niqab wars

I've been wanting to write about this for weeks now, nearly every time I see an article about the potential banning of the niqab going on in Quebec and also in various European countries. I kept putting it off partially because it has nothing to do with what my blog is usually about and yet... every time I see another piece about it I'm set on edge about the direction our country and the world is taking.

For those of you who aren't familiar with it, the niqab is the full head covering that some Muslim women wear that only allows the eyes to peek out. The burqua, which is also facing opposition, is the full body covering.

Quebec is trying to introduce a law that would ban women from wearing the niqab while accessing public services. These services include everything from hospitals to libraries, language classes, etc... The reasoning goes that these women are not integrated into society and for security, identification and communication they must uncover their faces while using public services or working for the public sector. Jean Charest has said even public sector employees who don't work with the public would be forbidden from wearing the head covering.

Now why would this be such a major issue as to require a bill passed when it's estimated only a few dozen women in all of Quebec choose to wear the head covering? The rhetoric continues to be that these are caged, oppressed women forced to cover up by their husbands or fathers. Even though it's not stated in the official bill, Christine St-Pierre (QCs Minister for the Status of Women) called the niqab an "ambulatory prison". Not only are we freeing them by banning the head covering but it also makes us more comfortable that we can see their faces while communicating.


But is this in the best interest of women who choose to wear the head covering for reasons of piety or personal choice?? I would be surprised if the people who are making regulations know any Muslim women who wear the niqab and are simply making assumptions based on their own ideals. We cannot say that all women wearing head coverings are forced there and not doing it by choice. So the issue then becomes Quebec banning an article of clothing because it makes them uncomfortable. 90% of Quebecers support the ban and so do 83% of Canadians!!!!


In this country we have immigrants from many different cultures and we have made accommodations for all sorts of issues and manners of dress. I can't believe our country is becoming so intolerant of certain cultures. What will become of the handful of niqab-wearing women in that province? They will either decide to stop wearing the niqab in certain situations (or at all), move elsewhere or be restricted in their movements and services they can access. Such a blatant move against the niqab will surely stoke the anger of people who already have prejudices against Muslim dress and I imagine at least some Quebecers will think nothing of approaching women to voice their negative opinions.


We have no other bans on clothing and there are ways around the security aspect. This is a government led issue (initially triggered when a niqab-wearing woman was expelled from a language class after a visit from the QC immigration minister) CBC article here
But with such widespread support nationwide and across the globe (bans proposed in Belgium, France and others) this seems destined to further drive a wedge between this small group and the rest of the world. To what end remains to be seen.