressive?

I’m not entirely sure. I think it’s really because of the way the Niqab has been stereotyped by the media. Some time back, people never questioned our Niqab, but now, because of the way it has been portrayed by the media, I think some people have been brainwashed into believing it to be oppressive.

Making a decision about oppression based purely on a woman’s dress code is foolish and absurd. It’s unfair to judge a person, their level of intellect and their freedom by how modest they choose to be. What I really can’t fathom is how people keep assuming that the Niqab is oppressive when countless Niqabis have spoken out about how immensely liberating it is for us. And it’s only fair to take the views of a Niqabi herself, right? If she says it really is her freedom, then her choice ought to be respected. People need to stop taking the views of the Niqab from those who have never worn it and take the words of a Niqabi herself on what the Niqab really is to her.

Why do you think it has become such a controversial issue in countries like the UK and France?

I really don’t understand how the Niqab could be such a problem, particularly when it’s only a handful of women who wear it. But then again, I think it’s a battle between the freedom that is stereotyped by the media versus real freedom. I don’t know whether all this Niqab controversy stems from hatred or just prejudice.

People have been so enslaved by fashion and brainwashed into thinking that less clothing is more freedom, that when some women choose to cover themselves up with an extra bit of clothing, they can’t comprehend it and immediately go ahead and call it "oppression."

If it’s really oppression of women that has to be eliminated, people have to try and do something about those thousands of young girls lying on hospital beds as a result of anorexia and magazines splashed with pictures of nude women. This is really what oppression is for women—when they bow down to the needs and desires of society and fashion and wreck themselves, their dignity and their body in the process. People need to look beyond their own scope of thinking.

Some people say that the niqab is cultural rather than religious. What are your thoughts on this?

Niqab is not cultural in any sense. It is part of Islam and it has been mentioned in the Quran as well as in the Hadith. Just after the Quranic verse regarding the woman’s veil was revealed, the women at that time covered their faces right away. Something that is mentioned in the Quran and Hadith can never be cultural. It is very much part of Islam.

Do you feel that wearing the niqab has ever restricted your ability to communicate or engage with other people?

Not at all. In fact, ever since I started wearing the Niqab, I have become a lot more confident and I really find it easier to communicate with people. I am naturally shy, but my Niqab has never restricted my ability to engage with others. To be honest, it’s really a great sense of freedom to express myself and my views based on my intellect, rather than be judged for my physical appearance.

Do you think that wearing the niqab could restrict you in terms of career options or other opportunities?

As far as career options are concerned, my Niqab hasn't restricted me in any way. A few Niqabis have told that they have faced some problems with some staff members because of the Niqab, but in most cases, these Niqabis either switch to another job option or they just go ahead with it.

It's a lot easier for me though, because I work from home as a freelancer and the people I work with are very understanding. All career opportunities come with some kind of problem, and it's no different with Niqabis, but there are solutions for it.

There was a case recently where a judge ordered a woman to remove her niqab in court so she could be identified. Are there some situations in which it is reasonable to ask a woman to remove her niqab?

It is allowed for a woman to uncover her face before the judge when she is giving testimony in court so that the judge can look at her in order to know who she really is and also to protect the rights of all concerned in the case. In such a situation, it is reasonable for a woman to remove her Niqab.

Do people treat you differently because of your niqab?

That really depends on the people. In my experience so far, very few people have treated me differently because of my Niqab. Some people throw insults at me, some others smile and talk to me. You can tell a lot about a person’s maturity based on his/her behaviour. Those who treat Niqabis no differently are the ones who respect the rights of others. In my country [Sri Lanka], although a handful of people treat me differently because of my Niqab, the majority treat me with the utmost respect. And this is the kind of respect that I can never get by parading half-naked on the road. I’m really thankful for that... It’s only when people see that you respect yourself that they will come to respect you.

On your Twitter account you write that, in your experience, the niqab is liberating. Can you expand on this?

There’s a world of a difference between assuming something and its true reality. The reason the Niqab has been so sadly distorted is because people put their assumption ahead of what the truth really is. If you really want to know whether or not the Niqab is oppressive, you need to ask a Niqabi herself. She’s the one who is wearing the Niqab and only she knows what it really means to her.

I have seen some non-Muslim women don the Niqab for a day or half a day and then write all about their experiences. Well, this isn’t experience, is it? I’ll tell you the truth: wearing the Niqab at first isn’t all that easy. It takes time to get used to it and, over time, you’ll come to realise how truly beautiful it is.

So, take my words from my experience: the Niqab means so much to me and no other piece of cloth has ever liberated me more! My Niqab shows that I don’t bow down or am enslaved to fashion or society's pressure to please people. I only bow down to the One who created me and it’s only His Pleasure that I need.

Ask the Niqab Lovers your own questions in the comment section below, or read more from Jessica Abrahams on the niqab debate:

Can the burka be a thing of beauty?

The niqab ban: why aren't we having a debate about banning high heels?