Letter to the Editor
Tim Roberts
Issue date: 10/14/09 Section: Opinion
Your headline story for Oct. 9 reported a public event of the Muslim Student Association concerning women's wearing of the Hijab, the headscarf popular in parts of the conservative Muslim world today.
To quote the story, "Hijab means 'covering,' ... a form of protection, a maintenance of chastity and an aid in the avoidance of negative temptations in society for women as well as men. When women cover, they provide dimensions of moral character and dignity, not only for themselves but also for society. According to the Holy Qur'an, women must cover.... The use of Hijab is mandatory, an order from Almighty Allah."
What is the newspaper's source for this information? Is it the opinion of the reporter, Assanatou Sow, and/or the Western Courier? Or did the newspaper quote the information from a representative at the MSA meeting? In either case, it seems to me the newspaper should have indicated that the wearing of the Hijab is a controversial issue among some Muslims, many of whom see it as a symbol of political repression, not religious piety.
The Western Courier quoted a student at the MSA meeting who had worn a Hijab temporarily, "One of my friends even thought I spoke softer." Precisely.
-Tim Roberts
WIU Department of History
To quote the story, "Hijab means 'covering,' ... a form of protection, a maintenance of chastity and an aid in the avoidance of negative temptations in society for women as well as men. When women cover, they provide dimensions of moral character and dignity, not only for themselves but also for society. According to the Holy Qur'an, women must cover.... The use of Hijab is mandatory, an order from Almighty Allah."
What is the newspaper's source for this information? Is it the opinion of the reporter, Assanatou Sow, and/or the Western Courier? Or did the newspaper quote the information from a representative at the MSA meeting? In either case, it seems to me the newspaper should have indicated that the wearing of the Hijab is a controversial issue among some Muslims, many of whom see it as a symbol of political repression, not religious piety.
The Western Courier quoted a student at the MSA meeting who had worn a Hijab temporarily, "One of my friends even thought I spoke softer." Precisely.
-Tim Roberts
WIU Department of History
Be the first to comment on this story