Niqab redux
Re: Ten Reasons To Ban The Niqab, Barbara Kay, Sept. 30; Fight Over The Niqab Is Valueless, Andrew Coyne, Oct. 1. The niqab came about because kings and sultans in the past would have their guards snatch beautiful women off the street and imprison them in their harems. One has only to read the story of Esther in the Bible to find how the custom started with King Ahasuerus of the Persian Empire who ordered his guards to bring beautiful women to him after the queen, Vashti refused to display her beauty before guests.
In today’s world, ultra-religious Jewish women have evolved the tradition of wearing a wig (a shetel) over their hair, whereas Muslim women still cover themselves from head to toe, especially hiding their faces. As your article says, the niqab is not a religious obligation, but a regional custom.
In Western countries, women do not have to hide their faces. Our laws protect them. Therefore I agree a garment that hides the face of a person, whether niqab, mask or any other covering, should be banned in Canada. It is not part of a religion, it is simply a custom.
Jacob Singer, Vancouver.
Congratulations to Barbara Kay for putting so eloquently what so many Canadians were thinking, but either couldn’t put into words or were hesitant to say for fear of being politically incorrect. The niqab has no place in Canadian society. We may be a modest group of people, but we do have strong cultural and community values. Covering one’s face flies against those values and our traditions.
Robert Thompson, Oakville, Ont.
As an old stock Canadian, I abhor seeing the niqab anywhere in my country. Perhaps Prime Minister Stephen Harper should take a leaf from Kemal Ataturk’s book. In modernizing Turkey, he proclaimed, “all Turkish women are privileged to wear whatever they chose, however, all prostitutes must wear a burka veil on their faces.” The next day, no veils were seen on the faces of Turkish women.
Ian Buckingham, Victoria.
Though I find the niqab offensive and problematic for the many reasons Barbara Kay so clearly articulates, I oppose passing judgments and laws against religious customs. Living in a democracy, means living with people of all stripes and colours, even when we are offended by those who live beyond the norm. In other words, our strength is exhibited when we can hold our noses and exhibit tolerance of all traditions, particularly those we may find to be objectionable.
Joseph Adler, Toronto.
Andrew Coyne says that women who seemingly choose to wear niqabs are independent individualists asserting their rights. He is correct. Our liberal pluralistic society has fumbled its way into giving