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web page Syria bans full Islamic face veils at universities
By ALBERT AJI and ELIZABETH A. KENNEDY, Associated Press Writers – 6 mins ago
DAMASCUS, Syria – Syria has forbidden the country's students and teachers from wearing the niqab - the full Islamic veil that reveals only a woman's eyes - taking aim at a garment many see as political.
The ban shows a rare point of agreement between Syria's secular, authoritarian government and the democracies of Europe: Both view the niqab as a potentially destabilizing threat.
"We have given directives to all universities to ban niqab-wearing women from registering," a government official in Damascus told The Associated Press on Monday.
The order affects both public and private universities and aims to protect Syria's secular identity, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly about the issue. Hundreds of primary school teachers who were wearing the niqab at government-run schools were transferred last month to administrative jobs, he added.
The ban, issued Sunday by the Education Ministry, does not affect the hijab, or headscarf, which is far more common in Syria than the niqab's billowing black robes.
Syria is the latest in a string of nations from Europe to the Middle East to weigh in on the veil, perhaps the most visible symbol of conservative Islam. Veils have spread in other secular-leaning Arab countries, such as Egypt, Jordan and Lebanon, with Jordan's government trying to discourage them by playing up reports of robbers who wear veils as masks.
Turkey bans Muslim headscarves in universities, with many saying attempts to allow them in schools amount to an attack on modern Turkey's secular laws.
The issue has been debated across Europe, where France, Spain, Belgium and the Netherlands are considering banning the niqab on the grounds it is degrading to women.
Last week, France's lower house of parliament overwhelmingly approved a ban on both the niqab and the burqa, which covers even a woman's eyes, in an effort to define and protect French values - a move that angered many in the country's large Muslim community.
The measure goes before the Senate in September; its biggest hurdle could come when France's constitutional watchdog scrutinizes it later. A controversial 2004 law in France earlier prohibited Muslim headscarves and other "ostentatious" religious symbols in the classrooms of French primary and secondary public schools.
Opponents say such bans violate freedom of religion and personal choice, and will stigmatize all Muslims.
In Damascus, a 19-year-old university student who would give only her first name, Duaa, said she hopes to continue wearing her niqab to classes when the next term begins in the fall, despite the ban.
Otherwise, she said, she will not be able to study.
"The niqab is a religious obligation," said the woman, who would not give her surname because she was uncomfortable speaking out against the ban. "I cannot go without it."
Nadia, a 44-year-old science teacher in Damascus who was reassigned last month because of her veil, said: "Wearing my niqab is a personal decision."
"It reflects my freedom," she said, also declining to give her full name.
In European countries, particularly France, the debate has turned on questions of how to integrate immigrants and balance a minority's rights with secular opinion that the garb is an affront to women.
But in the Middle East - particularly Syria and Egypt, which also has banned the niqab on campuses and in offices — experts say the issue underscores the gulf between the secular elite and largely impoverished lower classes who find solace in religion.
Some observers say the bans also stem in part from fear of dissent.
The niqab is not widespread in Syria, although it has become more common in recent years, a development that has not gone unnoticed by the authoritarian government.
"We are witnessing a rapid income gap growing in Syria - there is a wealthy ostentatious class of people who are making money and wearing European clothes," said Joshua Landis, an American professor and Syria expert who runs a blog called Syria Comment.
The lower classes are feeling the squeeze, he said.
"It's almost inevitable that there's going to be backlash. The worry is that it's going to find its expression in greater Islamic radicalism," Landis said.
Four decades of secular rule under the Baath Party have largely muted sectarian differences in Syria, although the state is quick to quash any dissent. In the 1980s, Syria crushed a bloody campaign by Sunni militants to topple the regime of then-President Hafez Assad.
The veil is linked to Salafism, a movement that models itself on early Islam with a doctrine that is similar to Saudi Arabia's. In the broad spectrum of Islamic thought, Salafism is on the extreme conservative end.
In Gaza, radical Muslim groups encourage women to cover their faces and even conceal the shape of their shoulders by using layers of drapes.
It's a mistake to view the niqab as a "personal freedom," Bassam Qadhi, a Syrian women's rights activist, told local media recently.
"It is rather a declaration of extremism," Qadhi said.
Browns is the Browns
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Whoa, some change in the middle east a brewing?
"The medium for the bad news was ESPN, which figured. The network represents much of what is loud, obnoxious and empty in sports today."
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Legend
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Quote:
"We have given directives to all universities to ban niqab-wearing women from registering," a government official in Damascus told The Associated Press on Monday.
Seriously? 
This is bad. If it's a religious garment and they aren't causing a problem then what's the issue. How can it be restrictive to women if it's being banned IN COLLEGE?
Anyway, Syria is probably still a puppet state of Iran and this gives Iran something tangible to point to for the so-called "cultural assault from the West."
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1st String
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This has actually been brewing for some time, with secular Muslim-majority states like Turkey and Syria trending toward secularism and so-called "Islamist" states like Iran and Saudi Arabia obviously moving toward more blending of religion and government.
I think it's one of the more interesting developing situations in the Middle East currently, and I like that it's getting some press (regardless of whether or not I agree with the Syrian government's ban). I fully understand why the Islamist states get more attention in the media, but I think it's important people see that it's not the only type of political approach employed in the Muslim world.
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I'm torn on it.
I like the symbolism of it; but I abhor the infringement.
Just try to imagine the outrage here if someone tried to pass a law that stated that you couldn't wear ballcaps, or bandanas, at a public or private university. There'd be hell to pay.
Browns is the Browns
... there goes Joe Thomas, the best there ever was in this game.
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Legend
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Maybe not at universities but there are no bandana policies at public high schools or no anything else that could be construed as showing gang colors....
