Appealing the Wearing of a Niqab

 A year or so ago, a woman who was born in Pakistan and who had immigrated to Canada wanted to become a Canadian citizen. Her only limitation was that because of her faith she wore a niqab. She was told that she would have to remove it while taking the oath of citizenship. She appealed that decision in part because she believed that that rule violated her right to religious freedom. This week a Federal Court judge agreed with her. There is nothing within the law that now requires an individual to show their face while swearing allegiance. (I wonder if I would have to shave my beard - Lord knows I would look different without it) The federal government have announced that they are going to appeal that decision (CBC). Why?

( A niqab is a veil which covers a woman's entire face except for her eyes. According to some Muslim interpretations of the Koran, a woman needs to remain covered while in public or in the presence of males who are not “direct” members of her family.)

Personal, whenever I see a woman dressed in black from head to toe with only her eyes showing, I think it looks uncomfortable. When it is plus 80 degrees and I see her male partner/relative beside her and he is wearing a short sleeve shirt and a Panama hat, it feels as if the niqab is oppressive. I don't understand why someone would voluntarily wear one. But I don't need to understand why. It is none of my business. If someone says it is part of their faith and that particular act has no impact on my life - then I get no say in what is okay or not okay. If Muslim women were speaking out and saying that they were being forced to wear it - then there would be an issue. But that is not happening.

Mr. Harper has argued that he and most Canadians think it is offensive that someone wants to hide their face at the very moment they are joining the "Canadian Family"(CBC).  Once again Mr. Harper has made the assumptions that his values are the same as all Canadians. Just to be clear - Mr. Harper - my values and yours are some distance apart! Once again he is going to spend tax payers' money to fight a case that he has no chance of winning. Why?

It is difficult to see any other reason other than he needs to perpetuate the false opinion that those who are of the Muslim faith are, at the very least, potentially dangerous. This of course is a continuation of his pandering to his small socially conservative base and his attempt to appeal to the larger Canadian public that only he can stand on guard for us. He is in fact making things more dangerous for Canadians as he is limiting our capacity to be an inclusive society.

He also very strongly implied that all people who defend women's rights should be opposed to the wearing of the niqab. I personally find it offensive that he would suggest that because some support a woman's to wear a niqab that that means I am in favour of women being abused. That is absurd! And yet he will get away with it because he speaks to a broad enough base. Those who disagree are pushed off to the side and are ignored.

There are some highly complex issues related to the wearing of the hijab, a full body dress, and a niqab. And those issues will not be easily resolved. There may be a concern that some women are being forced to wear this tradition clothing and lack the resources to say so; there may be times when some one's face does need to be seen (voting, giving testimony in court etc.). When these things happen, we need to have the tools at hand to discuss how to resolve them. Mr Harper's sledge hammer of righteous conviction that his way is the best (and only) way does not need to be and should not be part of that tool kit.