Written by: Rana Abduel Fattah

What covers a woman’s face and body becomes a conservative or liberal politics and women are still suspended awaiting freedom of choice to materialize.

The debate whether to ban or not to ban the Niqab is still an exclusively male-dominated privilege.

The different political and religious affiliations have dramatized the Niqab’s controversy in Egypt.

The Niqab, a variation of Muslim women veils, which covers the whole body except for the eyes, has become a hot topic in Egyptian Politics, dividing its religious leaders.

Sheikh Mohammed Tantawi, a foremost Sunni spiritual leader and head of Al-Azhar regarded as Egypt’s Imam is at the heart of the controversy. Early this month he met a girl dressed in Niqab during a tour in a secondary school in Cairo’s Madinet Nasr suburb, and asked her to remove her veil saying: "The Niqab is a tradition, it has no connection with religion.”

He also declared that he is going to issue a Fatwa to ban wearing Niqab in schools. Following this, Egypt’s Minister of Higher Education Hani Hilal announced a plan to ban Niqab in Egypt’s public universities.

The government’s support for Tantawi’s decision caused the eruption of a series of campaigns among other Muslim religious affiliations.

The fundamentalist, opposition, Muslim Brotherhood Party, has demanded Al-Azhar Institution dismisses Tantawi for his declaration.

Some have even mentioned he intends to follow France's ban on wearing the hijab in schools.

In an urgent meeting for Al-Aazhar higher council, another statement was issued following the first one and says that Niqab is allowed in Alazhar institutions and Alazhar University in the presence of men contradicting the declaration of Alazhar President, Sheikh Tantawi.

Human rights organizations in Egypt supported the woman’s right in wearing whatever she wants and considered it a personal choice.

The debate over the pros and cons of the Niqab has now extended to other Muslim’s countries, including Saudi Arabia in which Niqab is enforced in some conservative cities. .

Mohamad Al-Najimi, a professor at the Saudi Higher Institute for Justice and an expert in the International Islamic Fiqh Academy told DPA: “Niqab isn’t just a tradition; it is mentioned in the holy Hadith.

He also considered banning Niqab a quite intolerable mistake.

In Syria, Niqab isn’t a common sight in the streets, although it can be spotted in certain areas.

Abdul-Galil Alameer, a Syrian sheik, said, “There is so much fuss about the Niqab in Egypt.”

“However, I agree with Tantawi in banning Niqab in schools since it could impede learning and teaching environments.

“The Niqab isn’t supposed to be worn in the education and medicine related institutions, but in special situations, it can be a kind of social protection for women. Still, women aren’t asked to cover their faces or their hands in the Islamic law,” sheik Abdul Galil explained.

The interpretations of the validity of wearing the Niqab are left wide across the Islamic world. What happened in Egypt only intensified the social and political atmosphere between the different religious and political affiliations.

What is rather an alarming fact is the absence of women in a topic of their own. Women weren’t the focus as much as what they should wear. Furthermore, the religious speech on the issue was mostly directed by men.

Thus, women weren’t an active participant in debate, but largely remained passive recipients of the religious and political speech regarding the issue of Niqab.

Zafer Al-Saiad,

40,

Damascus

A plumber when asked about the validity of Niqab said, “It is good for married women, but not for single ones since it could lessen their chances of getting married. Moreover, women wear the Niqab because of their husbands’ wishes, so men decide whether or not women should wear it. However, I am against it by all means, and sometimes women who wear Niqab can be more attractive so it’s sometimes hypocritical.”

Lamis ,

33,

Damascus

A principal of a middle school, said, “I am against Niqab in schools and medical institutions because it hampers the learning process, so sheik Al-Azhar has a point in banning the girl of wearing it in school. I think Islamic law doesn’t ask a woman to wear the Niqab, nonetheless, I am for women’s freedom in choosing to wear it or not with the exception of wearing it in some institutions.”

Hatem

24

Damascus,

Journalist

“I want to clarify that the Niqab isn’t obligatory in Islam as women’s face and hands isn’t considered Awra but as far as I know it does not conflict with Islamic teaching, although some leading clerics have issued Fatwas against the Niqab, saying it is a deviation of Islamic teaching and this is a violation of women’s freedom.”

Diala

25

Damascus

Administrative assistant

Said, “I don’t really care as the whole thing doesn’t affect me. However, I am supportive of personal freedom whether choosing to wear Niqab or not.”