Burkini Ban has been Overturned in France: 5 Lessons to Know and Remember

How About Muslim Countries that Force Women to Veil?

Yes. Absolutely there are Muslim countries (Saudi Arabia, Iran) that have laws in place in regards to women covering their bodies and hair. And yes, when activists and Muslim women grew outraged at the burkini ban in France (on top of banning the headscarf in public schools and institutions, the full face veil and in some instances, long skirts), it seemed logical to say – what about forced veiling in other countries?

(I’m not a fan of that either by any means. I believe in modest dressing for sure as something important to me and as a tenet of my faith. But I also believe in self-determination, and that how we live our faith is something between us and God.)

Sheikh Yasir Qadhi offered this explanation that pretty much explains the dichotomy of the situation here:

And by the way, I’m tired of those who retort with, ‘If Muslims don’t like it, they can leave.’

Firstly, Muslim citizens are *just* as part of any nation state as anyone else is, so if *you* don’t like Muslims in your country, *you* can leave, thank you.

Secondly, last I checked, Saudi Arabia and/or the Taliban/and or Iran are *not* claiming secular liberalism and religious freedom for all. France, and Europe and the Western World, are. So don’t bring in other lands with other systems of government as comparisons. If the Western lands claim to be liberal, their liberalism is independent of the laws of Saudi Arabia, so let them live up to it.

Thirdly, the hypocrisy is clear. Nuns are not and would not be targeted; neither are scuba divers.

Fourthly, given the current climate, it is an undeniable reality that this legislation is distinctly intended to curb the practice of Islam and the religious appearance of Muslims, and only Islam/Muslims.

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