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.)

In what way is KJK not working with all these women who have contacted her with their stories?

Did you read anything that they have said before you presumed to speak on their behalf?

If you did not read what they have said, why not?

If you did read what they have said, why do you think that you know better than them?

I have chosen some of the shorter messages to add as images because the text in the long messages will be difficult to read when they are uploaded to Mumsnet.

If you can be bothered to find out what these women are saying, there are many more messages if you scroll down this page:

https://www.letwomenspeak.org/free-your-faces

I have posted previously that when I read what is being posted on this thread that what I have in mind is that some of those women might be reading this thread.

Has that even occurred to you?

You show such little interest in the women whose messages have prompted this campaign, who clearly support it and feel supported by it, that I see all of your criticisms reflected right back at you.

Edited to unscramble some text.

Okay. But it is including those people, she has testimonies from lots of women who are coerced. She's not guessing what they want, she's being told, by them.

Their point being that they can't speak out. She can, and she has a huge platform.

I've seen it before on here. Women being told they cannot speak on behalf of other women.

It means you get absolutely nowhere. How can you make progress when the only people whose voices you're willing to listen to are those who can't speak.

I agree with these observations.
but also agree I'd question KJKs motives.

Its a tricky one because while I am sure some (very few?) women who geniunely freely chose... But i dont believe they are in the majority and I also believe some women who claim they chose it freely dont. They choose it due to family/ societal pressure and expectation / in defence of their culture / islam.

My feeling is:
If it was so practical, great, comfy etc why dont we see women everywhere adopting westernised versions of full veils?
God knows enough of us want to escape the male gaze.

Its just not a garment designed with womens comfort / well being in mind...

Hello,
In a world that tells us to stay quiet, your courage means everything. Thank you for being our voice,

From the link.

I don't know how people can knock it.

Whether you like KJK as a person or not, there are few women who will stick their neck out like she does.

She walked through a crowd, and addressed two women as she went past, saying free your faces ladies.

It got 24 million views.

Millions upon millions of people talking about women freeing their faces because of a seven second video by one woman.

Which ever way you cut that up, it's quite extraordinary.

Oooh did you also go and scold Bob Geldof when he set up Live Aid? I mean, he wasn’t personally affected by famine but was moved to help? Should people only be involved in helping with causes that personally affected them?

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

I understand that. But personally, just because some women aren't oppressed by it, doesn't mean you shouldn't help those who are.

And secondly, it's about having the conversation. Hearing from women about their lives, good or bad, can only be a good thing.

"I remember when KJK was just Posie Parker on here and was forever starting threads complaining about Muslims."

I can only find find three threads started by KJK that mention Muslims:

20/05/2008
To think Christian fundamentalists that preach Allah is the devil should be charged
with a crime of some description?
I watched these people describe 'proper' muslims as violent and hate filled. Nothing in the news at all, it disgusts me,. One was even saying there will be a civil war in the UK because of muslims living here.
Are they entitled to that opinion or are they just ridiculous people that should be ignored???
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/534026-to-think-christian-fundamentalists-that-preach-allah-is-the-devil

07/09/2010
to think that Muslim Girls should not be wearing headscarves....
at primary school? here
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/1036317-to-think-that-Muslim-Girls-should-not-be-wearing-headscarves

08/09/2010
US pastor says burn Koran on 911
stupid is this?
Whilst I think the response of Muslims will be quite ridiculous, rioting, killings etc, what was this man thinking? And how would he feel if Muslims had a burn the Bible day for the anniversaries of the illegal invasions of Muslim countries?
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/in_the_news/1037050-US-pastor-says-burn-Koran-on-911

She appears to have a problem with the attitudes of right-wing patriarchal religions: in particular with the bigotry of some Fundamentalist Christians towards Muslims, and the misogyny of those Muslims who sexualise primary school girls.

As an aside, I'm quite tickled by the new let women speak logo.

It's London Weekend Television, isn't it 😄

My problem with Hijab, Niqab, religious clothing is that if a woman chooses it then that is fine.

I went to schools run by the Sisters of Mercy, they wore a black dress and a black veil. No one seemed to have a problem with that.

Some of you will probably say, "Oh they say it is a choice but..." but I have known white women, brought up in a broadly Christian way who have converted (or reverted if you prefer) to Islam who choose to veil.

I know there are few if any Amish in the UK but why are we not bothered by their oppression? I follow someone on YouTube who was brought up 'old order Amish' and then left. If he wants to visit his mother he has to wear his old Amish clothes.

I agree.

