The Niqab Debate
By Azher Siddiqui
In reviewing the debate over the niqab in Canada, it seems to me that the essential arguments against the acceptance of this dress involve the issue of public safety and security as it relates to the problem of identifying individuals wearing the niqab, and the broader issue of the limits of multiculturalism in this country. For obvious reasons given the secular nature of our popular discourses, the issue of safety is often exclusively thought thought about from a physical safety perspective. Conceivable, this argument would deserve more serious consideration with a noticeable increase in the number of crimes being committed in this country by people wearing the niqab. Until then, it seems to be based on premature fears, and therefore largely unfounded in my opinion. But I believe there is a more valid argument to be made about safety in relation to the niqab. the argument is one about spiritual safety, namely that the person who wears niqab may well be seen as someone who is protecting others from the lusts of their own soul or addiction. Today, the pornographic industry is increasingly booming, primarily in Western nations, because hundreds of thousands of men are literally addicted to watching images of women in degrading and dehumanizing positions. Apparently, these addictions can begin relatively innocently, with a glance upon a beautiful face in a magazine, but then quickly spiral out of control, causing the one who suffers from the addiction to experience significant levels of dysfunction in their private and social life. Eventually, for people who become addicted, faces, and by extension, flesh is all that matters in life, as opposed to the substance of one’s character. The addict in this sense is not too dissimilar from the narcissist who obsesses over his or her own physical appearance.
Refreshingly, however, the woman in niqab forces herself and others to consider that the essence of her being, her humanity, is not necessarily tied to the appearance of one’s face. Thus, one might say that the woman in niqab represents a reality without a face, whereas the woman in the magazines represents a face with no reality.
Regardless of course, the primary responsibility to ‘lower one’s gaze’ must always rest on the one being tempted by lust so as to remove any tendency towards victim blaming. The niqab, and similarly the hijab and/or burka, only compliment and facilitate this responsibility. As the old adage goes: out of sight, out of mind.
I would also argue that no images, fewer sexual addictions, less suffering, equal a better, safer world. The prophet of Islam said “Help your brother whether he is being oppressed or whether he is an oppressor.” When he was asked by those who heard this as to how one could help an oppressor, he responded, “prevent him from oppressing.” There are many ways to address social wrongs. From the Islamic spiritual worldview, dress is one of them. Although the religious dress of Muslim women are often misunderstood as being oppressive (and when they are forced on women, just as when they are forced off of women, one can accurately suggest that oppression is truly taking place) in many ways the woman who chooses to wear a veil not only protects herself from being seen as a plain sexual object, thereby ensuring her freedom from oppression, but she is also protecting, at least symbolically, many men from the oppression of their own selves. This helps men to experience a sense of spiritual security and well being.
Regrettably, while the veil in its various forms may protect Muslim women from being thought of in undignified ways, it often makes them more vulnerable to the abuse of people filled with hatred and intolerance for difference. The question of the niqab in relation to multiculturalism in Canada seems much less complicated. Among other things, it has been, and will continue to be, the institutionalization of values such as tolerance and respect for diversity that makes Canada such a great country to live in. Thus, in applying our standards consistently and fairly regarding the issue of dress for fear that we might discriminate and therefore oppress a minority group (i.e. Muslim women who have chosen to wear a veil), the niqab cannot be considered any more or less Canadian than the turban, cross, sari, mini skirt, or even the uniform of men and women serving this country. The only thing left is for us to accept this reality, or move to a country where it isn’t allowed to exist.
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