Who would have thought the “Love Guv” would have found himself moderating a feminist debate about the veil? Life sure is strange sometimes. The other night on Eliot Spitzer’s CNN program, Hebah Ahmed, a blogger for Muslim Matters who wears a veil, debated Mona Eltahawy, a Muslim commentator who does not wear a veil, about the “burqa ban” in France that went into effect on Monday. Keep reading »
Tag Archives: burqa ban
Princess Hijab, The French Graffiti Artist Who Draws Burqas On Subway Ads
This short film follows Princess Hijab, a graffiti artist who skulks around the Parisian subway system, scribbling burqas on commercial advertising with a black Sharpie. The Princess appears to be a woman, but like other street artists (Banksy, for example), the true identity is unknown to protect her from police. Keep reading »
Today’s Lady News: France May Not Ban The Burqa After All
- A committee in France’s Parliament will stop short of recommending a ban on Muslim women wearing burqas at all places in France. Instead, the committee will only suggest body-covering veils be banned in public facilities, like on public transport or in hospitals. Muslim students have already been banned from wearing headscarves in the classroom since 2004. [Wall Street Journal]
- According to new data from the Guttmacher Institute, teen pregnancy rose three percent from 2005 to 2006. The increase was mostly concentrated among 18- and 19-year-olds. Overall, abortions among teenagers rose one percent as well. [Time]
- Speaking of teen pregnancy, even though the entire story is completely untrue, Lifetime’s made-for-TV-movie “The Pregnancy Pact,” about a group of teenaged girls who decide to get knocked up together, was the highest-rated among women ages 18 to 34 since 1994. I actually couldn’t watch more than 30 minutes of it before I had to stop! [Variety]
French Fashion Police May Fine Women For Wearing Burqas
Whether or not you agree with Sarkozy’s so-called “Burqa Ban” in France (and judging from the comments on this post, you are a nation divided), anyone who’s ever felt demeaned for violating a dress code can relate to the idea that as a woman, being told what you can and can’t wear is oppressive, period. The latest strategy to enforce the controversial initiative will literally cost burqa wearers: The French government is voting on a proposal to not only ban burkas and niqabs, but to fine women who wear them €750, which is about $1090.00! We’ve already talked about how misguided this proposed ban is in the first place, but to echo Grazia.com writer Kate Faithfull’s sentiments: “The trouble is, if the government starts dictating what its people wear, where will they stop? And won’t passing a law that appears to directly attack Muslim beliefs just antagonize extremists?” [Grazia.com] Keep reading »
