Niqab ban will strain ties between France, Islamic states: Buramiya

Updated on: 24/05/2012

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Female counselors in the Capital Governorate gathered at the Fatmah Bint Al-Waleed Girls High School to celebrate the centennial anniversary of guidance and counseling

Niqab ban will strain ties between France, Islamic states: Buramiya MP seeks info on Iranians in Kuwait

KUWAIT CITY, April 11: Concern about suspicious Iranian activity in Kuwait resumed at the National Assembly on Monday. Islamist MP Mohammed Hayef forwarded questions to various state ministers requesting information on Iranian presence in the country.

Hayef inquired the Minister of Commerce and Industry, Ahmed Al-Haroun, about Iranian companies in Kuwait, their activities and licenses, and whether there are Kuwaiti companies who are funded by Iranian businessmen. He also requested information from Minister of Labor and Social Affairs and the Minister of Interior about the number of Iranian residents in Kuwait, the number of Iranians working in government entities and the number of visas issued to the expatriates from Iran.

Relations between the State of Kuwait and the Islamic Republic of Iran have been strained since Kuwait claimed to have discovered an Iranian spy ring working in the Gulf state. It accused the network of giving information on Kuwait to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC).

On March 29, Kuwait condemned to death two Iranians and a Kuwaiti national, who were serving in Kuwait’s army, for belonging to an Iranian spy ring. A Syrian and a stateless Arab were also handed life terms for their involvement. Kuwait recalled its ambassador from Tehran a day after the court’s decision.

Furthermore, Deputy Premier and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sheikh Dr. Mohammad Al-Sabah, confirmed on March 31 that there is a conspiracy to destabilize the security of Kuwait and that three Iranian diplomats will be expelled from the country for their alleged involvement in a spy network. On April 2, Kuwait expelled the three Iranian diplomats who were working with the Iranian Embassy.

Denied
For its part, Iran denied the accusations and expelled three Kuwaiti diplomats in retaliation. Iranian MP Hussein Naqwi Husseini was quoted as saying that Kuwait’s alleged discovery of an Iranian espionage network is part of the implementation of the American agenda to suppress popular uprisings.

Meanwhile, Islamist MP Daifallah Buramiya claims that that there are eight more Iranian spy networks in Kuwait that have yet to be discovered. He stressed that Iran’s insistence on denying the existence of its spy networks will further harm the relations between both countries.

On another note, he said that France’s ban of the face veil (niqab), which was enforced on Monday, will strain the relations between the European country and Islamic states. He said that France’s economy will be harmed as a result and added that if France was faced with Islamic and Arab pressure it will reverse its decision.

On his part, Tribal MP Khaled Al-Adwah said that the Islamic Republic of Iran is a friendly nation towards Kuwait and there are strong historic ties between the two countries. He warned, however, that Kuwait refuses any interference by Iran in its internal affairs. Al-Adwah added that Kuwait’s just courts have convicted members of the spy network and so the matter should be resolved in a friendly manner. We don’t want the issue to end relations between the two countries, he said.

By: Nihal Sharaf

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@MelanieUmm Yusuf | 4/13/2011 11:39:49 AM Thank you, but I don't need a chill pill -you can keep it for yourself and in that spirit of generosity I'll help you with your English comprehension too. So to simplify my argument for you: 1) I WAS talking about niqab. 2)Niqab is a face veil that covers a woman's nose and mouth. It is a piece of opaque cloth -SIMILAR to a surgeon's facial mask. 3) If a motorcyclist can ride a motorbike wearing an helmet that covers (amongst other things) his nose and mouth without it being an impediment to his vision, and if a surgeon can operate wearing a mask that covers his nose and mouth without it being an impediment to his vision then the argument that a woman's niqab is a hazard to driving is illogical and absurd. As for the argument that niqab is a security threat this is also ridiculous. I cannot balance a spoon on the tip of my nose let alone something else and the array of WMD that a niqab-wearer could possibly grip between her teeth without her immediately getting noticed is really rather limited don't you think? Similarly if a suicide bomber were to have a covered or uncovered face it's not going to really make a difference to his victims if he detonated himself! Any other would-be terrorists would be pretty stupid to dress as 'obvious Muslims' given the anti-Muslim sentiment that is so obvious these days that a person cannot even put forward a rational, logical argument without being called 'ignorant' and told to 'take a chill pill'! Your mentality sadly reinforces what I said before and that is people who advocate this ban tend to be rather HOSTILE and not genuinely concerned for the betterment of society or humanity. Personally, I want to live in peace and genuinely try to facilitate harmony and understanding between people. I don't wear niqab and this ban effects me as much as it effects you in that it has robbed the world of a little of it's humanity by legalizing the discriminatory treatment of a certain segment of women in society due to their religious

