BURQA, HIJAB CUSTOM NEED REVIEW
Muslim students and teachers forced to remove their burqas
and hijabs in Karnataka and other BJP-ruled states led to considerable
controversy in India. Both say wearing these outfits is their fundamental right
to cover their bodies the way they want or according to their social or
religious customs or traditions.
Are hijab and
burqas integral to Islam? Certainly not.
In some Muslim
countries like Kosovo, Azerbaijan, Tunisia, and Turkey, the hijab is banned in
schools, universities, and government buildings. In other Muslim countries like
Indonesia, Malaysia, Morocco, Brunei, Maldives and Somalia. However, in Muslim
countries like Iran and Afghanistan, the hijab is required.
Despite utmost
respect for individual freedoms, as long as these do not harm society, I can
accept wearing the hijab, but not the entire body covering from head to toe
with a burqa.
Both seem to be
mandatory creation of men in the traditional patriarch societies where they
curtailed women's freedoms.
And over the
centuries, these dictums became the accepted norms for women to cover their
bodies.
The burqa and
hijab custom has created a mindset attitude among Muslim women that it is their
freedom to wear these items. They seem caught up in this tradition created by
men.
Muslim women
sticking to the burqa-hijab custom need to rethink. These outfits are not healthy
as their non-exposure denies them the essence of getting vitamin D from the sun
rays, the only source that supplies the essential vitamin.
Muslim men don't
wear burqa and hijab. Why this custom applies to only women?
-Promod Puri
