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I could never have been allowed to take this snapshot.
It was impossible not to be attracted to this approximation to a circle on the Net. Would students see the comedy in finding the ratio of the area of the circular grass patch to the circumference formed by their covered heads? What would they make of the cock-eyed look? Yes, the comedy is inescapable. Photo-shopping of this web-picture thus became irresistible.
The opposite emotion on seeing this picture is, however, hugely disturbing. There’s the sadness of seeing the wrong interpretation of the Quran that makes men demand this ridiculous gear of women. Then there are the women who get brain-washed into believing that such covering of the face is essential.
The Holy Book prescribes some degree of segregation and veiling for the Prophet’s (PBUH) wives, but there is nothing in it that requires the veiling of all women. These customs were adopted nearly 60 years after the Prophet’s (PBUH) death.
Today our campuses are full of such Ninjas. A head scarf can allow a woman to communicate freely with others. On the other hand, a Ninja looking through a slit can’t. Educational institutions require open, free communication with faculty and peers, and as such restrictive face covering should be banned on campuses.
QID
12 March 2009
