Hijab Ban and Gender Conflict

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1. Introduction
Islamic dress in Europe, notably the variety of headdresses worn by Muslim women, has become a prominent symbol of the presence of Islam in western Europe. In several countries the adherence to hijab, which means \"to cover\" in Arab, has led to political controversies and proposals for a legal ban. Some countries already have laws banning the wearing of masks in public, which can be applied to veils that conceal the face. Other countries are debating similar legislation, or have more limited prohibitions. The issue has different names in different countries, and \"the veil\" or \"hijab\" may be used as general terms for the debate, representing more than just the veil itself, or the concept of modesty embodied in hijab.

Immigration and the position of Islam
Although the Balkans and Eastern Europe have indigenous Muslim populations, most Muslims in western, Europe are members of immigrant communities. The issue of Islamic dress is linked with issues of immigration and the position of Islam in western society. European Commissioner Franco Frattini said in November 2006, that he did not favour a ban on the burqa. This is apparently the first official statement on the issue of prohibition of Islamic dress from the European Commission, the executive of the European Union. The reasons given for prohibition vary. Legal bans on face-covering clothing are often justified on security grounds, as an anti-terrorism measure.

Integration
Islamic dress is seen as a symbol of the existence of parallel societies, and the failure of integration: in 2006 British Prime Minister Tony Blair described it as a \"mark of separation\". Visible symbols of a non-Christian culture conflict with the national identity in European states, which assumes a shared culture. Proposals for a ban may be linked to other related cultural prohibitions: the Dutch politician Geert Wilders proposed a ban on hijabs, in Islamic schools, in new mosques, and in non-western immigration.

The secular nature of France
In France, the emphasis is on the secular nature of the state, and the symbolic nature of the Islamic dress, and bans apply at state institutions (courts, civil service) and in state-funded education. These bans also cover Islamic headscarves, which in some other countries are seen as less controversial, although law court staff in the Netherlands are also forbidden to wear Islamic headscarves on grounds of \'state neutrality\'.

Equality of women
Ayaan Hirsi Ali also sees Islam as incompatible with Western values, at least in its present form. She advocates the values of \'Enlightenment liberalism\', including secularism and equality of women. For her, the burqa or chador are both a symbol of religious obscurantism and the oppression of women. Western Enlightenment values, in her view, require prohibition, regardless of whether a woman has freely chosen Islamic dress.

To sum up, The French law on secularity and conspicuous religious symbols in schools was triggered several controversies; 1) immigration and integration, 2) the position of Islam, 3) the secular nature of France, 4) equality of women.

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Hijab Ban and Gender Conflict,   Islamic view of headscarves,   France History