I agree with you though, I think they should have to show some compelling safety concern or some other reason to institute a ban like this..
yebat' Putin
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I'm with you. Theoretically, I don't like it at all, as it's a pretty clear cut case of out-and-out restriction of religious expression. In context, however, I can understand the rationale behind it. Syria is very committed to its secular status, and while many wear the niqab for purely religious reasons, there are also those who do it as a political statement. I can understand it, but I'm not sure I like it.
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Legend
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Quote:
I'm torn on it.
I like the symbolism of it; but I abhor the infringement.
Just try to imagine the outrage here if someone tried to pass a law that stated that you couldn't wear ballcaps, or bandanas, at a public or private university. There'd be hell to pay.
Why? A university is supposed to be a place of learning ..... not "higher" fashion.
In the larger scheme of things, this is pretty small.
Micah 6:8; He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
John 14:19 Jesus said: Because I live, you also will live.
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Legend
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Legend
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Having trouble figuring out if that is sarcasm or not...
yebat' Putin
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Greetings Infidel....
Silence, I kill you....
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Legend
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Quote:
Quote:
I'm torn on it.
I like the symbolism of it; but I abhor the infringement.
Just try to imagine the outrage here if someone tried to pass a law that stated that you couldn't wear ballcaps, or bandanas, at a public or private university. There'd be hell to pay.
Why? A university is supposed to be a place of learning ..... not "higher" fashion.
In the larger scheme of things, this is pretty small.
It is also a place where you learn about concepts such as freedom.
This isn't the school deciding this, but the government of a nation deciding this about both public and private institutions. Granted, it is not the United States, and as such our morals and views are not applicable, but still, when I view this, I find it disturbing.
Here's an analog that fits the U.S.: What if our Federal Gov't came down and outright banned prayer - or the pledge of allegiance - in all schools, both public and private. Not just banned the setting aside of formal time for them, but banned them completely. Would that be acceptable?
Those things are personal beliefs for every individual... whether or not they are said is the choice of the individual, not the government, and certainly not in the private sector.
Browns is the Browns
... there goes Joe Thomas, the best there ever was in this game.
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They want to wear burqas, they don't want to wear burqas.
Not my choice. Who am I to judge?
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Quote:
I'm torn on it.
I like the symbolism of it; but I abhor the infringement.
Just try to imagine the outrage here if someone tried to pass a law that stated that you couldn't wear ballcaps, or bandanas, at a public or private university. There'd be hell to pay.
they banned ballcaps in classrooms at my university because teachers couldnt see kids eyes to tell if they were high or not
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Legend
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That's fine if it is the university doing the banning... .it is their place.
Call me when the feds do it by way of passing a law.... that's the analogy I'm drawing.
Browns is the Browns
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Hall of Famer
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I could definitely see this as an infringement. I would liken it to a school or university here banning yarmulke's.
Its a garment worn in support of one's own personal religious beliefs. Definitely not something that I think is a positive thing.
I wish to wash my Irish wristwatch......
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All Pro
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One thing that has not been mentioned is that, in the past, this type of garment was pretty much reserved for very fundamental sects. I was not aware that any of these sects allowed women to be educated. It's my understanding that the garb is not as much to keep from offending Allah, as the head scarf is (every exposed hair on a woman's head is a dagger in the heart of Allah), but to dehumanize women.
I can't think of any equivalents anyone here would be familiar with. Even Opus Dei is mainstream compared to these arcane sects. The garment itself is more along the lines of a chastity belt then religious apparel.
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In Montreal, Quebec, they had a similar ban proposed that sales persons/advisors MUST show their face to the customer they are dealing with. Not sure where this proposal wound up, but the usual arguments about freedom of religion were expressed. Most of the religious groups that have these types of facial attire dehumanize women. Therefore I don't have a problem with it.
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If that were much of a factor, then there wouldn't have been many - or any - women that this impacted.... yet the report states that prior to the change in the law, all burqa wearing teachers were reassigned.
So, it's far more than just fundamentalists.
Browns is the Browns
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I guess what I'm trying to say, without saying, is that some of the women wearing it may be doing so for reasons other than the intent of the garment. Of course that's conjecture, and many people assume a symbol from a different "culture" and misuse it. I obviously cant say this is what these women are doing, but it's my first impression.
Maybe an example that is somewhat apropos would be a group adopting a nazi style outfit and wearing it under the guise of it having religious significance. That may sound extreme and inflammatory, but some of these Muslim Sects are quite a ways out there. Like I said, even the likes of David Koresh and Jim Jones don't hold a candle.
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I do not profess to know enough about the Syrian government and I certainly don't know enough about the people who wear these and what their motives are for doing it... I just know that when a federal government starts issuing such bans without any kind of justification that involves public safety, etc then it really throws up a red flag for me.. but I'm willing to let it play out (not that I have a choice...  )
yebat' Putin
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Who cares? Do you need a publicly palatable reason to wear any of your clothing?
Browns is the Browns
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I certainly would not wear any articles of clothing that were symbolic of something offensive (unless maybe I believed it and that was the point).
I guess it's possible that someone could find my Dockers and embroidered Land's End Oxford company shirt offensive. I think this style of clothing in this article is much more similar to extreme symbolism like the Nazi attire. It's commonly only seen in places like southern Afghanistan, where it is actually losing popularity with the fall of the Taliban.
Again, it's impossible to create a similar issue in this country. Also, it's not a government ban (except I believe in France). Our government does, however, ban things like the 10 commandments in a courtroom.
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Quote:
Our government does, however, ban things like the 10 commandments in a courtroom.
In order to uphold the separation of church and state, which is something a bit different in my opinion. I may not agree with the ideals of these people, but outlawing their garb is akin to persecution IMO.
There are no sacred cows.
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