Indeed. Most attempts at cultural engineering, no matter how well-intentioned, tend to generate this kind of situations.

You never know how people will react, in the end. It seems better to try to engage the dialogue with those parts of society that will listen, and hope for the best. But if you force things by law... you end up creating martyrs for your opponents, which you really don't want to do.

Fuck the Jews.

How can you call it "Islamism" when it's an internal debate between differing philosophical, theological, and legal within Islam. What does it mean when a Muslim religious authority is using his knowledge of Islam to combat....Islamism? Since theres no unequivocal ecclesiastical body in Islam, especially Sunni Islam, how can you define one side as the "Islamist" side?

I can appreciate what the government is trying to do here; they see rising restrictive Islamic extremism and want to combat it with strong measures. This is one case though where fighting fire with fire won't work. Instead suppressing things like the niqab (which will only enflame those on the fence and harden the ones who already oppose what they perceive as decadence), the Egyptian government should try to use pro-active socio-economic measures slowly, over time, to steadily change attitudes. There also seems to be somewhat of a logical disconnect in trying to ban something to ensure greater freedom (see Sarkozy). You get into Orwellian doublethink territory in that case. I hesitate to call the proponents of the niqab and their ilk "extremists", "fundamentalists", or "radicals", since one could make a case that you could legitimately consider oneself all of those things within Islam (or Christianity for that matter) without supporting violence or certain oppressive customs.

"philosophical, theological, and legal schools of thought within Islam"

and

"since one could make a case that one could legitimately consider oneself all of those things within Islam"

In fairness, I don't think they're planning on letting them start wearing the niqab again if they convert to Christianity.

Sheikh Tantawi!

Good call y'all.

I find this statement interesting: "I know what makes God and his prophet love me, and no sheikh is going to convince me otherwise."

Is the Muslim religion predicated on the belief that our actions are what makes God love us? This seems rather contrary to everything I've heard expressed in what little I know of Muslim teachings.

It also seems very reminiscent of Christians who claimed that not getting to pray in schools would impair their ability to practice their religion in some way.

I just find the notion that religion can't adapt to new social norms, all the more reason it should be removed from every aspect of our lives.

Creating a situation in which all one needs to do to martyr one's self is dress a certain way is a recipe for lots of martyrdom, and not much else.

Granted, women's attire is the least of Egypt's troubles. A government that routinely sends the paramilitary police to beat street protesters from the religious opposition parties just to send a message is unlikely to show an enlightened attitude toward conservative cultural signifiers — and is probably already doomed.

Here in America, all kinds of people dress like it's still the 16th century and go about their business unmolested — from Muslims to Mennonites — and the country doesn't seem to suffer for it.

In fact I can think of nothing that would be quicker or more effective at provoking a militant fundamentalist backlash than trying to make everyone dress a certain way.

GET LOST all the rest!

just asking

Don't give a damn what they wear on their head, but what they cut off between their legs matters. Makes them just a sperm catcher, baby maker. I wonder why they don't cut off theri tongues as well. Then they wouldn't be able to enjoy food or talk, and wouldn't that also improve the lives of their masters, as the prsent sexual mutiliation does?

I thought that France made a rule about no Islamic head gear at public schools? I could be wrong. If you just do not want trouble in your country, this policy might keep radicals away. If you reeeeeally insist that women should be covered, you just might opt to live elsewhere? Unfortunately, many peaceful believers of all strains of Islam will be affected.

Do you happen to KNOW where I live?

I don't like stalkers

But I can always forgive.

there are far more important things for women to worry about.

I want to see a source that states 70% of egyptian women get genital mutilations, ie their clitoris removed.

I think the key to progress on such topics is fighting poverty and education for all young people, especially women. Slow but effective. Let them or their daughters make their own informed choices.

just an anecdote - there is a small iranian community in my neighbourhood here in Quebec. All the adults wear at least the hijab. When I go to the local YWCA They cast these off and from chatting with them, I get the impression the dress code has much more to do with social tradition than religion. Only a fraction of their daughters wear the veil. The other kids don`t even bat an eye, used to the sight.

for Canadians.

Thats why your comments are kind of lame.

What does any of this even have to do with the "west"?

Is Egypt in the "west" now?

It is somewhat silly to try and separate the concepts of Islam and culture. The fundamental nature of Islam is to be the basis of a culture. Islam does not say, here are some personal beliefs that if you follow them you will be better off. They say, here are some cultural beliefs and it is vital that the culture follow those beliefs or everyone suffers. This is the source of Islam intolerance. It isn't enough that they conform, everybody has to conform.

That said I find a certain amount of hypocrisy in the idea of supporting the ban of the niqab, while at the same time our government is working to suppress clothing optional beaches and Broadsheet is critical of risqué Halloween costumes.