Egyptian Minister
of Culture Farouk Hosni recently triggered a public firestorm by criticizing
the veil in Al-Masri Al-Youm. �There was an age when our mothers went to
university and worked without the veil. It is in that spirit that we grew up,
so why this regression?� he said.
In response, 130
parliamentarians demanded the minister�s immediate resignation, including
members of his own ruling National Democratic Party (NDP). Some of his
colleagues suggested he be tried for disparaging Islam while students around
the country participated in angry demonstrations demanding that Hosni, who has
retained the same ministerial portfolio for 19 years, be sacked.
Eschewing a direct
apology, Hosni was driven to stress that his words reflected his personal
opinion while affirming his respect for women of cover.
The Egyptian press
appeared divided over the issue. Writing in Al-Ahram, Salama A. Salama had this
to say:
�To waste valuable
time in discussing the hijab and niqab is to admit that Muslim society is inane
and emotionally disturbed. The more we discuss such matters, the less time we
will have for the issues that we need to ponder.
�Would it not be
better for the controversy between the Muslim Brotherhood and Culture Minister
Farouk Hosni to have been about the things that matter? How about the education
of our young people? How about building a modern culture that is compatible
with our times?�
Publisher of the
Daily Star Egypt Mirette F. Mabrouk writes: �Our constitution says that this is
a secular country with freedom of choice. I should not be looked down upon for
exercising my right to express my religious views by wearing a veil. Nor should
I be forced to wear it.
�Those who feel
that the veil should be obligatory are perfectly free to move to countries that
mandate it. I hear Afghanistan is lovely at this time of year.� She does
suggest, however, that public figures would be wise to keep their personal
opinions private.
Last week, more
than 500 prominent liberals signed a petition condemning Hosni�s critics, whom
they branded as participating in a �witch-hunt." These included
movie-makers Yusri Nasrallah and Youssef Chahine as well as award-winning
author of the �Yacoubian Building� Ala�a Al-Aswani, who defended Hosni�s right
to express his opinion. As a Westerner who has lived in Egypt for more than
three years, I confess to finding the entire veil issue a complex minefield.
In last week�s
column I criticized European politicians for their condemnations of the veil and
their attempts to ban the niqab or burqa on the grounds that in a democracy
citizens should be able to wear whatever they please within the constraints of
decency.
Some of my readers,
therefore, may find it odd that at the same time I agree with Ala�a Al-Aswani
and others who defend Farouk Hosni�s stance in the name of free speech.
There is a
fundamental difference between, say, Britain�s Jack Straw and his preference
for female constituents to turn up at his office unveiled and comments made by
Farouk Hosni.
For instance, Jack
Straw is a minister in a government led by a self-professed religious Christian
who believes he is fighting an open war against what he terms an evil ideology.
This is also a government that is actively occupying Muslim lands and saber rattling
against others.
Straw�s comments
are also directed at a tiny minority that is already the object of
discrimination and abuse and have further incited calls for a complete ban of
the full veil, which would infringe human rights.
On the other hand,
Farouk Hosni is a Muslim in a predominantly Muslim country and as such his
opinion presumably comes uncluttered by ulterior motives. Put simply, European
politicians preoccupied with the veil are either following an agenda or are
driven by xenophobia while Hosni surely has a perfect right to speak out
concerning the trends within his own religion inside his own country.
The fact is Islamic
scholars disagree as to whether wearing the veil is a religious requirement as
do adherents of the religion. Given these differences of opinion, there is no
reason why the issue cannot be brought into the open and discussed and
especially in secular countries where some women choose to go veiled and others
don�t.
In this case, those
who sought to demonize Hosni would better serve their cause by explaining why
they feel the wearing of the veil is desirable or mandatory and opening up the
debate. If there is no such debate, then women may feel under pressure to
succumb to the growing trend without understanding the fundamental religious
principles.
During my time here
I have periodically asked women why they chose to don the veil unlike their
mothers and grandmothers, who in some instances wore miniskirts and even
bikinis.
Some told me it�s
the current fashion. Two said it saved on hairdressing bills. Several implied
it was a prerequisite to marriage in that they would be perceived as chaste.
Others admitted they had come under peer pressure or had been influenced by
parents, teachers or female bosses.
Yet others insisted
it was mandated by the Qur�an but were unable to quote the relevant passage. A
few said they wore it to ward off unwelcome attention from men. One said she
found it strangely liberating. A women in her 50s said she adopted the veil
after her son was killed in a car accident. Various Egyptian actresses have
taken the veil later on in life as a way of renouncing their previous �sinful�
lives. Several students I spoke with indicated that wearing the veil was a
protest against Western influences.
Whatever the reason,
no one should interfere with the free choice of these women, who contrary to
Western stereotypes, have rarely been forced to wear the veil by their fathers
or husbands. And as long as they are convinced their choice is the right one
for them, there is no reason for them to feel offended or intimidated by the
personal opinions of others.
When people have
right on their side and the courage of their convictions why make the issue of
the veil a taboo subject? Farouk Hosni has courageously opened the debate
risking his own safety in the process.
Instead of calling
for his head, why don�t those who disagree simply explain why they believe
Hosni has got it wrong?
Linda
S. Heard is a British specialist writer on Middle East affairs. She welcomes
feedback and can be contacted by email at heardonthegrapevines@yahoo.co.uk.