Islam and women

The trial of a journalist accused of domestic violence has been postponed on Wednesday until Friday.

The Foreign Ministry strongly condemned a law that prohibits Muslim women from wearing the headscarf in France while accompanying their children during school trips.
In a statement released on Oct. 31, the ministry warned French officials that the ban could ignite discrimination against Muslims.

Ayaan Hirsi Ali, a Somali-born former Dutch activist, who promotes freedom of speech around the globe canceled her scheduled speech tour in Australia citing security reasons. Hirsi Ali, who lives with round-the-clock security protection due to her criticisms of radical Islamists, was due to speak at events in Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney and Auckland this week.

An overjoyed woman was seen celebrating as she removed her face veil, stomped on it and set it alight after her village was reportedly liberated from the Islamic State.
In a video of the moment, the woman, who is not identified, cheered and screamed as she removed her niqab as other women and children – also wearing gleaming smiles – looked on.

France’s Marine Le Pen is on a two-day tour of Lebanon. It was scheduled to meet Lebanon’s Grand Mufti Tuesday, but she refused to wear a headscarf, something that lead to the canceling of the meeting.

Austria is planning to introduce a ban on burkas. The full covering of the face will now be illegal at public places like state and municipal institutions, reported Nova TV.

The ban will be in force not only for burkas but also for niqabs which leave a slit for the eyes.

Garments which cover the entire body but not the face will not be banned.

The ruling coalition in Austria has harmonized after several days of debate a package of reforms envisaging a ban on full-face Muslim veils in public places.

These public places include courts and schools.

Bulgarian deputies passed the law on banning the wearing of garments that cover or hide the face, more popular as the law on banning burkas.

Muslim fashion designer Anniesa Hasibuan made history, as the models presenting her fashion line on the runway at New York Fashion Week wore the traditional Islamic head cover known as hijab. The 28-year-old designer from Indonesia wrote on her instagram page after the show: ‘Muslims from all over the world and all you, beautiful people, thank you for your support’.

A ban on the use of veils covering most of the face is also to be considered in Plovdiv, Bulgaria's second largest city.

A proposal has been submitted by municipal councilors from the nationalist Patriotic Front coalition, Darik Radio reports citing Aleksandar Sidi from VMRO, which is one of PF's two main parties.