In Honour of our Fallen Reporters - Why I will No Longer Hesitate to Write Articles on Any Topic I Want

This is an article I wrote during the pre-election discussions in 2015 when people were debating whether it's right or wrong for a woman to wear a face covering.  While that issue is thankfully dead, I believe we need a fully open discussion about the threats in this world. 

I hesitated discussing it and writing about this topic given the climate we live in these days.  However, it has been brought to my attention with a violent strike of lightening, that this will not work.  This article that outlines how many journalists have DIED trying to report the ugly truths of this world makes me ashamed that I even hesitated writing any article on any subject.  2015 Deadly Year in Journalism Put to Daily Sword 

I will no longer hesitate to write what I want to write.  

Why I fear the Niqab

By Melissa R. Knive

This is my attempt to begin a conversation about the Islamic faith in an era hijacked by terrorism and the lack of understanding in the Western media I follow.

I’m a born Canadian which means that, while I’ve spent some time in church and attended a high school in the separate (Catholic) system, I grew up in a largely secular society.  I have had many discussions about religion, but I’ve never truly believed in an all-knowing, omnipotent “God”.  I’ve lived with the comfortable, privileged ability to say that life has mysteries that I don’t understand but not being committed to a devotion to faith since birth.

Since this is my reality, I am part of the world’s population that doesn’t understand the Muslim faith.  I’ve read that people who follow Islam live life according to and fully encompassed by their religion.  As I live in a free society where my rights are guaranteed, I can appreciate that this could give a person a certain level of comfort in this often unfair world.  I may not understand dedication to organized religion, and I may use casual expressions like “God damn it” when I’m frustrated in a way that would offend some people, but I can surmise that Islam provides a sort of tapestry that people can weave their lives on.  However, as much as I can appreciate the value this faith adds to many people’s lives, I don’t understand it.  Typically to humans, what I don’t understand, I automatically fear as part of an innate reaction.  

Since it is such an all encompassing subject, I can’t simply Google Islam and understand what it means to follow this faith; it’s way too complex.  

Even asking questions have put people at risk in this time of ISIS and Boko Haram.  

My lack of knowledge is regularly highlighted as I watch the nightly news and I have many questions, specifically in regard to women.  In an originally peaceful religion, how has Islam been misappropriated by so many criminals? Why are there so many restrictions on women’s lives in certain populations and yet many women here choose to practice the religion?  How is it that the veil, burqua, and niqab are required clothing with some practitioners, and yet other people say that these are more cultural than religious?  The news tells us about women who are harmed for leaving the house without a male relative; kept from education, travel, and driving; have little access to proper sanitation and medical care (even during their menses); Sharia Law punishments like lashes and stoning; and modesty laws that many of us in the West don’t understand - often in the name of Islam.

On the other side of things, the news talks about women who live a “regular” life as I see it - living, working, driving, and travelling freely and choosing to wear a simple veil.  Like turbans, yarmulkes, and tiecls, they simply cover the hair and you get used to seeing them.  The Niqab and Burqua, on the other hand, cover way more, stick out in a crowd, and disallows you to see the woman’s full face.  To those like me who have minimal exposure to this clothing choice, it makes no sense and stirs up that same, innate distrust of the unfamiliar I mentioned earlier.  Whether it is the woman’s desire to cover herself this much, or a man’s decision, we don’t know… and feel it’s rude to ask… so our minds trigger a fear response.  Is she trying to hide?  Is she regularly beaten?  Is she a terrorist?  Does she need to be rescued?

What about when an immigrant wants to wear this full covering when taking a citizenship oath or doing other business with the government?  Is there something she’s hiding?  Or is there a lack of sincerity in the vow because she (or her family) wants to have more women cover themselves and practice this version of Islam?  

This is the opener of a dialogue I would like to begin with those open to discuss these things.  I’ve purposely refrained from mentioning specific regions and the few terms I do know because I’d rather someone else tell me exactly how they are supposed to be used, rather than accidentally using the term incorrectly because I read the wrong internet source.

Thank you for being open minded.