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The value of equality between the sexes, or the value of an individual's right to choose what clothes she wears (and respecting her enough not to second-guess her reasons for doing so)?

A Veil Closes France's Door to Citizenship - NYTimes.com

"I would never have imagined that they would turn me down because of what I choose to wear," Ms. Silmi said, her hazel eyes looking out of the narrow slit in her niqab, an Islamic facial veil that is among three flowing layers of turquoise, blue and black that cover her body from head to toe.

<...>

In an interview at her home in a public housing complex southwest of Paris, the first she has given since her citizenship was denied, Ms. Silmi told of her shock and embarrassment when she found herself unexpectedly in the public eye. Since July 12, when Le Monde first reported the court decision, her story has been endlessly dissected on newspaper front pages and in late-night television talk shows.

"They say I am under my husband's command and that I am a recluse," Ms. Silmi said during an hourlong conversation in her apartment in La Verrière, a small town 30 minutes by train from Paris. At home, when no men are present, she lifts her facial veil and exposes a smiling, heart-shaped face.

"They say I wear the niqab because my husband told me so," she said. "I want to tell them: It is my choice. I take care of my children, and I leave the house when I please. I have my own car. I do the shopping on my own. Yes, I am a practicing Muslim, I am orthodox. But is that not my right?"

See Is this real?, which for some reason is no longer recommendable.

... all progress depends on the unreasonable mensch.
(apologies to G.B. Shaw)

by marco (cowannar at gmail punkt com) on Sun Jul 20th, 2008 at 01:52:50 AM EST
[ Parent ]
It's a front-page story, and they are never recommendable (right? ;) ).

When locusts move on, they leave nothing behind
by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Sun Jul 20th, 2008 at 02:52:28 AM EST
[ Parent ]
I have long been opposed to the imposition of the veil, believing it a patriarchal oppression. However, as the woman seems to have internalised her oppression to the point of believing it is a freely expressed wish (I wish that din't sound so patronising), I see no problem with her wearing it so long as her daughters are free to make their own choices within French culture.

keep to the Fen Causeway
by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Sun Jul 20th, 2008 at 04:22:11 AM EST
[ Parent ]

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