Maryam Namazie will be debating against motion ‘This house believes the veil empowers women’ at the Cambridge Union Society.
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6 Comments
Francesca Lindsay-White
Maryam, all the best to you in your debate against the motion, it is understandable that there are circumstances where wearing the veil empowers women, but I passionately do not want those circumstances to become normal in my country. Men need to raise themselves to a level of emotional maturity where they can understand that a woman is a whole human being, not merely acting in the world as a reflection of their (mens) insecurities and desires. Either the veil IS a barrier to communication (surely this is the point)or it isn’t, in which case why wear it? It is fundamentally de humanizing to require someone to cover their face. If men cannot control themselves then they should not be allowed out in public space without several women chaperones.
British citizens or others resident in Britain who are not familiar with the history of the womens struggle here may be enlightened by getting to know more about it. Efforts for women to be accepted in the public sphere are something we do know about, so we are aware of what is at stake.
Joanne Figov
I agree with the above. My point is that women should have CHOICE and most of those with the veil are doing it under duress.
The other important point is that it is a health hazard. There have been papers written and research that the breathing in of one’s own stale air is detrimental to the lungs and veiled women have a high incidence of respiratory illnesses.
Pedram Kazemi-Esfarjani
Commet by Mr Pedram Kazemi-Esfarjani: Go defeat them, Maryam! Veiling degrades women, girls, boys and men alike. Whole body chastity wear is even worse than the Middle Ages’ chastity belt! Why not reverse the argument, say, veil-promoting men should wear chastity belt around their genitals and wear Burka to blurr their vision, offering mobile prisons for those men, who apparently cannot manage their sexual anxiety? The French parliament, with vast public support, wish to impose a 30000 Euro fine on men, who force female veiling – I would add a year in Burka as further punishment, although a conditional sentence would be enough scare to those men, I recon. They know what torture veiling of humans is.
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Pedram Kazemi-Esfarjani
Also, please mention the roots of the veiling, incl. Islam’s founder Mohammad the jihadist’s overt paedofilia and obsessive primiscuity and abuse of innocent female and male slaves, and girls and women, thereby terrorizing not only them for life, but also their parents and relatives, yes entire, sexually violated nations! Sexual abuse and veiling go hand in hand as obsessiv, totalitarian and psychopathic power and control measures in Islam and Vatican.
Georgina Babey
Maryam, I heard you speak at the AI conference in Salisbury on Saturday and was inspired to visit your website. I agree with all the above comments so emphatically. Of course, there may be a few occasions when wearing the veil gives a sense of security, but surely the other side of that coin is that the security blanket becomes a barrier – to communication, to good health, and to engagement with the world. How long will women tacitly agree to live under the power of outmoded male authoritarianism?
Janet
I know student unions have a tradition of controversial debates, but this one just isn’t funny or clever. Not while women are killed and mutilated in some countries for daring to show their faces. Thanks for taking this on, Maryam. You’re an inspiration, as always.