Discussion on Hijab and Personal Freedom

I received messages and saw comments and videos about

the hashtag

about taking off the niqab. Honestly, I'm shocked

because here in Saudi Arabia,

there's nothing, the state doesn't force anyone, except

the most important thing is to dress modestly, and the rest is up to you.

So I can't imagine why there are still families forcing

their daughter, who doesn't want to wear a niqab, to cover her face.

I honestly never imagined it. I thought that women who wear niqab do so by choice

and of their own free will.

It's a personal freedom.

But those who don't want to wear a niqab,

forcing them to wear it

is cruel, truly cruel.

She can't breathe, she can't eat at a restaurant outside, she can't

let the sun touch her face,

she can't have an identity, so people remember her, so people

trust her,

people know her features, her nose. Where is she from? Saudi Arabia?

There are so, so many things I could say, things...

Saudi women, I swear, are making us proud just give them

a chance.

I mean, I can't imagine that families, especially families,

if they remember their parents, or even themselves, I mean, not long ago...

There was face covering. This is new to us.

So whatever your thoughts are, whether you're a father

or a mother, about the issue. It is also a matter of personal freedom.

I hope this issue passes peacefully

and with understanding, and that no girl has to choose between

her family and the niqab.

Win your daughters over.

It isn't that hard. Make it easy, and it will be easy, make it

easy, and it will be easy. I'm with you.

God willing, God willing, it goes…

very smoothly, Abu Salem.