The woman who wears the Hijab and the one who doesn’t (Part 1: the story of Chiraze)

Wearing the Veil has become in France, the only country in the world which minds about that, a real social debate. Everyone, or almost everyone talks about this subject, usually on behalf of Muslim women and even instead of them. Everyone…except Muslim women who are rarely given the chance to express themselves. Here’s a witnessing of two young ladies. They don’t belong to any organization, they aren’t activists. They are simply two Muslim women. One of them wears the hijab, the other doesn’t….

This Interview was realized by Laura Breut.

Chiraze considers herself lucky because she has been always able to wear the veil in her professional life nonetheless, like many Muslim women, she was persecuted and physically aggressed several times. Here’s our meeting with Chiraze, who’s making the veil dressing a way to defend her rights and convictions.

Have you ever been a victim of Islamophobia or any discrimination because of your religion? 

Unfortunately, yes, I was; this happened several times. I have been wearing the veil for nearly fifteen years. I saw minds’ changing and the situation getting worst throughout the years. When I first started to wear the veil, there were sometimes some inappropriate glances to me, but one must learn to live within it. So, it was no longer bothering.

Since the attempts and the different public debates on Islam in the media, people dare to loudly say what they never dared to say before. For example, a few times ago, I was a victim of a physical attack in the metro. I was coming back from a day’s work when a woman started to reflect on my veil and told me: “Get home!”. When I was getting out from the metro, she shot me on the back. I was stunned enough to reply and we were fighting each other with hands before other passengers intervened. Another day, I was walking by and a lady told me: “We fought for women’s liberation. Shame on you!”. She threw herself at me and tried to remove my veil.

It is upsetting to see that people behave differently according to whether they are facing a veiled woman or not. I see that veiled people are having less benevolence in human relations, as if it dehumanized them, in people’s point of view. People no longer impeach the doors from closing for us for instance; or they react aggressively if we unluckily or unfortunately push them…

As a Muslim woman, what are your impressions regarding the living reactions in the news these last few months regarding the burkini or the veil’s wearing?

I stopped following the news during the debates on Islam, they drive me mad. It is true that we cannot defend ourselves because we are represented by very few people on the air; but unfortunately, we must also say the we hardly accept mediatization.

Personally, I think that the media are spreading some stereotypes and aggravating the divide between communities. These amalgamations are really regrettable…People must understand that we are French! When we visit our Parent’s hometowns, we don’t feel we’re in our place because we were born and grew up in France. But even here, we cannot completely feel that we are home because we’re not integrated as who we are! even though we’re paying taxes and speak French, know the French culture and went to the school of the Republic. Apparently, the only inconvenient is religion!

Some representatives of Islam in France think that he burkini is an infringement of the Republic and a provocation to it, what do you think?

These people pretend to be our “representatives”, but we didn’t choose them. I think that these sayings are even more dangerous when they come from Muslims because these Muslims must have encountered the same difficulties that we are facing in our every day’s life.

According to me, the debate on the burkini has no reason to exist. there have been always several ways to dress for the beach. Similarly, they’re have been always several ways to wear the veil like “the Hijab” (Ed: a simple scarf) or “the Jilbab” (Ed: a cloth which covers the entire body except the face and the hands). Eventually, the burkini is a mere adaptation, a logical evolution of the veil into a bathing suit. Personally, I don’t stir up scandal about a topless woman in the beach. This remains her choice! May be veiled women are so persecuted that they are usually more tolerant and feminist than the others.

So, there’s no provocation against the Republic. Secularism has another face. The state must not infringe about its citizens’ personal liberties like their way of dressing.

What would you say to those who think that veiled women are coerced by men around them?

I will ask them whether they ever talked to a veiled woman one time in their life. By the way, was this question asked to a panel of veiled women?

These people must understand that faith is personal. Wearing the veil is showing one’s faith; then, this spiritual journey takes place alone. Moreover, our mothers did not wear the veil because of integration issues and did not advise their children to do so because they were afraid, they won’t find a job. So, our elder men are not the ones who oblige us to wear it!

It is said that Muslims increase communitarianism, but as I was saying, Muslim women have all types of friends. Even me, I have Muslim friends who wear the veil and friends who don’t as well as non-Muslim friends. To me, religion or the practice of the religion does not define what the person is! 

Do you have any piece of advice for young Muslim ladies who wear the veil?

That’s true, it’s not easy to do that every day! It’s not easy to find a job or housing because the veil is always seen as a barrier after all. But we must not give up. We must impose ourselves! We are not here to preach the good word.   But if we dare wear the veil and explain to those around us why we wear it, and “normalize” it; things will be able to improve in the right way. One must not capitulate, and must respect their own convictions so that they can be accepted by others!

Do you think as a Muslim woman that you can live and practice your religion freely in France?

I feel myself totally free to practice my religion because there’s in fact no law that impeaches me to do it. However, I cannot “live” my religion as I wish because there are constant constraints on publicly express our belonging to Islam. Whether it’s about finding housing, suffering from indecent behaviors or discrimination in the medical field or in administration…In all these situations, and despite of my strong behavior, I sometimes feel humiliated, thus; unfortunately, I cannot say that I am totally free. 

Personally, I prefer to sweep the street with my veil rather than having a position of responsibility and having to take off my veil and not be myself.

I’ve always been lucky to get a job wearing the veil.  It proves that it can happen! Sometimes I had to break certain taboos in interviews, but I always felt a certain gratitude to my employers because they let me be who I am really!  I feel good, and accepted; that’s why I always do my best in my work.

What would you like to change so that Muslim people would be more accepted in France?

We only have to come back to the law! Unfortunately, mistrust and the fear of being discriminated are increasing communitarianism. This climate of unsafety and misunderstanding pushes Muslims to logically go back to other Muslims and this is what increases cleavage with other communities. This is no way benefiting for the future and for coexistence!    

 

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