As Iwalked through the automatic doors of my local Wal-mart, on a mildly chillSaturday afternoon, I found myself feeling awkward and out of place. As aMuslim, you would expect this feeling to be all too common; nothing to writehome about, right? But, this day was different. I don’t wear a veil myself, buthere I am standing amongst a sea of face veiled individuals without a face maskof my own. In totality, I reckon that of all 200+ people I encountered that dayrunning errands, 3 had no face covering, with myself being the 3rd.
On myway home, this had me thinking and contemplating about societal norms and thestatus quo; about trends and assimilation’s. “You’re not wearing a mask? How irresponsible…” Today, I was being judged by those who normally spew anti-Muslim propaganda atthe supposed “ abasement ” of women, but with a different agenda. In an eraof social justice and a “don’t judge me bro” mentality, the hypocrisy is now onfull display.
France,rich in tragic irony, held their world-renowned Paris fashion week last month,where models wore face coverings similar to the Muslim face veil they had bannedin 2011. The ban affectedwomen who wore the niqab or the burka with those caught by authorities facingfines upwards of $259.
Francebecame the first-ever country to ban covering one’s face in a public place. Mask-likearticles of clothing became legally sinister. For at least a decade, facecoverings have been considered dangerous. The law prohibits the wearing of skimasks, full-face helmets, balaclavas, niqabs and burqas in public buildings, suchas schools, hospitals, and public transport.
Duringlast month’s infamous fashion show “The Paris Fashion Week”, modelswere seen wearing masks and veils, similar to what Muslim women wear to protecttheir faces in modesty. Neither the chic outfit, nor the tight exposé of thefemale body were the focal points today, no. This was a display to promoteawareness regarding the covering of face, nose, and mouth to protect oneselffrom the Coronavirus.
Many fashion brands are now encouraging their models to wear iconic anduniquely designed face masks. A large variety of face masks were showcasedthat included knit pieces as well as gingham prints, fully covering the facesof the models on the runway. The fact that they are now increasingly seen as derigueur is indicative of the speed with which cultural perceptions change.
Lastweek in Lombardy, the northern Italian region worst affected by the novelcoronavirus, introduced a law to compel citizens to wear face masksoutside of their homes. But in December 2015, Lombardy became the first Italianregion to outlaw face coverings in public offices and hospitals.
Austria has also executed a similar U-turn. On March 30th, it joined severalEuropean countries – Slovakia, the Czech Republic, and Bosnia-Herzegovina – inmaking face masks compulsory in public. Yet, in 2017, a legal ban onclothing that covers the face was adopted by the Austrian parliament.
These “trends” are clear evidence of the hypocrisy steaming through thesocial fabric of many governments and neo nationalists.
Lawyer and graphic designer Namira Islam Anani observed the country’s apparent double standard, writing: “And here I was told covering your face was objectively offensive and a security threat.”
“Didn’t they ban the niqab? Now they are ok with covering the face!” One follower soon replied.
In countries like these, Muslim women have reported losing their jobs, like being teachers and health care providers, and unable to access government facilities because they choose to wear a “face mask”.
I can hear the counter claimant nay-sayers shouting fromtheir soap boxes now: “Our face masks are to protect us from a virus that infectsour bodies”. And to that we respond, “Our face masks are to protect us from theprying eyes of strange men that infect the sanctity of the female temple.” ManyMuslim women feel that the face veil helps them connect with their creator. Theyfind it to be more modest, and spiritually preserving. Some even consider it afashion statement. Who am I or anyone else to prevent them from expressing theirlove for God in the way they choose to? From a liberal perspective, this is theheight of hypocrisy.
Even a strong minded, opinionated male, such as myself, canunderstand that. God sure has a subtle, yet powerful way of humbling us. Ya Latif.
Discover if your ingredients, processes, and facilities align with Islamic dietary laws.
Start your Free Halal Compliance Check now — no obligation!
We’re here to help. Feel free to give us a call or send us an email — we’re always happy to assist you.
Monday – Thursday: 9 am – 5 pm
Friday: 9 am – 12 pm
*Times are EST*