This objection is anti-feminist and reeks of internalised misogyny and a dehumanising cultural relativism:

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

Not so long ago there was a campaign to stop employers forcing women to wear high heels at work.

There are parallels with the "Free Your Faces" campaign:

• high heels damage the body
• employers demanded they be worn because they sexualise and incapacitate women while also being deemed "proper" and "professional"
• some women choose to wear high heels to work and do not feel forced to do so, usually because it has been normalised since adolescence
• feminists argue that even women who willingly choose to wear high heels are oppressed.

I do not recall "real feminists" arguing that the campaign to stop employers forcing women to wear high heels to work was misguided or reprehensible just because some women choose to wear high heels to work, nor that those who make that choice are not oppressed.

Thought experiment:

• what if overnight there were no hijabs, niqabs, chadors, burkas, etc. but instead all the women affected found that those garments had been replaced by high heels?
• also the clock has turned back to a time when employers force women to wear high heels to work.

How is that campaign against women being forced to wear high heels going to play out now?

It would appear from the complaints on this thread that some women would not be deemed worthy of benefiting from that campaign: it would have to explicitly exclude them, in deference to the men who demand compliance from them.

if not, how would it play out differently and why?

At the risk of encouraging a derail . . . I have just taken delivery of a new Banner. It will be at Durham Miner's Gala on Saturday along with the AHF Banner that we usually take along.

If you or any other supporters are going to be there, you would be very welcome to join us, walk with us in the procession and help to carry a Banner - there will be other gorgeous Banners too, brought along by groups campaigning for women's sex-based rights 💚🤍💜

Post-Modernism at work, it insists that only the individual can speak to their experience and that others should not presume to represent it. It's postmodern scepticism of universalism, and when it comes to other culture's, CRT’s insistence on centring marginalized voices, means nobody white (non-Muslim) can speak for them. It's the philosophy that underpins all of this batshittery.

Thanks for the invite. Although I'm nowhere near there, though.

Report back!

But all of you take care. This is next level, in my opinion. The pushback is going to be massive

It's postmodern scepticism of universalism

I want to say that was on the tip of my tongue...

I cannot go this year, so sad to miss it. We have a miners wives banner which we took last year. Midlands BTW. Have a great day

It’s gorgeous!! Have a great day!

But hold on… I have been told women MUST speak up and support poor oppressed males with trans identities. Or were evil nasty bigots supporting genocide. So which is it? Am I supposed to support people whose cause is not mine or am I not?

THIS.

If you have a purity spiral that means you only are willing to listen (or pretend to listen) to people directly affected, then you are failing women who know if they speak up in their own name they will likely be hurt or killed by members of their own family.

Can I suggest anyone who thinks KJK's activism on this isn't pure enough, instead of spending energy on hating KJK and her supporters pop over here for a look Our strategy – Karma Nirvana

Is this organisation pure enough? Sadly a lot of the women's stories featured here aren't alive to speak up for themselves.

'Honour Based Abuse is not widely recognised as a form of domestic abuse. It is often misunderstood or dismissed in the name of ‘culture’ or ‘tradition’. As a result, it remains hidden.'

And THAT is shocking. THAT is what has led to women and girls being ignored and disbelieved and discounted and outright attacked when they've raised their stories of abuse.

Just the male ones.

You are supposed to support males in whatever they want, including anything that oppresses women. How do men get certain left-wing women to do this? They tell them that the men are very vulnerable and marginalised or that the men are non-white or that the men are from certain ethnicities or religions. It's a kind of Top Trumps with women scoring lowest in every category.

Choosing to enter a nun's order is not even remotely comparable to girls being told/encouraged/made to wear a scarf or veil from a young age.

And yes, Islam comprises all races. We've been saying that all along!

Some women choose to veil, for sure. But choices are not made in a vacuum. Some countries force women to veil, and some women are subject to varying degrees of suggestion and coercion to cover up.

It is a complex issue and there are many aspects to it. What it shouldn't be is off limits to discuss, because women are not in the UK, or are a different race, or religion. Women who care about other women discuss all sorts of things that affect other women, of all races and religions and from all over the world.

In a liberal democracy we should be able to discuss what goes on in our own country and in other countries around the world. I would say we have a duty to do that. From the responses that KJK has received it would seem that there are a lot of veiled non-UK women who want us to do that. I am also concerned that there might be women in the UK who are in a similar position. The choice is not between discussing these sorts of issues and not discussing them. The choice is about where the discussion takes place. Freely, in the open, where everyone can listen and take part or secretly online in all the dark corners where the violent men who have their own unpleasant agenda lurk.