Why Do Muslim Women Wear the Burqa?

The burqa is a flashpoint of controversy. In the West, it is widely viewed as a symbol of oppression of women, and some countries, such as France, have considered banning the wearing of burqas on their soil. In many Muslim countries, the burqa is viewed as a demonstration of deep faith in Islam. Muslim women wear the burqa for reasons that vary, whether they are inside or outside the Muslim world.

What Is a Burqa?

A burqa is a head-to-toe covering worn exclusively by women. It is designed to conceal the entire body, including the face. The only opening is a mesh netting in the front that allows the woman a limited field of vision. They are often made of inexpensive material and vary in color, although many are black or sky blue.

Burqa vs. Hijab

Under the ultra-conservative Taliban, women were forced to wear the burqa whenever they appeared in public, supposedly in adherence to Islam. According to Islam, a woman of faith is required to practice modesty in conduct and dress. This includes the tradition of hijab, or clothing that can cover the arms, torso and legs but is most frequently associated with headscarves. However, Islam does not require the wearing of a face-covering veil, nor does it prescribe women to wear a burqa, which actually has its origins in Bedouin tradition.

Burqa in Afghanistan

In war-torn Afghanistan, the burqa remains a common sight years after the invasion by United States-led armed forces in 2001. Some women continue to wear the burqa because women and children are common kidnapping targets, including foreign women who are frequently sold to the Taliban. Since the burqa conceals both age and appearance, some women feel safer wearing one. Other women feel pressured to wear the garments. Still more women appreciate the anonymity of wearing a burqa when they are forced to conduct activities such as begging or cleaning other people's homes.

Burqa in the Western World

Many Western countries, particularly in Western Europe, have moved to ban the wearing of headscarves and other symbols of religion, including the burqa. In France especially, which has a large Muslim population, controversy rages over whether the burqa is a symbol of oppression for women or a form of political protest by a population that feels alienated from French culture.

Burqa and Security

One reason cited for banning the wearing of burqas has nothing to do with religion or female oppression, but rather security. One of the suspects of the failed attempts to bomb London in 2005 wore a niqab, or a veil covering the whole face except the eyes, as a disguise. In 2006, a university dean banned the wearing of burqas on campus, stating that males could wear them as disguises to sneak into female dormitories.

References

• The Burqa: Prison or Protection?
• Beyond the Burqa
• Remove Full Veils, Urges Straw

Resources

• Op-Ed Contributor: Ban the Burqa
• Backstory: A Burqa's Eye View
• France Sets Up Burqa Commission