Let Women Speak Free Your Face Event

[IwantToRetire]

We will all walk to Speakers' Corner at 2.00 and read out the testimonies of women who speak about the niqab. I have something visual planned so we can elevate the voices of women who exist in a fabric prison, often, of their familys construction.

On the day I will hand out copies of testimonies for women to read at the heart of Speakers' Corner. We need as many women as possible to attend. This is your chance to show you care.

From https://www.letwomenspeak.org/event-details/let-women-speak-london-free-your-face-2025-06-29-13-00

Had not heard about this, but now there are a number of responses to the event such as this one:

In Keen’s , Muslim women are portrayed as passive, voiceless, and trapped by family, culture, and male insecurity. The veil is a “fabric prison,” and the women behind it are posited as unable to speak, act, or even “feel sunlight on their skin” without male permission. Their desires, commitments, and beliefs are never considered on their own terms. Instead, they are rendered legible through the eyes, imagination and political desire of Kellie-Jay.

The few “testimonies” —attributed to women in the Middle East—were anonymous, unverified, and clearly cherry-picked. It’s hard to believe that Keen’s public pronouncements on “Islamism” elicit nothing but thank-yous and confessions of helplessness. Of course, as an activist and propagandist, she’s under no obligation to include
counterarguments or opposing views.These testimonies function as a moral shield, allowing Keen and Let Women Speak to deflect critique with the familiar refrain: “These aren’t my words…” Indeed, her X/Twitter feed is awash with anonymized grateful wards, caged in fabric. These women are cast as mute victims—unable to interpret or change their own lives—and, by implication, grateful and dependent on these liberated English roses to speak for them.

https://morbidsymptom.substack.com/p/veilface?

DM coverage https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14858363/Moment-womens-rights-campaigners-Niqab-veil-free-face-London-protest.html

(Sorry if there is a thread about this already but couldn't find anything. If there is one please post link. Thanks.)

Is it, aye.

So, if there were no Palestinians in the UK, it wouldn't be ok to demonstrate for Gaza?

Interesting development.

Ummm how do you know there were no Muslim women there?

Yes Iran's a beacon for women's rights.

Iran: New compulsory veiling law intensifies oppression of women and girls - Amnesty International https://share.google/lF8RIyTHg5IFCJoDA

'The law criminalizes and introduces severe penalties for “nudity, indecency, unveiling and bad dressing (bad poosheshi)”.

The law defines “unveiling” as the act of women and girls not covering their heads with a hijab, chador, or headscarf (Article 50).

'Under Article 38, “insulting or ridiculing the hijab” or “promoting nudity, indecency, unveiling and bad dressing” is punishable by a prison sentence of up to five years, travel ban and/or fine.'

Perhaps you'd like this introduced here. That would teach Kellie Jay to know her place.

'In its March 2024 report, the UN Fact-Finding Mission on Iran (FFMI) concluded that the Iranian authorities committed the crime against humanity of persecution on the grounds of gender. The FFMI found that the authorities have “committed a series of extensive, sustained and continuing acts that individually constitute human rights violations, directed against women [and] girls…and, cumulatively, constitute what the mission assesses to be persecution.”

Just thought I'd share this but I know some will feel it's trivial beside calling out a white saviour.

Iran using drones and phone apps to monitor strict dress code for women - BBC News https://share.google/9K1VWhKKc6bA9vbJr

For women who defy the laws, or protest against them, the consequences are severe – arrest, beating, and even rape in custody.
Investigators say Iranian security officials are using a strategy of "state-sponsored vigilantism" to encourage people to use specialist phone apps to report women for alleged dress code violations in private vehicles such as taxis and ambulances.

Their new report also highlights the increasing use of drones and security cameras to monitor hijab compliance in Tehran and in southern Iran.

OMG look at Amnesty being white saviours.

There are video's all over YouTube made by women in Iran who are highly critical of the women in the West for failing to support them in their ongoing struggle for freedom. I bet if those women heard about KJK's event, they would be highly supportive, it a shame there are so many women in the UK who are not.

Slightly off topic but

"Investigators say Iranian security officials are using a strategy of "state-sponsored vigilantism" to encourage people to use specialist phone apps to report women for alleged dress code violations in private..."

