So that’s why this man is laughing, huh? Yes, former Iranian president Mohammad Khatami just did a big interview with the Beeb. Yeah, he said some pretty predictable stuff, but here’s the part that caught my attention:
During the speech he also urged British Muslims to obey UK law, saying they are “British first”. He said that the wearing of the scarf or veil was a woman’s personal choice, and she should not be obliged to do so.
Now that’s interesting for two reasons. Firstly, assuming that this is his theological opinion, it’s clearly in disagreement with the policies of the Iranian government, which require all women, Muslim and non-Muslim alike, to wear a headscarf while in Iran and even when entering Iranian foreign embassies/interests sections. Secondly, I’m hardly a scholar on Islam, but I do know that my Muslim grandmother (who has been on hajj) doesn’t wear a headscarf when she’s outside Iran. So all these people who claim that it is obligatory might want to check that out first. Sure, there’s going to be extremist imams and what not who impose it and say that if you don’t wear it then you’re a bad Muslim or whatever, but it would seem that this “obligation” is really up to interpretation, and if you want to wear it, you can, but you shouldn’t be required to.
Update: Gadling found a recent NPR piece that explores this exact topic.
