She couldn't get away with this look in France ever since they banned face veils a few months ago...
In the UK however, the wearing of the niqab (burkha) does seem to be on the increase..
I remember when I first moved to East London 20 years ago, you hardly saw a woman wearing a headscarf, let along this get up.. But ever since 9/11 there's clearly been a growing trend for Muslim woman to wear at least a headscarf.. If I walk for 5 minutes I'll see 20 to 30 woman dressed like this..
My opinion... ban it.. But Britain hasn't the balls like France..
And on other news today... LOL... An MP uses parliamentary privalege and names Ryan Giggs as the footballer with the super injunction banning revelations about his affair.. Well I never! What a surprise... And who didn't know that eh???? Especially when 30.000 fans were singing about him at the footie yesterday and tens of thousands have been twittering it... haha.. serves him right
Definitely serves him right, you want to be a family man, then be a family man and don't play around, end of!
I agree with the banning of the full face veils, a headscarf is enough if you wish to dress modestly which is all the muslim religion asks. It's used as a barrier between cultures as far as I'm concerned.
Interesting...I never knew they were banned,they probably should be! So glad you captured something like this,my husband has never seen this type of get up.
It's a toughy. We live in a free country and can wear whatever we want. I do think they should be made to take them off before entering a bank or business though. Great photo. The mobile phone just loks weird. Mixing modern world with the burkha makes is all seem rediculous.
Agree about the burkha...mostly due to security threat...anyone can be hiding beneath it!...terrorists / criminals etc etc - and I don't mean this from a religious point of view...could be an English bank robber hiding beneath it! Btw Great shot! :)
Good shot. I think the increasing use of the veil is possibly because the women particularly feel more threatened by western society,and by their own increasing ambivalence to their role within their own culture. Change is happening.Its always darkest before dawn
Great shot...I have lived in East London for over 10 years and you are right wearing the burkha is on the increase, but there is such a mixture of head scarves/veils these days I decided I might use it for a project. I think the full Burkha should be banned and also muslim women going into swimming pools in full gear and being allowed! I feel they are taking the P***
Maybe, these Muslim women were always dressing the way they do and you're just noticing it more often after 9/11 because, people/the media associate 9/11 with Islam. " If I walk for 5 minutes I'll see 20 to 30 woman dressed like this.." If I walk for 5 minutes I'll also see 20 to 30 people dressed Islamicly, I'll also see people wearing colored leggings with multiple belts, people wearing suits, people wearing oversized T-shirts and sagging pants, and much more. It's amazing how diverse the world is, how many diffrent styles/flavors and cultures there are.
I was born and raised in America, so was my mom,
my grandparents, my great grandparents, and so on. I was born into
a western society, western culture, It's what I know.
That makes MY culture western/American. My father was born
and rasied in Syria, that makes me half medeteranian. That makes
my culture also mediteranian.
Ontop of all that, I'm Muslim which is also a part of my culutre.
Therefore, I'm really confused as to what you mean when you say,
"The mobile phone just loks weird. Mixing modern world with the
burkha makes is all seem rediculous." Should I get rid of my cell because, women who dress Islamicly look "weird" holding a phone? Should I not own a camera either? What if I said, "Seeing a nun talking on a cell phone just looks down right rediculous." Sounds like a bizar statment doesn't it? Doesn't sound nice either does it? (For the record, I don't really think that, I'm just trying to make you understand how your
comment offended me.) What exactly is modern anyway? People dressed Islamicly long ago as they do now.
People dressed in skinny jeans long ago (since the 1800s) as they do now. Do you find it rediculous when you see women who wear skinny jeans using cell phones?
I can see how the niqab could be viewed as a security threat because, it would be hard to identify the person. It's also not surported by a religion. THerefore, I can see how some countries are baning NIQAB's from entering banks and such. It does not mean that gives anyone the right to disrespect these women.
So glad you captured something like this, my husband has never
seen this type of get up." What are we? Animals in a zoo?
If you went to another country that was more conservative,
women didn't go out in shorts and such, would you like it if
people stared at you? Took pictures of you? Posted comments
about you making it seem like you're another species, "so glad
you captured something like this..." ?
"I think the full Burkha should be banned and also muslim
women going into swimming pools in full gear and being allowed!"
If someone tried to force you to wear more clothes then you want
to, would you like that? Would you like being FORCED to cover up?
