Now, Syria bans face veils at universities!!!

[coffee_rules]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100719/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_syria_islamic_veils Syria bans face veils at universities DAMASCUS, Syria – Syria has banned the face-covering Islamic veil from the country's universities to prevent what it sees as a threat to its secular identity, as similar moves in Europe spark cries of discrimination against Muslims. The Education Ministry issued the ban Sunday, according to a government official who spoke on condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to speak publicly. The ban, which affects public and private universities, is only against the niqab — a full Islamic veil that reveals only a woman's eyes — not headscarves, which are far more commonly worn by Syrian women. The billowing black robe known as a niqab is not widespread in Syria, although it has become more common recently — a move that has not gone unnoticed in a country governed by a secular, authoritarian regime. "We have given directives to all universities to ban niqab-wearing women from registering," the government official told The Associated Press on Monday. The niqab "contradicts university ethics," he added, saying the government was seeking to protect its secular identity. He also confirmed that hundreds of primary school teachers who were wearing the niqab at government-run schools were transferred last month to administrative jobs. Syria is the latest country to weigh in on the veil, perhaps the most visible hallmark of conservative Islam. The wearing of veils has spread in other secular-leaning Arab countries such as Jordan and Lebanon, as well, with Jordan's government trying to discourage it by playing up reports of robbers who wear veils as masks. Turkey also bans Muslim headscarves in universities, with many saying attempts to allow them in schools amount to an attack on modern Turkey's secular laws. European countries including France, Spain, Belgium and the Netherlands are considering bans on the grounds that the veils are degrading to women. France's lower house of parliament overwhelmingly approved a ban on wearing burqa-style Islamic veils on July 13 in an effort to define and protect French values, a move that angered many in the country's large Muslim community. Opponents say such bans violate freedom of religion and will stigmatize all Muslims. Duaa, a 19-year-old university student in Damascus, 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 Duaa, who asked that her surname not be used because she was not comfortable speaking publicly on the issue. "I cannot go without it."

[punjabi_khota]

:yay:

[Sir john]

:--D

[King Tendulkar]

:--D

[asterix]

Would Al-Qaida dispatch few of their terrorist bombers towards Syria?

[Guest Shivani]

I don't know how they're doing all this in the name of 'protecting their secular identity' where secularism at the end of the days means forbidding the state to interfere in religion because of the freedom of religion granted to its citizens. Most women who observe hijab or wear burqa do it out of personal choice, the state shouldn't be infringing that right.. France banning face veil was a bad decision..and we are told the French and Turkish secularism are perfect models of hard core secularism.. lol.. Being religion neutral, unbiased to all religions in your state, letting religion and politics to be two separate spheres is what secularism all about.. mixing politics and religion lessens the nature of secularism in the nation and doesn't protect the secular identity in any way!

[someone]

I don't know how they're doing all this in the name of 'protecting their secular identity' where secularism at the end of the days means forbidding the state to interfere in religion because of the freedom of religion granted to its citizens. Most women who observe hijab or wear burqa do it out of personal choice' date=' the state shouldn't be infringing that right.. France banning face veil was a bad decision..and we are told the French and Turkish secularism are perfect models of hard core secularism.. lol.. Being religion neutral, unbiased to all religions in your state, letting religion and politics to be two separate spheres is what secularism all about.. mixing politics and religion lessens the nature of secularism in the nation and doesn't protect the secular identity in any way![/quote'] That is not true. This is what is happening in India, one group can do anything as they are minorities and one group if does similar stuffs, will be treated differently.

[Guest Shivani]

That is not true. This is what is happening in India' date=' one group can do anything as they are minorities and one group if does similar stuffs, will be treated differently.[/quote'] like what ? and when did I say India is a perfect example of a secular state ? We call our nation "Hindu"staan .. how does that make us secular ? A Judge ( after years of being a part of Indian judiciary whose one of the basic features is secularism ) joins Vishwa Hindu Parishad after retiring.. Unless administrators discard the minorities as their favorites, secularism cannot prevail.. Whenever we talk to an Indian, we generally consider his religion.. religious identity recedes the "Indianness" ..As much as I can criticize India's secular nature, I cannot of any other country ..rather than declining, religion is asserting its power, the state is conceding space to religion. However let us appreciate the fact that the country has had non-Hindus as head of the state, the difference between the legal status given by Pak to Islam is far more superior to what India gives to its majorities blah blah..

[achilles]

like what ? and when did I say India is a perfect example of a secular state ? We call our nation "Hindu"staan .. how does that make us secular ? A Judge ( after years of being a part of Indian judiciary whose one of the basic features is secularism ) joins Vishwa Hindu Parishad after retiring.. Unless administrators discard the minorities as their favorites, secularism cannot prevail.. Whenever we talk to an Indian, we generally consider his religion.. religious identity recedes the "Indianness" ..As much as I can criticize India's secular nature, I cannot of any other country ..rather than declining, religion is asserting its power, the state is conceding space to religion. However let us appreciate the fact that the country has had non-Hindus as head of the state, the difference between the legal status given by Pak to Islam is far more superior to what India gives to its majorities blah blah..