To Umm YusufMelanie Dsouza | 4/13/2011 9:30:29 AM We are discussing here about Nikab and you are talking about Hijab? How absurd.You are so ignorant that you dont even know why surgeons use their mask? Take a chill pill.

Respect LawsJessica | 4/12/2011 9:44:32 PM @Mustaq- correct! France didn't ban the wearing of a hijab, just a ban on having your face completely covered. If you choose to live or travel to France, respect their laws just as you would expect a visitor to respect the laws in Kuwait. I'm an expat & do you think I like being forced to 'fast' during Ramadan? I'm not Muslim yet I can't eat during the day in public during Ramadan? See what I mean?

@Bill and MelanieUmm Yusuf | 4/12/2011 4:30:16 PM @Melanie: I know, perhaps that's why my cousin rides a motorbike? -her helmet conforms to niqab and it's the law also! @ Bill, unless you are Sheikh Bill -Arabic linguist, ancient historian, and Islamic religious theologists I am very reluctant to take your opinion on the religious obligation or not of wearing niqab! In the same manner that I would never presume to read a medical book and then think I was capable of performing surgery I would never dream of simply reading the Quran and then think I was capable of issuing a religious edict. From what I am aware (and I have read numerous religious opinions and books on the matter) there are several opinions and Muslim women are free to choose (with the emphasis on 'free to choose') whichever one they feel to be closest to their heart and I would highly recommend that you ask a religious scholar for the actual religious law on the matter. Anyway, from what I understand: 1) Some believe it IS indeed obligatory, 2) Some believe it is recommended i.e. like extra 'bonus' points for excellent hijab 3) Some believe it is a permissible thing i.e. you're allowed to do so or not do so. So if we point blank BAN IT then it is indeed forcing some women to choose between the law and their religious beliefs and that is fundamentally wrong! Also, if niqab is such a danger to driving because of reduced visibility then HOW ON EARTH do we logically allow surgeons to operate when they wear a similar nose/mouth covering? In the same vein, if niqab is such a security threat why would any Westerner choose to live in Kuwait or the Middle East where for sure they're going to pass several niqab-wearers on the roads and in the malls every single day???? Can we safely assume that they must either be: 1) Extraordinarily terrified and living in constant fear 2) don't value their life for much, 3) have lost leave of their senses OR 4) DON'T REALLY BELIEVE IT'S ALL THAT THREATENING? I personally don't feel threatened in the slightest so perhaps

To Umm YusufMelanie Dsouza | 4/12/2011 3:16:49 PM For your kind information, nikab is also banned in Kuwait while driving, but we see so many ladies making mockery of this law.

@MustaqUmm Yusuf | 4/12/2011 2:53:16 PM As a free individual I can take issue with whatever I choose to and If we to use the logic of your argument below then we could also argue that there are more murderers, rapist, gangsters, drug-pushers and criminals in general in the non-niqab wearing population than there are in the niqb-wearing population therefore all people should be forced to wear niqb!! Frankly that sort of logic is absurd! I believe in treating people as 'innocent until proven guilty' not 'guilty by choice of clothing' and that includes not being tarred with the same brush of 'fundamentalist' or 'extremist' simply because a person chooses to wear a certain outfit! It is so ridiculous I'm seriously amazed how people cannot see how eye-wateringly unfair this practice is! Also, I can just imagine the sort of law suits that will end up in the European court of law where unscrupulous women don niqab and blame it on their menfolk simply because they want to hurt them where it hurts economically!

