Veiling young girls must be banned!

By Azam Kamguian
Recent events in both France and England have again focused attention on the wearing of
the veil, headscarf or hijab by women from Muslim communities. Is this, as Islamists
claim, an issue of religious freedom? Or is it rather, as many women of Muslim origin
would argue, about oppression?
The French government, who recently banned the wearing of headscarves in schools and
public institutions are in no doubt. Nor was the judge in Luton, England, who decided
that requiring a Muslim girl to wear a standard school uniform - and no veil - was not an
infringement of her religious rights.
Suddenly the veil has become a major issue. Veiling the heads and bodies of little girls
and adolescents has a devastating impact on their minds and lives. Those who care about
childrens rights should demand that this imposition be legally prevented. A child has no
religion, tradition or prejudices. She has not joined any religious sect. She is a new
human being who by accident of birth has been born into a family with a specific
religion, tradition, and prejudices. It is the task of society to neutralize the negative
effects. Society has a duty to provide fair and equal living conditions for all children, for
their growth and development, and for their active participation in social life.
Those who wish to impede the free and open mental and social development of a child
just as those who would physically abuse a child should be opposed by society and
prevented by the law from doing so. No nine-year-old girl chooses to be married,
sexually mutilated, serve as housemaid, cook for the male members of the family, nor be
deprived of exercise, education, and play. No child of nine will willingly wear an allenveloping garment that restricts or impedes her freedom of movement. The child grows
up within her family and society according to established customs, traditions and
regulations, and automatically learns to accept these ideas and customs as the norms in
later life. To speak of a young girl freely exercising her own choice in being veiled is a
sick joke.
Those of us who want to see every girl enjoying the benefits of a free, full and healthy
life should oppose such repressive restrictions on the young. Banning the veil in school is
a progressive measure, but more is needed. In order to fully protect girls the hijab should
be banned everywhere and in every Islamic society for girls under 16.