'NiqaBitch' unveil themselves in Paris
Are this veil-wearing, leg-baring duo making a powerful political point, or trivialising the niqab debate?
- Nesrine Malik
- guardian.co.uk, Thursday 7 October 2010 16.30 BST
Just when you thought the niqab ban story had no more legs, it goes burlesque. Two French women have taken it upon themselves to register their opposition to the niqab ban in France by covering their faces but baring their legs in miniskirts. The duo, who call themselves NiqaBitch, have posted a video where they stop traffic and turn heads and sashay in heels down the streets of Paris. Portmanteau in name and in dress, they merge the sacred and the profane. The footage is tongue in cheek, all rather typically French. "We were not looking to attack or degrade the image of Muslim fundamentalists – each to their own – but rather to question politicians who voted for this law that we consider clearly unconstitutional," they said. "To dictate what we wear appears to have become the role of the state."
Somehow, the trite juxtaposition isn't as lowbrow as one would think. Like a good advertisement, it makes a clear, simple, powerful point. Bypassing all the ambiguity of the debate, it goes straight to the viscera, eliciting a range of responses. Some have observed that the public's reaction is less unfriendly than usual because it's clear the two women are not wearing the burqa for religions reasons, which highlights the Islamophobic aspect of opposition to the niqab. At one point a policewoman asks for a picture. Once the law comes into effect, she will be obliged to fine them. It proves that covering up per se is not the point. It's what it entails, and what value judgements we then make based on that – a tenuous position indeed from which to legislate against any form of dress.
In discussions about the niqab, this opposition's argument of last resort is that public nudity is the polar opposite of full coverage and hence the same laws should apply. The video subverts that argument by rendering exposed and covered flesh two sides of the same coin but as manifestations of personal freedom of dress. Is it mocking the niqab? As the campaign is in protest against the niqab ban, I think not. But even if it were, so what? What I like about the video is its iconoclasm. Both the religious and secular could do with being less precious and heavy-handed about what women would like to wear.
However, it is not a novel idea. Personally, I think it is reminiscent of a sinister orientalist fetishising, one that hides an exotic woman's face but lays bare her body as a faceless sexual object, mystified by lack of character but simultaneously made accessible. But that is just my own visceral reaction. Ultimately, it is about choice.
Another display has also been hitting the headlines. "Princess Hijab", a 20-year-old guerrilla artist, traverses Paris incognito spray-painting hijabs and niqabs on male and female models on posters and billboards. She claims it is not a political point she is trying to make, rather an examination of contradictions inherent in mainstream culture.
But is it art? What impact do these kinds of demonstration make? Perhaps none at all in the immediate term, but what is encouraging is that the concept of the niqab is being decoupled from religion and incorporated into popular culture, examined and discussed in terms of freedom of choice, artistic expression, and redefinitions of sexuality and personal space. All in inimitable, indigenous French avant-garde fashion. It is a hallmark of integration and a repudiation of the state's transgression into the realm of personal freedom.
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+44 (0)20 3353 2000About this article
Close'NiqaBitch' unveil themselves in Paris | Nesrine Malik
This article was published on guardian.co.uk at 16.30 BST on Thursday 7 October 2010. It was last modified at 16.53 BST on Thursday 7 October 2010.
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This is an EXCELLENT political protest!
More of this please.
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It would be great if Those girls showing their legs wouldn't be condemned to death in the society that wants the freedom to where a niqab
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I take it they are not Muslims themselves then?,i would also doubt that the sort of women who would be inclined to wear a Niqab would want support from two women who have their legs on display.
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Some have observed that the public's reaction is less unfriendly than usual because it's clear the two women are not wearing the burqa for religions reasons, which highlights the Islamophobic aspect of opposition to the niqab. ... It proves that covering up per se is not the point. It's what it entails, and what value judgements we then make based on that – a tenuous position indeed from which to legislate against any form of dress.
Well I never.
Did you ever consider that the reason people talked to them was because it was clear they were not muslims, and that they were involved in a stunt?
Muslim women who wear the burka (which conceals the face) do so precisely because it prevents "friendly interaction" between them and the public, especially non-muslim men. Why would any non-muslim strike up a conversation with someone in a burka? It's going to be difficult even assuming the woman is willing to talk, which let's be honest she probably is not.
If you do not believe me, how many muslim women marry non-muslims? I doubt any of the few that do wear burkas.
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The law ought to state that a niqab may only be worn with a miniskirt. That'll confuse the fundamentalists.
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As a piece of satire this might be seen as quite effective.
My understanding is that Islam calls on women (and indeed men) to dress "modestly" and so the NiqaBitch outfits would be held to be at odds with Islamic ideals, surely?
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Sarkozy doesn't give a f*** about women or their rights. Classic Napoleon complex.
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Did you ever consider that the reason people talked to them was because it was clear they were not muslims
One of them is, actually. More here, in French (but you can Google-translate the page).
