Burqa

A burqa is an item of clothing that covers a woman’s entire body and only has a mesh opening for the eyes. It is loose fitting and does not cover the hands or feet. Wearing a burqa—sometimes spelled burka—is part of some Muslim cultures; it is not required by the Islamic religion, however. Some Muslim factions, such as those in Afghanistan, require women to wear burqas over their clothing when they go outdoors. Many Muslims wear them because the Qur'an, the religious text of the Islam religion, states that followers should cover up and be modest. Although this reference is open to interpretation, burqas are not required dress by the Qur'an.

Background

The word burqa is an Arabic word that has been in use since the seventh century. A burqa was used to describe a covering for animals to protect them from cold weather or a shawl for women. The first burqa was worn in Persia. After the religion of Islam was introduced to the area, aspects of Persian culture entered Islamic culture. The word burqa is not used in the Islam religious text known as the Qur'an, also called Koran. The word hijab is used instead; however, hijab is used to mean “curtain” or “the act of covering up” in the text. Eventually, the Muslims in Persia adopted the use of the burqa as part of Islamic culture.

The burqa covers a person from head to toe and has openings for the hands and a mesh panel through which the wearer sees. It is made of a light material and usually either dark blue or black in color. It is only worn over clothing when a person goes outside; it is not to be worn at home in the presence of family members. It should not be tight fitting. It is worn to maintain a woman’s modesty and used to cover what Allah in the Qur'an calls a woman’s “beauties:” chest, hair, legs, and arms. According to Islamic practice, only husbands and family members are allowed to see these parts of a woman’s body.

In the mostly Muslim nation of Afghanistan, the Taliban, the ruling power of the country that enforces Sharia, or Islamic law, requires women to wear burqas in public. Prior to the Taliban’s rule, however, many Muslim women wore Western-style clothing and did not have to cover their bodies in public. Many women found the garment oppressive, but others—especially many who followed Islam—had no problem wearing a burqa. Women who do not don a burqa in public can be punished in some places. Some women in India and Pakistan wear them for modesty reasons even though they are not required by law to wear them.

Instead of the burqa, some Muslim and Middle Eastern women and men wear other modesty garments. A hijab is a headscarf that covers the neck, hair, and head but not the face. Hijabs come in a variety of styles and colors. Muslim women in the Western world commonly wear hijabs. A nicqab, which is sometimes confused with the burqa, is a veil that covers the head and face but has an opening for the eyes not covered by a mesh screen. It typically is worn with a cloak-like garment called an abaya that covers the rest of the body.

The chador is a long cloak that covers the entire body except the face. It is usually held closed by the wearer. A dupatta is a long scarf that is draped around the head but does not cover the face. It is sometimes worn with loose-fitting matching garments. A khimar is a long veil that covers the entire top half of a person, except for the face, to his or her waist. A shayla is a long scarf that is wrapped around the head and leaves the face clear. A two-piece veil known as an al-amira has a close-fitting cap with a tube-like scarf that goes around it to cover the head.

Topic Today

Because of the association of some Muslims and other Middle Eastern people with terrorism, the burqa has become a controversial topic. Some people feel it is associated with terrorism and do not want women to wear burqas or other face and body coverings. Some people believe women who wear such garments are oppressed. Some countries see such coverings as a threat to security and have sought bans on these articles of clothing. In 2011, France banned the wearing of face veils, such as the burqa and hijab, in public. Other countries, including Belgium, Bulgaria, and Italy, have imposed bans of wearing face coverings in certain public places such as schools, hospitals, and government buildings. In March 2017, the high court of the European Union ruled that employers have the right to ban employees from wearing any religious items—including burqas, hijabs, and other headscarves associated with the Islam religion.

In June 2018, the Dutch upper house of Parliament passed a partial ban on wearing burqas and other face-covering garments such as helmets and ski masks, in schools, hospitals, and government buildings, and on public transportation in the Netherlands. Such garments are still allowed to be worn in the streets. The Dutch burqa ban was first proposed by far-right politicians in 2005 and had previously passed the lower house of Parliament in 2016. As of 2024, sixteen countries had a ban on the wearing of burqas.

People against the bans say that they isolate Muslim women from society, since their religion states they must be covered in public. Bans also restrict people’s freedom to practice the religion of their choice. Some people who wear burqas and hijabs have reported negative experiences wearing these items outside of their home countries. They have been harassed, called names such as “terrorist,” and even assaulted.

Nonetheless, many people around the world continue to wear burqas and hijabs. Some companies have responded to women’s desire to dress modestly. In 2017, Nike athletic wear company announced it was releasing a hijab specially designed for Muslim women athletes. It decided to make a lightweight, breathable hijab after receiving requests from Muslim athletes who complained about how hot they felt while competing in the traditional head coverings. Emirati figure skater Zahra Lari was one of the first athletes to wear Nike’s prototype hijab. The Nike Pro Hijab became available to the public for purchase in December 2017.

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