1.) Austria’s Conservative and Green parties have agreed plans to extend a headscarf ban in schools … [Austria’s new Conservative/Green governing coalition] deal includes banning the headscarf in schools for girls up to age 14, an extension of the garment ban that applies until age 10 approved by lawmakers earlier this year.
If women want to cover, they can decide that for themselves; the business of forcing it on children is disgusting. Note too what UD has been saying for years: Opposition to compulsory covering of girls is one of the few issues on which left and right in many countries agree.
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2.)
… “White Wednesday” and “My Stealthy Freedom” campaigns have seen women film themselves without hijabs in public in Iran, which can bring arrests and fines. [Even with the threat of jail] there have been signs of women increasingly pushing back against the requirement.
During a trip to Iran in July, an Associated Press journalist spotted about two dozen women in the streets without a hijab over the course of nine days. Many other women opted for loosely draped colorful scarves that show as much hair as they cover.
While there have been women fined and arrested, others have been left alone as Iran struggles with economic problems and other issues under re-imposed U.S. sanctions …
January 6th, 2020 at 1:34PM
how is “If women want to cover, they can decide that for themselves” compatible with bans?
January 6th, 2020 at 3:47PM
Hi John: By “cover” here, I mean hijab-covering, which is what the German law I’m discussing is about. Broadly speaking, if an adult woman wants to wear a hijab, okay. Full facial covering (burqa; niqab) is certainly another matter.
Quebec bans hijabs for some categories of public employees. I’m ambivalent about this, but respect the right of municipalities to enact certain limited restrictions of this sort.