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Original poster

I wear a niqab! AMA

838 replies

JamTea · 12/08/2018 13:34

Hi everyone,

I am a regular MNer and NC'd for this :). As background, I have a successful career in tech, I am a Muslim and I wear niqab too. Since Boris's comments, I've seen quite a bit written on MN about burqa and niqab, and thought it may be useful to answer any questions people have in relation to niqab. I also know a large number of Muslim women and have lived in various Muslim communities, so can probably speak from my experience and relay other people's experiences too.

Just as a note: I don't know any women in the UK that wear burqa and I have never seen anyone wear a burqa in real life. The difference between niqab and burqa is illustrated here: cdn.images.express.co.uk/img/dynamic/1/590x/scarf-651554.jpg

OP posts:
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Original poster
JamTea · 12/08/2018 21:32

@ScreamingValenta

Hi OP. Have you always worn the niqab or did you begin by wearing a hijab?

Hi :) Good question. I started wearing the hijab for a few years and then started practicing more of my faith (like regular prayers etc.) and then decided I was ready for the next step.

OP posts:
Clionba · 12/08/2018 21:35

JamTea - Boris Johnson isn't restricting your movement. Are Muslim women in Denmark oppressed and restricted by the ban?

Original poster
JamTea · 12/08/2018 21:36

@JessicaPeach

Op, why do people choose the different options? I’ve lived very briefly in Dubai and always wondered this as you see a combination of all types in all locations

Great question :) Everyone is on their own spiritual journey and on their own very unique journeys, so people choose what they choose to wear or not wear depending on where they are in that journey. There is also practical elements too. So say somewhere like Saudi Arabia it is much easier to wear the niqab, and in fact niqab lets you blend in easily. Whereas in the UK it is much harder. Even in the UK there is variation. So say wearing a niqab in a place like Norwich is much harder than say wearing it in London or in a predominately Asian areas in a small town in the north west. I have found that in the latter it comes with the added advantage of having a bit of anonymity from the close knit community (a bit like giving you anonymity in a small village). I hope that answers your question?

OP posts:
Original poster
JamTea · 12/08/2018 21:40

@iamawoman

Why would you choose to wear an item that must at the very least be awfully hot to wear on the summer, is restrictive, ie running for a bus or playing actively with your kids, as well as the fact it is a symbol of oppression and misogyny for many many women.

I don't find it awfully hot to wear in the summer, but if I do, I don't wear it. It certainly isn't restrictive for me, I've done rock climbing and abseiling with my niqab on, I just adjust the clothing a little, like tuck my cloak in or use a different type of niqab. So no, I don't find it restrictive.

It is not a symbol of oppression and misogyny for me and my friends who do or don't wear niqab. There is actually no country in the world currently that is using niqab to oppress women (Iran may be using hijab), and thank goodness for that! And if oppressive regimes are using clothing to oppress women (which is abhorrent), I don't understand why I should pay for that? Why should my freedom in the UK be restricted because of those oppressive regimes?

OP posts:
Original poster
JamTea · 12/08/2018 21:43

@SippingSipsmith

In what situations or surroundings do you take it off? If you were at home would you have to put it back on if a male relative or friend came over?

I only wear it when I am in public, and even in public sometimes I wont wear it, so say I am eating or I'm worried about my safety. I don't put it on if my friends or relatives came over.

Do you wear makeup? On what occasions would you use it?

Yes I do :) I wear it at home and I also wear it under the niqab too, especially if I am going to party etc or going on a date night.

OP posts:
FloppyBoobs · 12/08/2018 21:45

What do you wear underneath?

Original poster
JamTea · 12/08/2018 21:47

@Yokatsu

If the niqab was banned in public what would you do? Would you be constrained to the house

That's a really good question! I think I would still go out but I would go out less frequently. So I would probably only go out if I really needed to. I do worry that banning it will restrict these women's movement, which ironically appears to defeat the purpose of banning it? Or are we even clear about why we want to ban it? Is it because it makes the public feel uncomfortable or is it because we have pre-conceived ideas that are completely non-evidence based that Muslim women in the UK are being forced to wear the niqab? From my anecdotal experience, it couldn't be further from the truth. I just wish politicians and even Muslims themselves would actually speak to us before making sweeping statements about us.

