Face veil widely accepted in the UAE

Dubai: While some in the West have criticised the face veil as being restrictive for women, Arabs and Muslims say that it is important to look at the context in which women wear the veil.

Although not all women in the UAE wear the face veil, there is widespread acceptance of it as a part of regional culture here. Gulf News spoke to Dubai residents on how they feel about the veil, with a majority saying that veiled women should not be judged too quickly.

Shaikha Ahmad, a 26-year-old housewife from the UAE, says her face veil does not restrict her from being an active part of society in the UAE. She has a degree in Arabic and Islamic studies. "I took up the niqab at 18 out of choice.

"It's the only right way of dressing according to Islam. Besides, it's traditional," she said.

For Shaikha, it is more important to wear the niqab [face veil] today amid the "moral decay" in society. "You have to have a very strong personality to make such decisions in our society today."

Emirati student Salem Al Suwaidi said he had four sisters, one of which wore the niqab "out of choice". "I have to say though, that I have more respect for people who take that extra step to be pious," he said.

"People who judge the face veil hardly ever see it from the perspective of those who wear it," he said.

Twenty-nine year old Emirati high school graduate Asma Ahmad said her decision to take up the niqab was a personal choice.

"I don't wear it because I'm ashamed of myself or afraid of people. We are normal people; we travel and have social lives. Sure, most of our interaction is with women but we're not afraid of dealing with men," she said.

Emirati Mubarak Fayez, 26, said his wife only wore the hijab [headscarf] and not the niqab. "I would never force my wife to cover her face, but I do prefer that she wears the hijab," he said.

Hijab-wearing Palestinian network engineer Rula Hassan, 26, said she thought she was "modest enough" and did not need to take up the niqab.

"But I don't think the niqab restricts women from being successful. I know a few women who have successful jobs."

Lebanese housewife Amal, 38, however said she did not believe that anyone would take up the niqab by choice.

"I can't see any justification for the veil. I sincerely believe that none of those who wear it do so by choice. And if they had the choice, they probably wouldn't wear it," she said, adding that social pressure and traditions force women to wear the face veil.