No, you wouldn't.
It's the SAME thing for Muslim women. We don't like to be FORCED to uncover. Everyone is entitled to dress how they want. How is a Muslim woman covering what she feels needs to be harming YOU? There is no need for the ignornace and possible hate. If you want to know anything about these women and their dress code, ask. the cure for ignorance is to question and knowledge is power, the more you know (I'm not refering to Islam, but more to everything) the better off you are. The best place to get answers is from the source. You see the women, Ask. I'm friends with many non-Muslims, maybe you'll make friends with the next Muslimah you see?
I love learning about other peoples cultures and religions, diversity is truely beautiful. My parents raised me to respect everyone, and to seek knowledge. Seeing as you are all adults, I'm thinking if you have kids or plan to you would teach them the same. I'm not trying to come off as disrespectful/rude, I'm honestly sorry if I do, but your comments did offend me and I felt the need to voice my opion, as you all did.
@amatullah thanks for your comments... I can clearly see you are angry at some comments and whilst I will not apologise for 1) posting this shot and 2) other people's comments, I will add this..
You don't know, as I haven't explained,but I work for the local community, which is 70% Bengali muslim.. I have done so for over 20 years and it not a personal point of view, but an accepted fact that the wearing of not just a headscarf, but the burqua is a growing trend in the community in the years since 9/11.
It is a contensious issue as Bengali's traditionally do not wear this style of clothing as it is associated with Arab countries and many imans, friends of mine (who are Muslim) and colleagues are opposed to the growing saudi influence within their community...
You are right, everyone should be free to dress how they like, but unfortunately, that it not the case..
When was the last time you have had to pick up the pieces when a young women has had acid thrown over their face for not wearing a scarf?
Have you had to deal with families who have had their home burnt out because they are 'more western' than others would like?
Unfortunately, I do and it is a growing problem..!
I have lost count of the number of times I hear woman say they "have to" wear a headscarf...
Yes, I know bad things happen everywhere, London isn't exactly saintly at the moment is it... Just saying it as it is...
Many, many people I work with or know as friends tell me they are under extreme pressure to dress in a certain way ... Hell, one woman (and I've photographed her on her a couple of times and is very bubbley, fun and outgoing) will not walk along the street with me because of comments from elders and her own community..!!!
ps... I'm marrying my Bengali girlfriend in under 2 months who has much much stronger views on men or anyone telling her what she can or cannot wear..!!
She would say tho, consideration works both ways, be conciderate to other people even if they do not share your views..
@amatullah should also add, this is called street photography... capturing snipets of everyday life... if you flick through my shots, you will see many examples...
It's not for me, but maybe for others, the seeing of someone on a mobile wearing a burqua is I guess a juxtaposition... similar to my pic of a half naked girl poster behind a muslim man and woman from a few days back... I missed a great shot of two woman wearing burquas walking along side two girls in mini skirts and tiny tops a couple of weeks ago... the opposites of this image would have made, in my opinion, a great photo...
I use to see a nun out riding her mountain bike and would love to capture that because of the imagery.... but since doing this project, don't see her about any more... again, a shot I'd love to take...
Eid Mubarek btw..
August 14th, 2011
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I agree with the banning of the full face veils, a headscarf is enough if you wish to dress modestly which is all the muslim religion asks. It's used as a barrier between cultures as far as I'm concerned.
@indiannie_jones that's cos your glued to 365 and never watch the news :-)
"This country...."
Hey, you got the courage to take a picture of the lady! Good thing she wasn't mad at you. :-)
Maybe, these Muslim women were always dressing the way they do and you're just noticing it more often after 9/11 because, people/the media associate 9/11 with Islam. " If I walk for 5 minutes I'll see 20 to 30 woman dressed like this.." If I walk for 5 minutes I'll also see 20 to 30 people dressed Islamicly, I'll also see people wearing colored leggings with multiple belts, people wearing suits, people wearing oversized T-shirts and sagging pants, and much more. It's amazing how diverse the world is, how many diffrent styles/flavors and cultures there are.
I was born and raised in America, so was my mom,
my grandparents, my great grandparents, and so on. I was born into
a western society, western culture, It's what I know.
That makes MY culture western/American. My father was born
and rasied in Syria, that makes me half medeteranian. That makes
my culture also mediteranian.
Ontop of all that, I'm Muslim which is also a part of my culutre.
