It's hard to be a Muslim in the western world. What kind of excuse can one make for the way Muslim women are treated in Islamic societies? How can one explain with a straight face that Muslim women freely choose to wear hijab while it is obvious to everyone that they are forced to do so by husbands, fathers, brothers and the various enforcers of Islamic Commissions for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice in Shariah-compliant countries.

Well, one way to skirt the issue is to deflect. Point out that the Bible also demands that women wear veils. Some of my Muslim readers have done precisely that, they point to I Corinthians 11:5-6 -

But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head—it is the same as having her head shaved. 6 For if a woman does not cover her head, she might as well have her hair cut off; but if it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair cut off or her head shaved, then she should cover her head.

One has to understand that most passages in the Bible are histories of the customs of peoples long since dead, and the passages are not meant to be taken as commands to be observed for all eternity. But let's for a moment stipulate that this is indeed a command for all seasons. The exact instruction here is that a woman who prays or prophesies should have her head covered, not that she should have it covered at all other times. Muslims quote the above verse hoping that infidels will not notice the precise, exclusionary circumstance under which women are required to cover their heads.

Here's another deflection: Muslims like to bring up nuns and ask, "Would you use the same term "oppressed" for a Nun?" First of all, Ahmed, nuns are not beaten within an inch of their life for not wearing a habit. As I pointed out in The Difference Between Nuns and Muhajaba, there are thousands of nuns in the US who choose to wear normal clothing, and none are flogged or killed for it.

As for Jewish law, yes it is the Law of Moses that married women cover their hair. But Jews don't go all crazy about it like Muslims. Modern Orthodox women who do cover their hair can choose hats, berets, snoods, bandannas, and some even baseball caps.

But only an idiot would insist that Jews who ask their wives to look like this:

Snood
Photo Credit: Patchwork Underground