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Salman Rushdie says Muslim veils 'suck'
Last updated at 14:01pm on 10.10.06
Salman Rushdie: 'veils suck'
The row over Muslim women's dress codes reignited today after author Salman Rushdie declared that "veils suck".
Rushdie, whose book The Satanic Verses triggered death threats from Islamic clerics, gave his full backing to Leader of the Commons Jack Straw for raising the issue.
Rushdie was forced into hiding for 10 years after Iranian cleric Ayatollah Khomeini served a "fatwah" on him over his book's alleged slight on the prophet Mohammed.
He had round-the-clock police protection costing nearly £1 million a year, although that has been downgraded in recent years after Iran indicated the death sentence no longer applied.
But Rushdie has always insisted he was right to publish The Satanic Verses and today he risked fresh Muslim anger with a savage attack on the wearing of veils.
In an interview with BBC Radio 4's Today programme, held to mark the opening of a new joint exhibition with sculptor Amish Kapoor, he backed Mr Straw to the hilt.
"Speaking as somebody with three sisters and a very largely female Muslim family, there's not a single woman I know in my family or in their friends who would have accepted wearing the veil.
"I think the battle against the veil has been a long and continuing battle against the limitation of women, so in that sense I'm completely on [Straw's] side.
"He was expressing an important opinion, which is that veils suck, which they do. I think the veil is a way of taking power away from women."
Mr Straw triggered anger last week when he revealed he asked Muslim women visiting his constituency surgery to remove their veils.
He said that seeing someone's face made it easier to communicate and felt the garment was a barrier to integration and good community relations.
The publication of the Satanic Verses in 1989 triggered not just the fatwah from Iran but also riots in Pakistan, India and Turkey among Muslims who felt he had insulted the prophet.
In the following decade, the book's Japanese translator was murdered and its Norwegian publisher and Italian translator seriously injured in separate attacks.
Publisher Penguin received 5,000 abusive or threatening letters and 25 bomb threats.
Rushdie is to open a joint exhibition with Kapoor at a London gallery, with a sculpture based on the story of Sheherazade, the Arabian woman who told stories to avoid a brutal death at the hands of a tyrant.
Kapoor said today that he disagreed with Rushdie over the veils issue.
He agreed, he said, with John Prescott, who said that he would find it rude to tell someone wearing sunglasses to remove them.
Reader views (16)
I think the world would be a better place if nobody covered themselves, in this era of terrorists etc. you can't tell if there even male or female, much less what are they carrying under those outfits.
When in Rome do as they do, when you move to Australia dress and act like an Australian, simple rule fits any place on Earth
- Brad, Australia
I think the majority of people are missing the whole point of the veil. Wearing the veil chooses what clothes you wear, for example I couldn't wear a short skirt and singlet top with the veil, therefore it is a lifestyle choice. Most women get done up and wear their nicest clothes to go out to look good for strangers and when they come home change into trackies and take off their makeup, in our case we go out looking presentable and when we come home we get dressed up to look good for our husbands. It is about modesty and I being someone who never used to wear the veil would feel naked leaving the house without it.
- Khadija, Victoria, Australia
I am a Muslim and have lots of Muslim as well as non-Muslim friends. Most of my Muslim friends choose to not wear the veil while some do. It is strictly a matter of personal choice and nobody can or should tell them what to do. The way you dress is part of your freedom of expression. I agree that it is oppressive when Saudis tell women to cover their heads because it takes away the woman's freedom to choose.
But just because Saudis do that does not mean that England should follow suit, that's no justification for taking away anybody's rights to choose what they wear.
I find this view to be extremey funny, that people think they can choose what they want other to wear!
- Maliha Aqueel, Lahore, Pakistan.
The sunglass analogy does not reflect the veil situation well. In my mind the veil is more akin to a ski-mask, which would, I think, be intimidating and frightening if it became street fashion. 'Banning' it, however, is also scary. Maybe if people were just more honest when they deal with people wearing them like 'hey, that mask is giving me the creeps; do you have to wear that thing in public?'.
- Mike, Boston, MA
Having lived in Saudi Arabia for a time, I find the wearing of veil makes a woman little more than a walking tent. I was told many times to cover my head because I was in a Muslim country. Well, these Muslims are in a secular country and should not walk around like walking tents. Dress modestly by all means but let's drop the face mask veil.
- Naomi Hunt, Lodi, USA
I have asked people to remove sunglasses plenty of times when holding a conversation with them indoors and without incident I might add!
I am doubly surprised that an artist or sculptor would favor the suppression of the human form. How many famous sculptures over the centuries have celebrated the wardrobe of the subject?
Is it a coincidence Amish Kapoor's abstract works of art seem to center around a warped reflection of reality?
Kudos to Mr. Rushdie for pointing out religious hypocrisy and oppression where he finds it!
- Noel Sufrin, Enola, PA, USA
It doesn't matter how he feels or who disagrees with it, he has a right to say whatever he wants. Free speech! If someone disagrees with him, they should just walk away and pay no mind. People have to stop stifling free speech. No one should have to go into hiding for 10 years just for making a statement.
- Liz, NJ, USA
Even though I'm against the concept of veil, still I want to emphasize to the western audiences that other than a couple of countries, veil in Muslim countries is an option women choose for themselves as part of their tradition and culture and is not forced upon them by law as some suggest. It's no different than saying that men are forced to grow beards in the muslim world.
- Akif Nizam, New Jersey, USA
I agree with Ginger; it is rude of someone to hide their face or eyes when addressing a stranger. Everything is the wrong way around and MY belief is that no one has been told personally by God or any other deity how they should dress. It's just good old human ego, wanting to be different. And that's why it does NOT do anything to help integration in any way. Oh and I demand respect for my belief, so there!
- Scott Farrell Strichen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
My position is like this: I respect people's right to wear the veil but I also hope that there will be support for those who women who want to break out and express their individuality. Western civilization is based on the principle of allowing people to make whatever choices they like so long as they don't hurt others.
- Rachel, Hong Kong
I believe it is a fair request for Mr. Straw to ask his constituents to remove their veils when speaking with him. Non verbal gestures are essential elements of two-way communication.
- Mike O'Neill, Manhattan, USA
Hooray for Rudshdie! Brave, outspoken, unintimidated, and right.
- Diana Blackwell, Berkeley, CA
Yeah. But wearing a veil and sunglasses would be kinda cool.
- Dan, Solomon , Kansas
Stan is absolutely right, of course. The old standards must apply because they are standards that were agreed upon when civiliation was still civilized. There are few worthwhile standards today.
- Ginger, Kansas, USA
Kapoor thinks it would be rude to tell someone wearing sunglasses to remove them.
That statement perfectly sums up the complete reversal of the public attitude towards public behavior.
Ask someone to stop cursing aloud, quit using their cell phone in an intrusive manner, take off a hat indoors, or remove a pair of sunglasses while conversing, and YOU are now considered the "rude" one.
How tragic, that we have allowed ourselves to be co-opted so.
- Stan M, Maryland, USA
Would you find me rude if I forced you to wear sunglasses? I wonder.
- Grimmy, MD, USA