Therefore, I'm really confused as to what you mean when you say,
"The mobile phone just loks weird. Mixing modern world with the
burkha makes is all seem rediculous." Should I get rid of my cell because, women who dress Islamicly look "weird" holding a phone? Should I not own a camera either? What if I said, "Seeing a nun talking on a cell phone just looks down right rediculous." Sounds like a bizar statment doesn't it? Doesn't sound nice either does it? (For the record, I don't really think that, I'm just trying to make you understand how your
comment offended me.) What exactly is modern anyway? People dressed Islamicly long ago as they do now.
People dressed in skinny jeans long ago (since the 1800s) as they do now. Do you find it rediculous when you see women who wear skinny jeans using cell phones?
I can see how the niqab could be viewed as a security threat because, it would be hard to identify the person. It's also not surported by a religion. THerefore, I can see how some countries are baning NIQAB's from entering banks and such. It does not mean that gives anyone the right to disrespect these women.
So glad you captured something like this, my husband has never
seen this type of get up." What are we? Animals in a zoo?
If you went to another country that was more conservative,
women didn't go out in shorts and such, would you like it if
people stared at you? Took pictures of you? Posted comments
about you making it seem like you're another species, "so glad
you captured something like this..." ?
"I think the full Burkha should be banned and also muslim
women going into swimming pools in full gear and being allowed!"
If someone tried to force you to wear more clothes then you want
to, would you like that? Would you like being FORCED to cover up?
No, you wouldn't.
It's the SAME thing for Muslim women. We don't like to be FORCED to uncover. Everyone is entitled to dress how they want. How is a Muslim woman covering what she feels needs to be harming YOU? There is no need for the ignornace and possible hate. If you want to know anything about these women and their dress code, ask. the cure for ignorance is to question and knowledge is power, the more you know (I'm not refering to Islam, but more to everything) the better off you are. The best place to get answers is from the source. You see the women, Ask. I'm friends with many non-Muslims, maybe you'll make friends with the next Muslimah you see?
I love learning about other peoples cultures and religions, diversity is truely beautiful. My parents raised me to respect everyone, and to seek knowledge. Seeing as you are all adults, I'm thinking if you have kids or plan to you would teach them the same. I'm not trying to come off as disrespectful/rude, I'm honestly sorry if I do, but your comments did offend me and I felt the need to voice my opion, as you all did.
You don't know, as I haven't explained,but I work for the local community, which is 70% Bengali muslim.. I have done so for over 20 years and it not a personal point of view, but an accepted fact that the wearing of not just a headscarf, but the burqua is a growing trend in the community in the years since 9/11.
It is a contensious issue as Bengali's traditionally do not wear this style of clothing as it is associated with Arab countries and many imans, friends of mine (who are Muslim) and colleagues are opposed to the growing saudi influence within their community...
You are right, everyone should be free to dress how they like, but unfortunately, that it not the case..
When was the last time you have had to pick up the pieces when a young women has had acid thrown over their face for not wearing a scarf?
Have you had to deal with families who have had their home burnt out because they are 'more western' than others would like?
Unfortunately, I do and it is a growing problem..!
I have lost count of the number of times I hear woman say they "have to" wear a headscarf...
Yes, I know bad things happen everywhere, London isn't exactly saintly at the moment is it... Just saying it as it is...
Many, many people I work with or know as friends tell me they are under extreme pressure to dress in a certain way ... Hell, one woman (and I've photographed her on her a couple of times and is very bubbley, fun and outgoing) will not walk along the street with me because of comments from elders and her own community..!!!
ps... I'm marrying my Bengali girlfriend in under 2 months who has much much stronger views on men or anyone telling her what she can or cannot wear..!!
She would say tho, consideration works both ways, be conciderate to other people even if they do not share your views..
It's not for me, but maybe for others, the seeing of someone on a mobile wearing a burqua is I guess a juxtaposition... similar to my pic of a half naked girl poster behind a muslim man and woman from a few days back... I missed a great shot of two woman wearing burquas walking along side two girls in mini skirts and tiny tops a couple of weeks ago... the opposites of this image would have made, in my opinion, a great photo...
I use to see a nun out riding her mountain bike and would love to capture that because of the imagery.... but since doing this project, don't see her about any more... again, a shot I'd love to take...
Eid Mubarek btw..