OP posts:
Sweetsongbird1 · 12/08/2018 21:49

@JamTea please answer my question as you seem to skirting passed any tough questions.

Do you feel complicit in the forcing of many other women who are forced to wear one, as you choose to wear it freely

Jayfee · 12/08/2018 21:49

Perhaps some people want to ban it to help women like Candysugar to live like free women in the UK in the 21st century

Sweetsongbird1 · 12/08/2018 21:52

or is it because we have pre-conceived ideas that are completely non-evidence based that Muslim women in the UK are being forced to wear the niqab?

There is a lady on this very thread @JamTea - we know thousands upon thousands of women are forced to wear it around the world - what about them? Once again - do you feel complicit in the forcing of it as you wear yours freely ?

glenthebattleostrich · 12/08/2018 21:54

OP you seem to be ignoring Candy's posts.

Candy, it probably doesn't help to hear this but in my opinion your family are the ones bringing shame upon themselves. Their attitudes disgust me and I applaud your bravery in speaking here.

Sweetsongbird1 · 12/08/2018 21:55

I think I would still go out but I would go out less frequently. So I would probably only go out if I really needed to. I do worry that banning it will restrict these women's movement, which ironically appears to defeat the purpose of banning it?

Why though when apparently no one is forced in to wearing one and it doesn’t state any wear in the Koran’s teaching you must wear one?

SimonBridges · 12/08/2018 21:57

PLEASE BE AWARE THAT I AM NOT SAYING CANDY IS LYING, but if a EDL type was to read this they could make up a poster like Candy to tell us that they are oppressed because to western women that is how it looks.

TheCountryGirl · 12/08/2018 22:05

I asked a number of questions that you have not answered
If wearing a veil brings you close to God WHY DO MEN NOT WEAR IT?

TheCountryGirl · 12/08/2018 22:06

I REALLY want an answer to this.

TheCountryGirl · 12/08/2018 22:09

If you can't answer I can only assume you don't know!

Bluntness100 · 12/08/2018 22:12

I think I would still go out but I would go out less frequently. So I would probably only go out if I really needed to

This makes no logical sense, especially when you state you'll remove it to eat an ice cream or something.

And you're avoiding all the hard questions, really just telling us all how wonderful it is.

Somethings not right here.

Sweetsongbird1 · 12/08/2018 22:13

Actually SimonBridges there was a regular poster a while back that used to post similar but she managed to get away, she used to get shut down a lot too. She has babe changed now.

I believe you candy

In fact I’m more inclined to doubt the op tbh, the ‘we’ in her last post, to me insinuates, she is part of society that doesnt wear them and has preconceived ideas...

Sunday night eh?

TheCountryGirl · 12/08/2018 22:16

Yeah so......why do men not wear a veil?

Bluntness100 · 12/08/2018 22:18

I'm really not sure about this thread.

CoteDAzur · 12/08/2018 22:19

I believe you, too, Candy Flowers

You on the other hand, OP....

Rock climbing and abseiling in your niqab which is no bother at all in hot weather, you say? Hmm

CoteDAzur · 12/08/2018 22:22

"The reason for wearing niqab isn't so that men are not 'tempted', because then all Muslim women would have been instructed to wear one. It is another step a woman could take to get closer to God."

You just made that up. There is no such thing as niqab (face veil) in the Quran OR the Hadith (Mohammad's verified and collected sayings), which means that there is no such thing as niqab in Islam.

Bluntness100 · 12/08/2018 22:23

Actually there is a Hadith which states women should show their faces and hands. So it's the opposite of what rhe op is saying about getting closer to god.

Growingboys · 12/08/2018 22:24

Agree there's something dead fishy about this.

I was listening to a phone in on Radio 4 yesteray about this and, being the BBC, they were very pro niqab and longing for callers to be that way, too.

Interestingly, everyone who rang in was very anti, including several Muslims, apart from one man, an imam from Bradford, who said his wife willingly wore one and loved it.

The BBC host said is she there with you? Can we talk to her? And he said er no. And it all suddenly sounded a bit fishy.

That's what this thread reminds me of.

Treasure114 · 12/08/2018 22:29

OP, were you born into a Muslim family or have you converted to Islam?
Thanks!