The Veil is Regressive
November 21st, 2006Egypt’s Culture Minister Farouk Hosni recently got into a lot of trouble for criticizing use of the veil and calling it regressive.
“There was an age when our mothers went to university and worked without the veil. It is in that spirit that we grew up. So why this regression?”
Hosni’s comments are absolutely right, though they do betray the secular elitism of Egypt’s ruling class, and the incresing distance between the masses and elites in Egypt. That said, I totally agree with Hosni. He is honest, forthright, liberal, and, most importantly, correct. I hope he doesn’t get punished though it’s almost a foregone conclusion that he will be removed from Cabinet.
BP even said that Hosny is under investigation and has been sharply criticized by both the opposition Muslim Brotherhood and members of his own NDP.
Egypt needs more Farouk Hosnys and more honest politicians.
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Good that there are different sounds there.
Brave man.
Brave fired and possibly at risk man!
Incedently, what did happen? How did liberalism die?
If politicians in the West get crucified for such remarks I can imagine how well they will be received in Egypt.
I would say that the regression of liberalism in Egyptian society has been ongoing since the 1970s/1980s and reached a peak in the early 90s and again after 9/11. It can’t really be traced to socialism because Egypt maintained its colonial-era liberal nature throughout Nasser’s reign in the 60s, which was the height of Egypt’s social liberalism. I think the spread of Wahhabism had a lot to do with it. The lack of economic oppurtunities in Egypt coupled with out of control overpopulation made life in Egypt unbearable for most of the country. Add to this the debts the government incurred from financing wars with Israel and the rampant corruption that enriched the elite, and you have a situation where many commoners couldn’t make a life in Egypt. So these people started going to Saudi Arabia at the start of the oil boom in the 70s and would go back indoctrinated by radical Saudi idelogoy. Oil money financed mosques and Islamic organizations in Egypt and soon Islam became a refuge for the poor and uneducated, those abandoned by their government. It eventually moved up to the middle classes and is now a social trend. Farouk Hosni is a very well-educated and cultured guy, a well-established member of Egypt’s elite, and a remnant of the colonial and revolutionary generation that grew up without religious influence.
Though I think we’re beginning to see a counter-religious reformation, with a return to secular values, particularly among the rich. But I’m an optimist.
Thank you Patrick for that well written explanation.
Your not the first to link Saudi Arabia to this rise, I recently heard the same regarding Morocco’s rising of Islam.
As a Canadian, I was very impressed (and proud) when the Islamic community took complete responsibility for a recent home-grown terrorist attempt. No “Israel does this, America does that”. Just the words “we have work to do”.
It really gave me hope that Canada is not the next Britain or France.
One remark from a Canadian Iman which surprised me was his request for the government to stop allowing Saudi money build mosques and provide textbooks.
I hope us liberal Canadians can abandon our political correctness, take the Iman’s advice, and isolate Saudi Arabia.
Jordan, I can’t find the quote, but I read that only Canada is below the US of the group in the Organization of Developed States, which has a lower rate of economic circulation among the members of the lowest economic classes into the higher levels.
Thanks Patrick, I have found pretty much complete support for your remarks in the Google video produced by the BBC, “Nightmare of Fear, part one”.
Patrick, I just saw your comment. although it is a little bit late, but I would like to congratulate you on your very precise analysis. As an Egyptian, I grew up with the end of Nasser era, and the begining of Sadat era. I support Minister Hosny’s remarks. My mother for example was a leftist activist during the 50’s and 60’s. She had freedoms, we can now only dream of. However, as a university prof, she went to work in Saudi, over there she had to put on a veil, and then 6 yrs later, when she returned to Egypt, her colleagues told her that it is a great sin to remove that headscarf/veil. That was in 1983. When we started seeing women in the streets wearing headscarf/veil. Now, it is the majority who is covering their hair, and men growing their beard and have the prayer mark on their forehead. Again, you are right on the money when you say that there is a counter religious revolution. the Moslem Brotherhood parade was a wake up call to everybody.
hi
how can you say wearing a veil is regressive if it is by choice? i think everyone should have a choice to wear what they want that is how i see liberalism as. government should not involve itself in prohibiting what to wear and what not to wear. we accept free choice and free speech what about freedom to wera what we want ?
what do you think?
Arash,
That was exactly hat I was thinking about. Egypt has managed to be more moderate, the extremists are not given enough validity to take over and make another Iran, at the same time they have a voice and they can have their cultural and religious social works as much as possible.
Egypt, although took part in all wars of the region, when it came to cease fire it signed the contracts and tried to keep its word.
It has a reasonable relationship with Israel and it is a backer of the needs and rights of people in Gaza, although it is so challenging to be involved, but Egypt doesn’t just sit back indifferently.