Who says Islam isn't progressive? (Incidentally, no men allowed.) "Lifting veil on Islamic style," by Jenny Ling for Stuff, August 4:
Muslim women Aneesa Adam and Asha Bulle are used to donning headscarfs and modest clothing that covers their bodies from head to toe.In other words, thanks infidels, for being so accommodating -- but remember: I'm not one of you.But on Thursday, the pair will have to overcome their shyness when they hit a makeshift runway during a celebration of Islamic fashion at the Kilbirnie Library in Wellington.
About 25 Muslim women from Pakistan, Ethiopia, India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh will model a mix of traditional Islamic clothing and more modern threads during the female-only event, part of the fifth annual Islam Awareness Week starting today.
Spokeswoman Rehanna Ali said Islamic fashion had evolved since the 1970s, with many designers now making lines exclusively for Muslim women, though the principles of covering all but the face, hands and feet were maintained.
In Australia, for instance, a head-to-ankle swimming costume, dubbed the "burquini", allowed Muslim women surf lifesavers to keep covered. In New Zealand, tae kwon do uniforms had been adapted to include a headscarf, and changes were under way to allow netball players to wear long-sleeved T-shirts and tracksuit pants.
Ms Adam, an IT trainer, said she liked wearing the traditional headscarf, called a hijab, because it confirmed her identity.
"At work people won't swear around me ... they won't talk about getting drunk. If they swear, they say, `Sorry Aneesa', as if I am a nun. It makes it easier."Little to do with "dress codes," Ms Ali; everything to do with theological assertions, such as "Men have authority over women, for Allah has made the one superior to the other" (Koran 4:34), and many other verses and hadiths.This year's Islamic Awareness Week theme is "Strong Families, Better Society". Governor-General Anand Satyanand launches it today at the Wellington Islamic Centre and it runs till Sunday. It aims to build awareness of Muslim beliefs, values and practices and Islam.
Ms Ali said there was often a misconception that women were the inferior sex because of their clothing, but a dress code applied to men, too, and with 1.7 billion Muslims worldwide, the rules varied.
The number of people who identified themselves with Islam rose from 23,631 in 2001 to 36,072 in the 2006 census, according to Statistics New Zealand.Federation of Islamic Associations of New Zealand president Javed Khan said though most people were tolerant, there was "quite a bit of ignorance as far as religion is concerned".
"Since 9/11 various sectors of media can be blamed for misrepresenting what Islam is and what it stands for. People with closed minds ... make up their minds by reading what's in the media."
Mr Khan urged people to seek better understanding of Islam, "[which] is like any other religion which teaches peace and harmony".
MODEST MODE [What follows is what one would expect to find in the fine print of an otherwise "progressive" piece of writing:]
Dress codes for Muslim women:
* Clothing must cover the whole body apart from the face, hands and feet.
* Clothing should be modest and not close- fitting or so eye-catching as to attract undue attention.
* The hijab (hee-jab) or headscarf is compulsory, though some choose not to wear it.
* A burqa covers the entire head and face and is specific to certain cultures, for example, the blue burqa worn by women in Afghanistan.
Barf.
Not very eloquent, but that's my gut reaction, as a woman.
"and with 1.7 billion Muslims worldwide..."
-- from the article above
A figure plucked from the air, but useful to Muslims who, no doubt, will soon be pushing for widespread acceptance, after carefully casual but determinedly repeated insistence on "the world's two billion Muslims."
The sky's the limit -- the propagandistic limit.
"Ms Adam, an IT trainer, said she liked wearing the traditional headscarf, called a hijab, because it confirmed her identity."
Usually, I confirm my identity with my driver's license.
"At work people won't swear around me ... they won't talk about getting drunk. If they swear, they say, `Sorry Aneesa', as if I am a nun. It makes it easier."
She's so special. People won't swear or talk about their boozy weekends when she's around.
Pathetic.
I got it - sort of an Islamic "Project Runway"!
Dig this:
http://hijabstyle.blogspot.com/
Interesting link, skevin.
It's sickening how deliberately ignorant people try to make an emblem of slavery into something chic.
"....they say, `Sorry Aneesa', as if I am a nun. It makes it easier."
Oh, yeah, I think I spotted the obvious typo here. That should have read "...as I'm a nut".