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It would be great if Those girls showing their legs wouldn't be condemned to death in the society that wants the freedom to where a niqab
They'd be condemned to death by liberals?
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Both the religious and secular could do with being less precious and heavy-handed about what women would like to wear.
Nothing precious or heavy-handed about it.
They've been banned and women breaking the law should be prosecuted accordingly. If women want to wear these awful things then there are plenty of other countries who would welcome them.
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notsorabid
7 October 2010 4:37PMThis is an EXCELLENT political protest!
More of this please.
If we had any balls at all we'd all be on the streets of Paris wearing niqabs, though even the French should be spared the sight of my legs. Does anyone fancy chartering a coach?
And while we're at it, let's hear it for Swiss minaret-builder Guillaume Morand.
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Actually it's quite an interesting idea, but why not take it full scale? Why doesn't every French woman or indeed man opposed to this ban start wearing a veil? That'd confuse them.
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Flatulentus,
"The law ought to state that a niqab may only be worn with a miniskirt. That'll confuse the fundamentalists."
On both sides?.
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to EUoverking
if you dont believe me bla bla bla.why would they ?
same way as many catholics only want to marry catholics
and jews wanting to marry jews
and dare I say white people wanting to marry white people
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I dont know whether to give these girls a "Salaams" or my number.
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It is a hallmark of integration
No.
The niqab and burka symbolise the oppression of foreigners not allowed to integrate into western society, condemned to wear the shackles of an inherited 'culture', always a prisoner of the values of the 'other'.
This is not integration. Multiculturalism is racist.
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Nesrine, excellent !
Until reading through what you say, I wasn't sure what to think, it's a little uncomfortable since it can be taken all sorts of ways:
Poking fun at the law ? Or veils ? Or both ?What you say clears all that up a treat - It's about the absurdity of the whole debate.
Well done.
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Maybe if the niqabs were made out of transparent plastic, it would please both parties - win-win situation.
Alternatively, an image of the woman's face could be printed on the front, thereby letting people see her identity.
Or they could run through the streets shrieking "Don't look at my face, people! Don't look at my face!".
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Are men going to be forbidden to wear the niquab?
Or is Sarkozy's new law as sexist as himself?
What about bridal veils? High polo necks? Ear muffs? Hoodies? Large sunglasses? Peaky caps, etc.?
Does the new law only apply to muslims (its obviously designed as a fascist anti-muslim vote-catching measure)?
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It's excellent! It bursts every bubble in the bubbleverse.
As for:
Some have observed that the public's reaction is less unfriendly than usual because it's clear the two women are not wearing the burqa for religions reasons, which highlights the Islamophobic aspect of opposition to the niqab.
Errr, no. It demonstrates that the when the niqab is worn to symbolise extreme religiosity then others tend not to like it, but when it's worn to take the piss out of the whole nonsense (both the nonsense of wearing it in the first place AND the nonsense response of banning it entirely) then people get and approve of the splendid, iconoclastic rebellious excellence of the gesture.
Go NiqaBitches!
Coming soon: Jihadiwaddy - part tribute band, part comedy pants-bomber.
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KidProQuo
Outside of the Arabian peninsula wearing the niqab hasnt been inherited but recently adopted.
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Muslim women who wear the burka (which conceals the face) do so precisely because it prevents "friendly interaction" between them and the public, especially non-muslim men
In my experience it is to prevent friendly interaction with women who do not self reference themselves as muslims by wearing medieval dress, I doubt any non-muslim mad would dare be friendly to a niqab/burkaed woman.
But I love th eidea of it being compulsory to have a mini skirt with the niqab
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@Spoutwell
Are men going to be forbidden to wear the niquab?
Or is Sarkozy's new law as sexist as himself?
What about bridal veils? High polo necks? Ear muffs? Hoodies? Large sunglasses? Peaky caps, etc.?
Does the new law only apply to muslims (its obviously designed as a fascist anti-muslim vote-catching measure)?High polo necks - you are just being silly now.
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yeah yeah yeah yadayadayada
it's a great name
sounds a bit like knickerbitch
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Are men going to be forbidden to wear the niquab?
Or is Sarkozy's new law as sexist as himself?
What about bridal veils? High polo necks? Ear muffs? Hoodies? Large sunglasses? Peaky caps, etc.?
Does the new law only apply to muslims (its obviously designed as a fascist anti-muslim vote-catching measure)?Yes,
no,
no, no, no, no, no, no.
no. For example, if I, as a-non muslim male, were to wear a niqab in France, I would be liable to be fined.
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man - not mad - edit bitton please (freudian slip perhaps)
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It seems a bit, well, tame to be honest. Now if they wore just a burqa, basque and stockings...
As for the other young lady:
"She claims it is not a political point she is trying to make, rather an examination of contradictions inherent in mainstream culture."
She sounds like a complete pseud.
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