While Muslims in England agitate for it and some even now come out against it, Egypt's religion minister insists, correctly, that it is not required by Islamic law. "Egypt's minister of religion rejects the veil," by Loveday Morris in the Telegraph, with thanks to all who sent this in:
The Egyptian government is embroiled in an angry dispute with conservative Muslims after trying to clamp down on women who cover their faces with a veil.The controversy comes after the minister of religious endowments, Hamdi Zaqzuq, expelled an official from a meeting after she refused to remove her niqab, a veil that leaves only the eyes exposed.
"I totally reject the niqab," said Mr Zaqzuq. "No religious counsellor needs to wear it, since it is not required by Islamic law."
Bravo! I suspect that it won't be long before Mr.Zaqzuq will be hit with the same avalanche of condemnation and protests that we here in Egypt saw just a few months ago when the Minister of Culture voiced similar opinions.
I must admit that I am a little shoked (but pleased) to hear Mr.Zaqzuq take this action and make these statements, as he is not someone I had ever invisioned doing so... I never thought he had the courage to be so controversial.
I have been in Egypt for sometime and have seen it becoming more and more radicalised. I have certainly noticed the wearing of both the niqab and hijab increase 300% in just a few years. Four years ago, if you walked around Heliopolis or the suburb of Maadi, one would have noted the hijab as the execption not the rule and almost never would you see the niqab. Now-a-days, it is if you don't see someone a woman wearing one or the other, it is the execption and your first thought is "ah... she's Christian"
I expect the Egyptian authorities are just as concerned that if wearing the niqab becomes common place, the usual suspects will be able to conceal their identities and move about more freely than they do today.
From MEMRI:
Relations Worsen Between the Egyptian Regime and the Muslim Brotherhood
By: L. Azuri
Relations between the Egyptian government and the Muslim Brotherhood movement in Egypt, never less than tense, have recently taken a turn for the worse. Following a December 10, 2006 march at Al-Azhar University in Cairo by masked, black-garbed students of the university who were Muslim Brotherhood members, the movement was accused of operating a "militia" that endangers state security and damages Egypt's image in the world.
Following this event, the Egyptian authorities went on the offensive against the Muslim Brotherhood, moving against it in the security, economic, and media spheres.
Read it all: http://memri.org/bin/latestnews.cgi?ID=IA32107
"Bravo! I suspect that it won't be long before Mr.Zaqzuq will be hit with the same avalanche of condemnation and protests that we here in Egypt saw just a few months ago when the Minister of Culture voiced similar opinions."
.....or hit with a bullet...
why the minister of religion doesn't occupy his precious time with something more profitable for islam such as molesting children or something similar?
Islam is based on the Koran. The Koran has 3 requirements:
1. Do good deeds; and
2. Avoid the prohibited acts; and
3. Have strong faith in a munificent God.
What an admirable summary of the basis of Islam, Dr Hamid. How Islamic. What a multitude of sins and mountain of crap it conceals.
Dr Hamid,
What are the prohibited acts?
farmgirl, Dr Hamid probably means these as prohibited acts:
1)Live in peace with other faiths
2)Don't kill
3)Read books other than the Koran
4)Question the validity of Islam
5)Show charity to everyone, not just Muslims
6)Grow a sense of humour
7)Quit seeing women as sexual objects and view them as equals
8)Inventing something other than a suicide belt
I could probably go on but I hope my point is clear :P