Niqab ban will strain ties between France, Islamic states: BuramiyaBill Bowers | 4/12/2011 2:22:53 PM THIS IS TO RESPOND TO SOME THAT REALLY NEED TO THINK ABOUT COUNTRIES SECURITY. FIRST OF ALL WEARING THE NIQAB IS A BREACH OF SECURITY BECAUSE YOU DO NOT KNOW WHO THE PERSON IS AND SHOULD THAT PERSON VIOLATES THE LAW YOU WILL NOT KNOW WHO THE PERSON IS. AND LETS BE REALLY REAL IN THE QURAN IT DOES NOT STATE A FEMALE MUST WEAR A NIQAB PERIOD. JUST A WOMAN MUST DRESS RESPECTFULLY. IF YOU CANNOT RESPECT THE LAWS OF THE COUNTRY THEN YOU HAVE NO BUSINESS BEING THERE IN THE FIRST PLACE. IF YOU CANNOT FOLLOW EACH COUNTRIES LAWS THEN YOU DEAL WITH THE CONSEQUENCES. SO DEAL WITH IT. I SUPPORT WHAT FRANCE IS DOING BECAUSE IT IS A BREACH OF SECURITY. SO DEAL WITH IT IF NOT THEN DO NOT GO PERIOD. BECAUSE PEOPLE HAVE ZERO TOLERANCE FOR THOSE WHO VIOLATE THAT COUNTRIES LAWS.

@ UMM YUSUFMustaq Ahmed Khan | 4/12/2011 1:33:51 PM total Muslim Population in France Algerians = 1,550,000, Moroccons = 1,000,000, Tunisians=350,000, Turkish = 315,000 Sub-Saharan Africa= 250,000, Middle East= 100,000, Asians=100,000 (mostly from Pakistan and Bangladesh) Converts = 40,000, illegal immigrants or awaiting regularisation=350,000, Other=100,000. Total 4,155,000 Muslims. You say 2000 wear niqab, where as reality 4153000 dont wear niqab. Pls dont make issue of this. So I guess from 2000 some are radical fundamentalist.

@MustaqUmm Yusuf | 4/12/2011 1:20:53 PM Frankly, I say the same to you! Firstly, I did actually say 'most of the ladies wearing niqab' and by that I would have thought it quite obvious that I meant of the 2000 thousand or so MUSLIM LADIES IN FRANCE who actually wear it NOT of the entire FEMALE population! Secondly, France is a SECULAR country and NOT a Christian one so please check this fact too. Thirdly, MANY, MANY, MANY Muslims, Christian, Jews and other logical, fair-minded people courageous enough to say so DISAGREE WITH THIS BAN -so please check this fact also before you hasten to label anyone a fundamentalist. Lastly, I think your response shows EXACTLY the mentality of the kind of people who support this ban, and frankly, I wish the world was a more friendly, less-judgmental, less hostile place and this ban isn't facilitating this!

@ UMM YUSUFMustaq Ahmed Khan | 4/12/2011 12:34:57 PM Dont get carried away go as per facts in France 54% Christians, 31% dont believe in anyone, 9% Islam, 1% Jews, 1% Buddist, 4% others. Plus its a Christian Country, so people who will be making issue on this topic are fundamentalist and France dont want fundamentalist in their country?

It will indeed!Umm Yusuf | 4/12/2011 12:00:30 PM @Mustaq, don't you realize that MOST of the ladies wearing niqab in France are FRENCH CONVERTS to Islam and French citizens? This is undemocratic and totally prejudiced. I'm AMAZED that people who pride themselves for their liberty and equality can live with such a discriminatory decision, let alone support it! And, in case you don't realize something else too, many French nationals DON'T respect our laws and routinely try to smuggle pork and alcohol into out country -even though they know it's banned (ask any of your Western friends and they'll happily boast of the number of times they've got away with it!!!), but this is beside the point. The point is that OF COURSE this law is going to be detrimental to France and I would have thought that in these harsh economic and highly sensitive political times France would have shown more wisdom in its decisions -sadly not!

I doubtMustaq Ahmed Khan | 4/12/2011 9:42:59 AM If French nationals obey rules of fasting of not eating out during Ramadan in Islamic countries, and so many French ladies dont drive car in Saudi. I think we also need to respect their laws when we are in their land.

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