Three easy pieces from the Middle East-hers

It is true that the hijab can be a politically charged subject -- and I am sorry, Umm Zaid, if my selection of Leilouta's post felt insensitive on your end.

The veil is an issue that fascinates (and confuses) many non-Muslim women, though. On the one hand, the free choice to dress modestly out of reverence to God is always worth celebrating and supporting -- the recent Blogher entry from Australia captures this. ( http://www.blogher.com/node/3779 )

On the other hand, heavy societal pressure directed exclusively at women to dress in a certain way (whether modestly or provokatively) is not something I am ever comfortable with. When women make their own choices -- great! When the choice is not theirs -- not so much. The Leilouta post begs the question, I think: Why did these women switch?

Here in Cairo, discussion of the hijab and veil seems to be something of a taboo subject, except among very close friends. The Internet relieves some of the pressure and curiousity regarding the matter. It also shows, however, that to many women the veil represents something more than a mundane, everyday act. Here are some pieces on the subject by some women from the Middle East(and unfortunately, I draw only from English-language sites, which admittedly are not wholly representative):

1. Freedom for Egyptians and Superluli ( http://freedomforegyptians.blogspot.com/2006/03/tw... ) (on religion in Egypt generally, but including a discussion of the veil);

2. Veiled for Allah ( http://www.muhajabah.com/islamicblog/archives/veil... ) provides some informative links and also speaks of her frustration over Western perspectives on the veil. She also recounts the experience ( http://www.muhajabah.com/islamicblog/archives/veil... ) of a Western woman's "experiment" with a full veil for a day;

3. Leilouta goes off ( http://leilouta.blogspot.com/2006/03/islamic-cover... ) -- you may not agree with her, but it is out there.

I welcome you feedback, Umm Zaid -- please don't go away mad. As you may have noticed, based on your prior feedback, I removed another blog entry that seemed to be inaccurate. I can predict right now that you are not going to agree with everything I highlight in postings from the Middle East. But Blogher needs you, if only to balance me.

Umm Zaid, I really don't think it's that. I think she's just trying to lighten everyone up - from feminists to observant Muslims. The veil is a subject that is so politically charged, that we need to hear more voices like Leilouta's.

Priya Ramachandran
Blogher Contributing Editor - South East Asia
Words on Water ( http://dckimaya.blogspot.com )

"Fascinating?" She's making fun of us - us Mozlems who wear the veil. How can something so mundane, so everyday, so common be fascinating? Is it hard to see how mocking it is because we're so used to it? Because mockery, disdain, dehumanization, even hatred of the veiled woman is so commonplace in our culture?

I thought BlogHer was going to be different, but... maybe it's just more of the same, only exclusively from women.

It makes me sad, it really does.