Author(s): Sahar Amer

Modern Thought

The Islamic veil in all its forms - from the headscarf to the full body garment - is one of the most visible signs of Islam as a religion. It is also one of its most controversial and misunderstood traditions among both Muslims and non-Muslims. In an environment of increasing conservatism in Euro-American Muslim-majority societies, in a world where a woman's right to wear the headscarf has become a flashpoint for issues of all sorts, and at a time when racial and religious profiling has become commonplace, it is our political and social responsibility to gain a deeper understanding of veiling.