Yeah, that's why they'd go easy around you, don't want you blowing up.
I went to the Hijab style (sic) site, and my first thought was, how clownishly absurd all this is. The ugly women with no make up, strutting down in frumpy clothing. Beyond absurd. And then there was the following picture. Too strange for words. Ick factor very high.
Are their feet bare?
Wonder whether Haidon went to this show, and how did he find it? ;-)
Wonder whether our very own Thomas Md Hamza Haidon went to this show, and how did he find it? ;-)
skevin- Thanks for the website link. I am beyond words. Eck!
Gross! Hijab style - another in the long list of islamic oxymorons. I left a comment, but they may well remove it!
"Ms Ali said there was often a misconception that women were the inferior sex because of their clothing, but a dress code applied to men, too, and with 1.7 billion Muslims worldwide, the rules varied."
Ms Ali must be reading the PC Qur'an that we "misunderstanders" can't seem to locate. According to Ms Ali, the boys have to cover up too. Can't wait to see what they have to wear. Maybe it's a "manurqa"!
Burqa-Bon-Fire, anyone?
In Australia, for instance, a head-to-ankle swimming costume, dubbed the "burquini", allowed Muslim women surf lifesavers to keep covered.
I think "burlapsacki" is a more appropriate name for these clothes.
Barf.
Not very eloquent, but that's my gut reaction, as a woman.
Posted by: Vee at August 4, 2008 8:37 AM
=====================================
Sounds VERY eloquent to me. Eloquent, and right to the point.
"In Australia, for instance, a head-to-ankle swimming costume, dubbed the "burquini", allowed Muslim women surf lifesavers to keep covered."
Well, I suppose any male that is drowning around a burquini-clad lifeguard had best hope there are some reasonable people around who can save him, since she is forbidden to touch him or perform mouth-to-mouth to revive him.
"Ms Adam, an IT trainer, said she liked wearing the traditional headscarf, called a hijab, because it confirmed her identity."
My face usually confirms my identity.
From the article:
"A burqa covers the entire head and face and is specific to certain cultures, for example, the blue burqa worn by women in Afghanistan."
And *here* you can see two examples of that 'blue burqa' on two Afghani women.
http://pajamasmedia.com/phyllischesler/2008/07/14/in-afghanistan-women-are-all-prostitutes-americans-are-all-infidel-crusaders/#comments
don't look at the next picture if you don't want to - graphic content.
http://pajamasmedia.com/phyllischesler/2008/07/15/the-ap-photographer-just-stood-there-while-the-taliban-murdered-two-afghan-women/#comments
The burqa is no protection against men who can appoint themselves judge, jury and executioner and murder women out of hand on mere suspicion of having committed purely imaginary crimes, or things that most of the rest of the world does not regard as crimes at all, or even if it considers them wrong, does not believe to warrant capital punishment.
The 'fashion show' was probably just a smokescreen/meat market for Muslim males looking for wives. The idea of 'Islamic fashion' is beyond retarded.
I dunno, skevin, those look close to FM shoes on that site you posted! And look how form-revealing that skirt & a couple of the tops appear to be. Haram, haram!
Which reminds me of the time I exited the subway in late afternoon, only to find myself smack in front of a woman in full black burkha (ala the "blue" ones of Afghanistan; you know, with the little net thingie to see through). As the sun was behind her, what was most noticeable was the pretty-shapely form of her entire body. The burqa, you see, was quite gossamer.
Ah, haram, haram.
Death to bid'ah, innovation! Death, death, death!
The hijab (hee-jab) or headscarf is compulsory, though some choose not to wear it.
..................................
I love this phrasing. Islam seems to be rife with things that are compulsory, although some Muslims choose not to do them--at their own risk, of course, should some especially devout co-religionists decide to enforce what is compulsory.
Burqa Bikini:
http://sciencenotes.files.wordpress.com/2008/02/burkini.jpg
Well, you only need to apply sunscreen to your face, hands and feet, so there is THAT benefit; plus, you don't need to worry about guys hitting on you, because this get-up will run them off, so you are safe from getting a major sunburn or an STD. Wow, they thought of everything, except for how they look and how they must feel.
Don't you just hate seeing these zombie women clad head to foot just because some pedophile madman said so in the 7th century?