Sounds very similar to what the Scottish Government wanted to do with their Hate Law, only the cheapskates didn't launch an app. They just 'encouraged the people' to report anyone they felt like for saying something hateful, even in the privacy of their own homes, in designated reporting stations, the playbook for dictators, whether they be political or religious seems to be very similar.

Hey, we got the Hate Monster out of it, though!

Is that OJ's other job. 😂

Yes @TheywontletmehavethenameIwant IIRC one of the “reporting stations” was a sex shop which says it all really.

There was a mushroom farm, too.

Do you think those women involved are muslim women?

I think any movement on behalf of a people needs to involve those people.

A movement of middle class white women going to help the poor oppressed brown women who are completely absent from any protest and movement is suspect.

Why the reluctance to speak to an work with the women you claim to be championing.

White Saviourism

Another day, another -ism. Yawn

I don’t know. Maybe they were. Maybe they just identified as Muslims?

You seem very certain that they weren't.
That's your prejudice showing up.

I speak from a left wing point of view.

I have worked in Women’s only services (DV/SA most of my adult life)

My last job was a leadership role in refuge and outreach.

Women from marginalised communities, from ethnic minorities, including women of colour, and in particular women, from religious communities tended to opt for our generic services. Because they did not trust the other local options.

We had specialist workers, in particular for FGM, and arranged/forced marriage situations.

We also had a Gypsy/Romany specialist.

I built up and got funding for these services, (Trusts) by “spreading the word” via our volunteers often ex service users.

Our service was and is “for women by women” end of.

And the spread word, so to speak drew women far and wide to our service to our staff, and to our trustees.

The agency i lead was a second wave feminism organisation founded in the early seventies. Probably at the time exclusively white women.

I took it back to its founding principles. Without any EDI or diversity controls. As a loud women’s advocacy service, and we drew in women from all communities.

that is the KJK model not sure if she knows that.

What i would like you to understand is that sometimes we have to have difficult conversations, despite our political leanings, and we have to open the door for those who cannot speak.

For the last time JKJ is acting as a conduit for those "poor oppressed brown women" [couldn't get more patronising mask slipping alert]
She is doing what she can to support and enable them.
Have you read any of their testimonies yet or can't you be bothered? She has and is trying to actually do something.

And what's with the "middle class". Many of KJKs supporters are working class. She allows them to speak for themselves as well.

And one last thing. It speaks volumes that they are sending those messages to her. It indicates her ability to connect. I'm beginning to think you're just jealous.

This is the American chapter of the Real Gender Critical Facebook group posting isn't it?

I'm a big fan of simplification. Can I just ask a question for those who think KJK is in the wrong?

If you have an oppressed people, for whom speaking out is dangerous. Why is it a bad thing for someone who's not oppressed, and not in danger to speak out for them?

Because of the assumption that all who wear the niqab are oppressed

Because a campaign that does not include any of the people that it alleges to campaign for risks not actually delivering what the “oppressed” need instead what the campaigners think they need.

Also there are many muslims women’s rights groups, muslim feminist, middle eastern feminists etc. Choosing not to work with any of them when claiming to advocate for them is….a choice.

I would feel the same way about a women’s right’s campaign / event that was exclusively male with no women involved.

I remember when KJK was just Posie Parker on here and was forever starting threads complaining about Muslims. Hence I am deeply suspicious.

It doesn't help that this thread doesn't seem to have stayed very focused on the issue of forced veiling and has instead turned into a general "Why I don't like Muslims" thread.

How would you know that there aren't "actual muslim women involved"?

🤔

This will be right up your street then?

IWE: International Womens Echo

We are excited to present the International Women's Echo. This straightforward system echos women’s across social platforms. By signing up, you’ll be paired with a woman from another part of the world who will share your voice with her network. You can follow her social media accounts and amplify her posts across your platforms, with the option to translate if you wish (using translation/grok type tools). In many instances, we’ll suggest that you both follow each other. Think of us as the matchmaker. Complete the form below, and we’ll connect you as soon as possible.

https://www.letwomenspeak.org/iwe