A debate to be had face-to-face

The niqab issue seems to have become a defining one, symbolic of Europe’s growing apprehension about the new ‘other’, namely Muslims. It is part of the new Muslim identity that some Muslim women in Europe are asserting in opposition to wider society, an identity that seeks to distance itself from the mainstream and emphasise differences over commonalities. It is inevitable, then, that there should be a debate about the niqab. Interestingly, we are also starting to witness a similar debate erupting in many Muslim majority countries, most notably in Egypt where the Grand Mufti himself declared that the niqab was not a part of Islam.

Thus far, however, all discussion about the niqab has been very polarised. On one side there are calls for the niqab to be banned, whilst on the other, claims that niqab-donning women cause no harm or negative impact on society. I want to start by getting past the idea of imposing legal bans on items of clothing.

I think people should be allowed to wear whatever they want. As such, I support women’s legal right to wear a niqab believing that it is a religious “good” thing to do, just as I support women’s legal right not to wear a niqab. I don’t think we should be discussing this issue in terms of legal bans, which would be a denial of basic civil liberties we enjoy as British citizens.

Nor is this particularly a religious issue. If the aim of the niqab is to protect chastity and modesty then it fails miserably in a 21st century context since a woman wearing it is likely to attract more attention, not less. Some fringe Islamic schools of thought do encourage the niqab, but the vast majority of scholars and schools have never considered it to be obligatory.

I think the niqab in 21st century Europe does have a negative social impact and is largely impractical for anyone who does not seek to be isolated from society. In certain contexts for example, people’s faces need to be seen, they cannot conceal their face with a balaclava or motorcycle helmet and a thin piece of cloth should be no different. Teachers need to be able to see their pupil’s faces and vice versa. Banks and shopping centres need to be able to see the faces of their customers, as do jewellery shops and airport security personnel.

We live in a society where people often communicate via facial expressions as well as language. People strike up conversations at bus stops, outside schools and in queues. Wearing a niqab makes that much more difficult. At a time where people are drifting further and further apart, we need more communication and not more barriers.

So the debate needs to be about practicalities and common sense, with national cohesion in mind, not about legislation. We should continue to support people’s right to dress as they like, but with legal rights come practical consequences. A woman who chooses to wear the niqab is also choosing to close down many avenues for herself in terms of career choices and social interaction. That, coupled with the negative social impact and other restrictions it imposes on oneself, should be the central issues of concern for those who promote the practise.