The Faces Behind the Veils

To the majority of Westerners the veil is a symbol of oppression, of confinement. This view is understandable given the Western media’s portrayal of Muslim woman, a view which is completely false. The media plays a substantial role in causing these common misconceptions and planting them into the minds of those living in the West.
Today, images of women being stoned or lashed for having suffered rape, hands cut off for showing their face in public, or some other act of violence under Islamic law fill television screens. Islamic law or Sharia law is a topic of controversy and dispute. When it comes to the hijab and veil, the Sharia law states that women are required to cover all of their bodies except hands and face to refrain women from being seen as sexual objects. The item does not necessarily have to be an abbayah, but any clothing that is not too tight to reveal the body’s form. There are many different opinions, however, as to whether the veil or hijab is a real Qur'anic obligation.
Here it is common to see women in public covering their faces; this is done not because it states so in the Quran, but because women here choose to. Nonetheless, nothing is black or white. We cannot assume all women are given the choice to cover or not. Some women are unfortunately forced into the hijab and others choose to wear it as a personal decision. In the end a woman should for herself make the choice to wear or not to wear the hijab and not be forced to do so by another. For this is a spiritual matter between herself and God, and not for others to interfere.
Look away from the media and see that the faces behind the veils are faces of Muslim women who have rights to be educated, the right to participate in political, economical, and social activities in their society. However, while some societies do forbid women from these rights they do so as a result of cultural tradition and not because of Islam’s teachings.
Take Qatar for example, women here excel in many different aspects of society and the hijab and abbayah in no way refrains them from doing so. Qatari women drive, travel outside to pursue their education, participate in sports including the past Doha 2006 Asian Games, and last but not least take on strong leading roles such as that of Her Highness Sheikha Moza, who is the UNESCO Special Envoy for Basic and Higher Education, Chairperson of the Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development, as well as the President, Supreme Council for Family Affairs. Sheikha Moza broke many barriers of what was expected of a “Qatari Muslim woman” and many Qatari women today follow in her footsteps.
Westerners must now take steps away from their pessimistic not to mention false view of the veil and of Muslim woman. The veil is not something that should be seen as a jail, for it is not. Look around and not judge the veil, understand it. For in the end behind it lies the great strength and soul of a Muslim woman.