To take this point forward, we are all humans. There is no fun in laughing at someone else's grievance. The Islamic world will strike back one day and we will have only ourselves to blame as every action causes a reaction. Lets work together, take everyone into confidence before moving forward. Its in everyone's good. Ban the veil if you feel like, but NOT BEFORE discussing the ins and outs with the people who are going to cope with it.

[Guest Shivani]

To take this point forward' date=' [b']we are all humans. There is no fun in laughing at someone else's grievance. The Islamic world will strike back one day and we will have only ourselves to blame as every action causes a reaction. Lets work together, take everyone into confidence before moving forward. Its in everyone's good. Ban the veil if you feel like, but NOT BEFORE discussing the ins and outs with the people who are going to cope with it.

Hey, you are yourself drawing a line between the rest of the world and the Islamic world.. We are all humans and then we have an Islamic world ? :hmmmm2:

[achilles]

Hey' date=' you are yourself drawing a line between the rest of the world and the Islamic world.. We are all humans and then we have an Islamic world ? :hmmmm2:[/quote'] 1. We are all humans. 2. Highlight and prove it as to where I said - "we have an Islamic world". I simply said that the Islamic (population of the) world will strike back one day and we (from other religions) will have only ourselves to blame as every action causes a reaction. Reading between the lines should be a given in Law and so should right interpretation :bow:

[Guest Shivani]

Shivani do you know of any normal woman that prefers to look supreemly ugly like this out of her own free will ( a fundamental cornerstone of the ideology which is behind your viewpoint). Especially when a vast majority around them look absolutely beautifull in normal cloths.

Oloria, 20, has been wearing the niqab, or face-covering veil, for the past three years. She says she adopted it as a personal choice. Oloria says she feels closer to her Muslim religion and more comfortable in public, because she believes it hides her from the eyes of men. She says her parents, who hail from The Gambia, initially opposed her decision. But now they accept it.

http://www.voanews.com/english/news/europe/France-Continues-Debate-on-Banning-Face-Veils-in-Public-83152562.html

Noura Jaballah, head of the European Forum of Muslim Women, warns that banning the face veil may have a perverse effect. Instead of pushing women to abandon it, those who wear the veil may simply stay at home.

[achilles]

Shivani do you know of any normal woman that prefers to look supreemly ugly like this out of her own free will ( a fundamental cornerstone of the ideology which is behind your viewpoint). Especially when a vast majority around them look absolutely beautifull in normal cloths.

Shiv's argument is completely right. They can choose what to wear and do. Who are we to sit in judgement on the same? Freedom of choice is a given in most countries around the world. Our personal opinion doesn't matter.

[Guest Shivani]

this might sound wrong, but hey thats how i think.. Muslims have a different mindset when it comes to following your religion or doing things your religion asks you to do or ommitting to do things that your religion asks you not to do.. they believe (i guess) doing so helps them connect more to God and all.. may be they dont like doing such stuff like hijaab and all but may be they dont mind doing it since thats what they believe their religions asks them to do.. and all am saying is its all okay to ban the face veil and headscarf .. but tell me how is it consistent with the concept of secularism ? and hey i tried a friend's chachi's sequined burqa once :woot: .. not that bad haan :D in fact you can wear clothes that aren't ironed and wear a burqa on it .. no one would know :P achilles :icflove:

[achilles]

this might sound wrong, but hey thats how i think.. Muslims have a different mindset when it comes to following your religion or doing things your religion asks you to do or ommitting to do things that your religion asks you not to do.. they believe (i guess) doing so helps them connect more to God and all.. may be they dont like doing such stuff like hijaab and all but may be they dont mind doing it since thats what they believe their religions asks them to do.. and all am saying is its all okay to ban the face veil and headscarf .. but tell me how is it consistent with the concept of secularism ? and hey i tried a friend's chachi's sequined burqa once :woot: .. not that bad haan :D in fact you can wear clothes that aren't ironed and wear a burqa on it .. no one would know :P achilles :icflove:

:icflove: Clothes w/o ironing :hysterical: Shiv :--D

[Guest Shivani]

:icflove: Clothes w/o ironing :hysterical: Shiv :--D

Ironing is such a task man ! :((

[achilles]

Ironing is such a task man ! :((

Couriering you my clothes. If you don't iron the clothes and send them back to me by Wednesday, I'll arrange for your college in Syria :eyedance:

[DomainK]

Applaud Shivani's views. We need some respite from the traditional thinking and allow people from all communities freedom to practice what they want to as long as the practices are not hurtful to others in the society.

[EnterTheVoid]

By allowing this freedom to practice what you are actually doing is providing the religious nutbags free license to impose un-natural practices on the normal public. And yes wearing the tent which makes you look fugly is not natural for any normal woman.

:hysterical: I haven't seen many people wearing a head to toe burqa here in Oz. In fact, most people wear western clothes but with hair covered by the hijab. That's an acceptable compromise I think.

[Desi Cartman]

:icflove: Clothes w/o ironing :hysterical: Shiv :--D

whats the point of wearing clothes inside anyway :dontknow: ...